Harcourts launches new credit card

Media Release

Harcourts launches new credit card

18 August 2008 – Harcourts New Zealand has launched a unique new credit card issued by ASB that offers an industry-leading 120 days interest free credit from account opening*.

The new co-branded Visa Gold card is available to members of the Harcourts team as well as people selling their property through Harcourts, New Zealand’s largest real estate group.

Harcourts Value Added Services Manager Andrew L’Almont, who has worked with ASB on the new credit card, explains that Harcourts’ vendors who get one of the new cards will be able to charge their property marketing costs along with other expenses to the card, subject to available credit, and not have to pay interest on these transactions for up to 120 days from account opening.

“This is a fantastic opportunity available exclusively to Harcourts vendors, and is an arrangement we believe to be unique in the current New Zealand marketplace.”

Mr L’Almont says the same terms available to Harcourts vendors will be available to successful applicants from within the Harcourts team, which currently includes a nationwide network of around 2000 Sales Consultants and Property Managers.

The exciting new ASB Harcourts Visa Gold card will be welcomed at more than 22 million establishments worldwide, Mr L’Almont explains. It will also provide cardholders with access to travel insurance cover** and ASB’s True Rewards Programme, plus detailed monthly statements and 24 hour, 7 days a week access to account information via ASB’s FastPhone and FastNet Classic internet banking.***

Harcourts New Zealand CEO Bryan Thomson says both the new ASB Harcourts Visa Gold card and the timing of its launch are “superb”.

“In order to attract maximum interest and to get the best price within the shortest amount of time, it’s vital that a property is well presented and promoted via a comprehensive profile-marketing campaign, but particularly in the current environment this crucial activity can be difficult for vendors to fund.

“That’s why the new ASB Harcourts Visa Gold card and the timing of its introduction to the market are so superb. The card allows Harcourts’ vendors the opportunity to make the investment that will maximise their chances of success, with the knowledge that they have 120 days interest free, during which time a sale would hopefully have been achieved,” he says.

ASB’s General Manager Branch and Third Party Banking, Shaun Drylie, says that ASB has a strong reputation for finding innovative ways of assisting customers to achieve their financial goals.

“The launch of the ASB Harcourts Visa Gold card is another example of this and we wish the Harcourts team all the best in promoting the card’s benefits.”

ENDS

*Customers will be required to make minimum monthly payments. Normal fees and charges apply. After the introductory promotional period ASB’s standard Visa Gold Card rate will apply.
** Exclusions, terms and conditions apply.
***ASB’s FastCash Cards, Cashflow Cards and FastPhone Terms and Conditions, FastNet Classic Terms and Conditions and True Rewards Card Conditions of Use apply. ASB Bank Limited's Credit Card lending criteria and Credit Card Conditions of Use apply.

See: http://www.harcourts.co.nz/static/finance/creditCards.html

© Scoop Media