Affinity cards transactions were worth £3.3 billion in 2000, with an average spend of £1,1192.

Are retailers and card providers benefiting from favourable economic factors?

Who are the market leaders in the affinity and loyalty cards market?

The use of plastic cards has become an accepted part of everyday life, and many consumers now have a wallet full to bursting point with different cards, complete with cheque guarantee card, credit card, store card, and a raft of different loyalty cards. Even the simple credit card is no longer quite so simple, with intense competition resulting in a plethora of card types, reward schemes and interest rates for the consumer to choose between.

Affinity cards transactions were worth £3.3 billion in 2000, with an average spend of £1,1192.

Are retailers and card providers benefiting from favourable economic factors?

Who are the market leaders in the affinity and loyalty cards market?

The use of plastic cards has become an accepted part of everyday life, and many consumers now have a wallet full to bursting point with different cards, complete with cheque guarantee card, credit card, store card, and a raft of different loyalty cards. Even the simple credit card is no longer quite so simple, with intense competition resulting in a plethora of card types, reward schemes and interest rates for the consumer to choose between.

This report examines those credit cards that offer consumers the chance to soothe their conscience at the same time as they spend their money, by donating a proportion of the expenditure to the cardholder's chosen organisation - be it a charity, a club or a football team. These affinity cards now cover organisations as diverse as the Great Ormond Street Hospital and the British Model Flyers Association, and have proved to be valuable income-generators for both the card providers and the affinity groups.

The flip-side to holding a card that rewards one's loyalty to a football team is also examined in this report - namely those cards issued by retailers that reward the consumers themselves for using them. Cards such as Tesco's Clubcard, Argos' Premier Card and Boots' Advantage Card all aim to create new loyalties, through vouchers, offers and targeted mailings.

Other Mintel reports of relevance are:

- Current Accounts and Personal Loans, Finance Intelligence, January 2001

- Promotional Strategies in Financial Services, Finance Intelligence, March 2001

- Credit and Debit Cards, Finance Intelligence, August 2001

- Financial Information on Consumers, Finance Intelligence, November 2001.

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