Festive bonanza for HNB credit cardholders

Hatton National Bank (HNB), one of the leading credit card issuers in Sri Lanka which specialises in issuing Visa and MasterCard brands, is now offering convenient customer services coupled with superior value additions to the bank’s credit cardholders.

The bank is offering heavy discounts from 10% to 30% for its Classic, Gold and Platinum cardholders at Arpico Supercentres, Pizza Hut, Cool Planet, Fashion Bug, Fashion Park, Dilly’s, CIB Shopping centre, DSI and Romafour.

Further, the HNB credit cardholders have the privilege of shopping at Hameedia, Adidas, Signature and Raymond this Christmas and New Year Season when they do their Christmas and New Year shopping during the period of 15 to 31 December 2011.

The bank has been dominating the credit card sector for well over a decade offering convenient customer services coupled with superior value additions. The Sunday Times spoke to Manager Card Centre Roshantha Jayatunge to find out more details on what the bank offers its credit cardholders.

He said that they are continuing their ongoing promotion campaigns in giving value to the present HNB credit cardholders through more innovative value additions that other credit cards do not offer. He revealed that their Royalty programme is continuing to awards points to the Gold and Platinum credit cardholders’ spend. These points can be used to upgrade or in obtaining an air ticket through SriLankan Airlines ‘FlySmiles’ programme.

HNB has also partnered with over 70 merchants in 2011 to provide additional savings for the HNB credit cardholders throughout the year. There are over 100 merchants partnering for the next year. These different types of partner merchants range from travel & leisure, fine dining furniture, accessories and clothing, etc., where card holders are entitled to varied discounts throughout the year, Jayatunge said.

“With Christmas around the corner, HNB credit cards position themselves as the most rewarding card of the season, presenting benefits to customers without complex or unreasonable conditions,” he added.

“HNB credit cards have become the preferred card when customers do their shopping and this is why we’ve introduced all these features and so far the response has been excellent,” he revealed.

Hatton National Bank’s extensive customer centre network covers 237 locations across the island, offering its customers a multitude of services of the highest quality in a customer-focused manner. The bank has deployed 392 ATMs islandwide and will reach the 400 milestone in the near future.

Chief Manager – Card Centre Upali Elapata noted that customers could obtain credit cards at any of these customer centres within few days by submitting the required documentation and in complying with the bank’s requirements.

Hatton National Bank has been selected as Sri Lanka’s Best Retail Bank in the Asian Banker Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards Programme for consecutively for the last four years.

It expanded its branch network to the rural and semi-rural sectors and launched new retail products targeting new customer segments, he revealed. He pointed out that HNB credit cards are very popular among the clientele. He also said that HNB has a wide range of credit cards to choose from, including Gold, Visa and MasterCard photo and picture cards (which can carry a passport size picture of the holder or a personalised picture of the holder’s choice). He added that the bank’s recovery process is very smooth and default rate is low.

The bank’s credit cardholders can celebrate Christmas and New Year in grand style following attractive discounts negotiated by the bank with leading clothing and footwear retailers. All credit cards of MasterCard and Visa will be eligible to receive these savings.

Jayatunge said: “This value addition will provide a compelling reason for our cardholders to use HNB credit cards for shopping. The bank has always introduced special discounts during festive seasons to help customers save on their purchases, at times when their expenses are high.”

HNB internet banking is an alternate method of banking and it provides facilities for customers to apply for credit cards online, obtain current, savings and HNB credit card account statements, settle HNB credit card bills, transfer funds between HNB accounts or to any other registered HNB account and many other facilities.