BMO Adds 'Green' Benefit to Gold AIR MILES MasterCard

    
    BMO Gold AIR MILES MasterCard customers will benefit from a 25% discount
    on the number of reward miles required to redeem for environmentally
    friendly AIR MILES My Planet rewards in the bank's latest round of reward
    card enhancements

    -   Customers can redeem for more than 140 My Planet rewards products
    -   53% of AIR MILES Collectors say they would buy more environmentally
        friendly products if they received AIR MILES reward miles
    -   85% say companies should provide more environmentally friendly
        options
    

TORONTO , Sept. 30 /CNW/ - Beginning November 1, 2009 , BMO Bank of Montreal will once again enhance the redemption benefits on its Gold AIR MILES MasterCard giving customers an exclusive 25% discount on the number of reward miles required to redeem for 'Green' merchandise through the AIR MILES Reward Program.

The new benefit, the latest in a round of enhancements the bank has made to its full suite of credit card programs, means customers can realize substantial savings and redeem sooner for products that are environmentally sustainable choices.

BMO Gold AIR MILES customers can redeem their AIR MILES reward miles for more than 140 environmentally sustainable products and services currently available through the AIR MILES My Planet program (www.airmiles.ca and select "My Planet"). Rewards range from transit passes to green energy services to high efficiency household appliances to less-toxic cleaning products.

According to AIR MILES research, 53 per cent of AIR MILES Collectors (there are more than 10 million active AIR MILES Collectors in Canada ) say they would definitely buy more environmentally friendly products if they received AIR MILES reward miles, and 85% say companies should provide more environmentally friendly options.

"There's no question that Canadians are increasingly embracing and seeking eco-friendly options, from smart cars and scooters to light bulbs and life-styles," said Nancy Marescotti, Director, Card Marketing, BMO Bank of Montreal . "We see a real opportunity to offer our customers an incentive to redeem for eco-friendly options by providing a significant 25% discount on reward miles required to redeem for My Planet rewards. This helps our customers save money and save the environment at the same time."

"As Canadians become more and more concerned for the environment, there is a growing responsibility for organizations to become more environmentally responsible," said Bryan Pearson , President, LoyaltyOne Inc, operator of the AIR MILES Reward Program. "The My Planet program reflects the changing needs and wants of our collectors and we are thrilled to now offer bonus reward miles on green product purchases as well as a beneficial 25% discount on My Planet rewards."

    
    TOP 5 Green Redemption Items

    -   Transit Passes
    -   WWF donation
    -   Bikes
    -   Eco Luggage
    -   Composters

    Earlier this year, BMO Bank of Montreal introduced the following
enhancements to its suite of BMO MasterCard rewards programs:

    -   Eliminated $35 annual fee and doubled rewards earned on a new No-Fee
        BMO AIR MILES MasterCard
    -   Added Travel Insurance (including Collision Damage Waiver coverage)
        to BMO Gold AIR MILES MasterCard
    -   Increased the flight redemption discount on Gold AIR MILES MasterCard
        from 20% to 25% i.e. Gold AIR MILES MasterCard customers require 25%
        fewer reward miles when redeeming for any AIR MILES flight
    -   Introduced New BMO Preferred Rate MasterCard with a 17.5 per cent
        interest rate - lower than most no-fee cards in the market today
    -   Introduced 3% CashBack at National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car
        locations worldwide on BMO Premium CashBack MasterCard
    -   Introduced 1.5% CashBack at National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car
        locations worldwide on BMO CashBack MasterCard
    -   Introduced a No-Fee BMO SPC AIR MILES MasterCard with 1/$20 AIR MILES
        rewards benefit
    -   Introduced a No-Fee SPC CashBack MasterCard with .5% CashBack benefit
    

For further information: For Media Enquiries: Ralph Marranca, Toronto, [email protected], [phone]; Ronald Monet, Montreal, [email protected], [phone]; Laurie Grant, Vancouver, [email protected], [phone]; Internet: www.bmo.com