The co-branded credit card will have exclusive features such as CSK-themed design, special CSK merchandise offers, reward programmes and robust security.
The yellow coloured co-branded credit cards will bear the logos of CSK and City Union Bank.
In an interaction with this correspondent, Vijay Anandh, Executive Director of City Union Bank, said that the launch of the co-branded credit card in partnership with CSK would be a significant addition to the bank’s effort to beef up its bonding with clients – especially the salaried class.
Mr. Anandh said that the City Union Bank would set up a few kiosks in select stands at the MA Chidambaram stadium during CSK matches. With a few simple steps, the onboarding process for co-branded credit cards could be done at the stadium itself. “In case you don’t want to be disturbed during the match, you can just register and we will follow it up later,” he added.
City Union Bank is an over 120-year-old private bank based in Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. It has a huge legacy of goodwill especially in this part of the world. CSK, on the other hand, is a rising star and the brand commands quite a fan following from across the canvass.
The initial focus for the co-branded card will be existing customers across savings accounts, current accounts, term deposits and loan portfolios. Nevertheless, efforts will be made to extend the card to new customers through a fully digital onboarding process.
The co-branded credit card will be available in three variants – MasterCard, Platinum and Signature Powered by MasterCard and RuPay. Besides the aforesaid features, the card will have contactless payment options. The innovative keychain feature of the co-banded card will allow customers to make small transactions without carrying a physical card. “We were the first to introduce this feature, and we continue to build on that tradition. RuPay supports this facility, helping us expand our reach to a broader segment,” Anandh said. The roll-out is expected to be completed within 10-12 days with digital applications opening in 3-4 days and full issuance expected within two weeks.
The new IPL season is just around the corner. Post the players auction sometime ago, every team will take up the field sporting a new look. The excitement around IPL has already begun to pick up. Like in the past, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni factor is still playing out strongly. Though he is not the skipper, Dhoni is CSK. And, CSK is Dhoni. This time around, the focus will be more on him. For one, the CSK czar N. Srinivasan is pushing past 80. For another, the CSK is now completely disconnected from The India Cements Ltd. (ICL) now that the Birla-owned Ultratech has taken over the Chennai-based cement company. So much has changed since the last IPL season.
Precisely against this backdrop, CSK has now been courted by one of the oldest private sector banks in Tamil Nadu, City Union Bank. These two well-known brands in this part of the world – one a classical and the other a contemporary – have come together to facilitate the launch of a co-branded credit card. The emergence of this alliance between the two well-known native (Tamil Nadu) brands is watched with more than cursory interest. Sports, banking and technology could prove to be a perfect amalgam to showcase the strength and foster the trust of these to lovable brands.
