OREANDA-NEWS. March 12, 2010. ELLE magazine, the international payment system MasterCard and the ZAO Raiffeisenbank have announced the release of the new co-brand bankcard ELLE-Raiffeisenbank MasterCard, reported the press-centre of Raiffeisenbank.

The ELLE-Raiffeisenbank MasterCard, with a unique textured design, not only possesses all the advantages of standard debit and credit cards, but is a real style accessory for women, and is also a convenient and pleasurable way to make purchases.

There are special offers for holders of the ELLE-Raiffeisenbank MasterCard — deals up to 30% off, and various privileges when making a purchase with the program partners. The cardholders have access to the ‘concierge lady’ service, from which clients can receive roadside assistance, call a taxi, get HR and pet care assistance, and also receive information on products, services, and leisure activities.

According to Jean-Emmanuel de Witt, the Senior Vice-President of the publishing group HFS/IMG, "The success of the publishing house HFS/IMG in recent years has been gained as a result of our continuous search for new ways to develop and explore opportunities to gain new experience. The mission of ELLE is to continuously improve brand awareness amongst our consumers. The ELLE bankcard is a continuation of this strategy. A strategy, which in the future will enable us to explore the huge growth potential of ELLE in Russia and the countries of the CIS. We are glad that our goals match those of world-beating players such as Raiffeisenbank and MasterCard. I am sure that together we make up a team of winners, and I want to thank them for that".

Global trends in co-branding show that more banks and partners are doing their utmost to meet the needs of their clients. Competent segmentation plays an important role in product development and positioning. Regarding women as a target group, it is no secret that product renewal and design are very important — women want to have a card in their purse that not only gives them access to a selection of additional services and a variety of bonuses, but is also a fashionable accessory that they will enjoy using on a daily basis. For this reason I am sure that the features and design of the ELLE-Raiffeisenbank MasterCard will attract fashionable women, particularly as this card is designed especially for them. We hope that this product will make the buying process pleasurable", noted Ilya Ryaby, country manager of MasterCard Europe in Russia.

"We are pleased that, for the first time, we have collaborated to create a co-brand bankcard especially for women. The card is aimed at modern, educated, active, and stylish women. Many are devoted readers of ELLE magazine, and many are interested in the current trends in fashion, beauty, art and culture. We are very pleased that, together with ELLE magazine and the MasterCard payment system, we were able to produce a new product that is especially for them! We are sure that the unique textured design of the card will make it pleasurable to use when making payments", noted Andrey Stepanenko, Member of the Board of the ZAO Raiffeisenbank, Head of Retail Private Individuals Directorate.

ELLE magazine is a leader in the women’s premium magazine market, and it has entered new territory with the launch of its site www.elle.ru. The site has more than 900,000 unique visitors a month and has become the benchmark for the premium fashion sector. ELLE is the first of its kind to use the mobile phone to enable followers to receive the latest fashion news. The launch of the ELLE co-brand bankcard signalizes continued innovation for readers and visitors and the entry into yet more new territory. Once again, Elle has proved its ability to bring fashion brands and consumers together.

The ELLE-Raiffeisenbank MasterCard can be obtained in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. It will be possible to apply for a credit or debit card from 10th March, 2010. The first 500 clients who apply for an ELLE-Raiffeisenbank MasterCard before 30th April, 2010 will receive 50% off the annual service commission for the first year, as well as gifts; a money clip, and a free three month subscription to the ELLE magazine in 2010.

Raiffeisenbank is offering its clients the opportunity to apply for a bankcard in the most convenient way: in any branch of the bank, by completing an on-line credit card application form at www.raiffeisen.ru in the ‘personal banking’ section, or by calling the information center at Raiffeisenbank. For further information about the features of the ELLE- Raiffeisenbank MasterCard, and also to view a catalogue with discounts, go to: www.raiffeisen.ru and www.elle.ru