Visa USA to Launch Pick Up Your Pen Sweepstakes

Visa USA will launch its third annual Visa check card sweepstakes promotion. This summersPick Up Your Pen Sweepstakes will provide Visas Member financial institutions a tool that has a proven track record of increasing check card volume.Recent consumer research conducted by Visa shows that these promotions can further drive check card usage. According to a December 2003 survey of Visa check cardholders: - 82% of cardholders showed significant interest in the concept - 59% of cardholders were more likely to use their Visa check card more often because of this promotion - 53% of cardholders claimed they were more likely to sign for their purchases after being exposed to the promotion Member financial institutions that participated in last years Everyday Dreams by using direct mail promotional materials achieved outstanding results, including incremental cardholder spending per account ranging from $7 to $44. Central to the Pick Up Your Pen promotion will be customizable marketing materials including: financial institution statement inserts, direct mail pieces, in-branch signage, web content, and marketing copy for newsletters and ATMs. This summer Visas Pick Up Your Pen Sweepstakes will offer cardholders the chance to win back their purchase amount, simply by using their Visa check card and signing for their purchases. Cardholders will automatically be entered to win when they use their Visa check card from July 1 through August 31, 2004 and sign for their purchases. Check card purchases made on the Internet, by automatic-bill-payment, through mail order and by phone are also eligible.