Card briefs: Green Tree Entering Private-Label Field

Green Tree Financial Corp. will be making its private- label credit card debut with Menard Inc., a leading home center merchandiser.

The Minnesota-based financial services company decided to pursue this market last summer, according to John W. Brink, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Components of the Green Tree/Menard card, such as fees and interest rates, were not released. The card is set for rollout in March.

The program is "a natural fit with the lending that we're doing," said Mr. Brink, adding that Green Tree intended to pursue additional private- label opportunities.

Green Tree, with $13 billion in outstandings, operates businesses such as home improvement and consumer, commercial, and equipment finance, at 160 locations.

Green Tree said Menard, based in Eau Claire, Wis., is among the top three home center retailers in the nation, operating at 117 locations in nine states.

In a statement, Lawrence M. Coss, Green Tree's chairman and chief executive, commented that "working with an established leader in the home center business is a significant opportunity" for his company.

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