Card Briefs: Net-Based Next Card Offering Incentives

NextCard Visa, which bills itself as the first credit card designed specifically for the Internet, has introduced a rewards program.

Customers may apply for no-fee platinum cards that award up to two airline miles for every dollar spent.

The rewards can be redeemed with seven domestic and international airlines, including Northwest, TWA, and British Airways. The points are also good for discounts with such merchants as Sharper Image, Gap, Barnes & Noble, MCI, and 1-800-FLOWERS.

NextCard Visa was launched in 1997 by Internet Access Financial Corp., and the cards are issued by Heritage Bank of Commerce, San Jose, Calif. Customers can apply only via the Internet and can get a decision on applications in less than a minute.

The rewards program is being offered through BonusMail, a service of San Francisco-based Intellipost Corp. that gives consumers incentives to read targeted e-mail advertisements.

"Until now, incentive programs in the credit card industry have charged an annual fee and offered one mile per dollar spent," said Jeremy Lent, chief executive officer of Internet Access Financial. "This allows us to offer an exceptionally attractive rewards program to those customers who choose to transfer balances from their other credit cards."

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