Cards Briefs: 'I Love New York' Card From Delaware's MBNA

Now there's an MBNA Corp. affinity card for people who love the Big Apple and the Empire State.

The I Love New York MasterCard, which was introduced in May in time for the tourist season, has no annual fee and offers a five-month introductory rate of 5.9%. The rate jumps to 8.9% above prime after that.

Cardholders can choose a card with any of five scenes - Niagara Falls, the Adirondack Mountains, the Hudson Valley, Montauk Point, or the Statue of Liberty.

"Our business is selling to people with a common interest," said Peter Osborne, MBNA spokesman. "Many people feel a strong affinity to the place where they are either born or live."

A percentage of transaction sales will go to New York State Department of Economic Development.

Cardholders receive an I Love New York travel guide and a coupon book for discounts on hotels and tourist attractions.

MBNA has 4,300 affinity programs. It is the second-largest bank card issuer in the country with $27.8 billion in outstandings and 13.2 million accounts.

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