CSG Card Services, the nation's largest credit union card processor, is promoting MasterCard's debit products to the 12,700 U.S. credit unions in a joint marketing agreement with the card association.
The effort is part of MasterCard's push to promote what it terms The Complete Debit Program -- encompassing its Master-Money off-line debit product, its Maestro on-line debit product, and the Cirrus automated teller machine network.
Officials at CSG, which is affiliated with the Credit Union National Association, said the deal will give credit unions better access to the types of products they need to compete with commercial banks.
"This is one area in which credit unions are competitive with banks, and we're seeing a lot of interest from credit unions who want to keep things that way," said Elizabeth Taylor Quilliam, vice president at Madison, Wis.-based CSG Card Services.
Under the marketing agreement, MasterCard and CSG will offer unspecified "financial incentives" to credit unions who partake of MasterCard debit products.
CSG and the trade group also offer members Visa debit products, Ms. Taylor Quilliam said -- but without financial incentives.
The first phase of the joint effort -- training for CSG personnel -- is scheduled to run through the next several weeks.
