Thrift Dumps Marine Midland for 1st USA

Lockport (N.Y.) Savings Bank has severed its ties with Marine Midland Bank Inc. and selected First USA Inc. as its credit card partner.

The $1.1 billion-asset thrift had used Marine Midland as its marketing agent since the early 1980s. The relationship ended in January, the thrift said, after months of inactive marketing.

"Marine Midland is a good bank," said Mary K. Nassoiy,spokeswoman for Lockport. "But First USA is technologically advanced and has an excellent customer service program."

Through this alliance with First USA, Lockport began offering standard and gold MasterCard and Visa cards beginning Feb. 27.

An introductory interest rate of 5.9% rises after five months to a fixed rate of 15.9% with no annual fee.

Ms. Nassoiy said First USA's size made it better able to shoulder the task of soliciting potential cardholders.

"First USA has similar philosophies to ours," she said. "They strive to offer high value products at low cost, along with superior customer service."

Lockport Savings has kicked off a direct mail solicitation to its 75,000 customers, to be supplemented later by more mail and telemarketing.