Citibank Expands Philippine Card Business

Citibank Philippines Thursday launched a MasterCard Premier Airlines Miles credit card to replace its existing miles card that was exclusive to Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, according to a local report. Citibank says the card is designed to increase its miles-reward membership to 80,000 cardholders by the end of the year, up from 40,000 as of the end of May. "It's more than just a replacement card. It's a significant step forward," Mark Jones, Citibank Philippines business manager, says in the report. Besides Cathay, the new rewards card includes Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Thai Airway and Northwest Airlines, the reports says. The card also supports two travel alliances, One World and Star Alliance, which enables cardholders to earn and redeem their miles on more than 70 airlines worldwide. Miles earned with the new card do not expire, Citibank says.