"A home assistance benefit will afford members a 24-hour helpline providing assistance for emergency home repairs such as plumbing, locksmith, electrical and appliance services that could result in consequential damage. The service can be used three times a year at a specific value. The call-out fee and first hour of labour will be free to members," explains Arrie Rautenbach, Absa's head of retail banking.
"A healthy lifestyle benefit will also afford customers a guaranteed 20% discount on consultation fees from selected optometrists, dentists and GPs. This service has a national footprint. If on medical aid, rewards member simply pay the discounted rate of the consultation fee and then claim this amount back from their medical aid scheme."
The announcement comes on the back foot of a 192% redemption growth rate for the programme for the year ended December 2012. The rewards programme that recently celebrated its 1 millionth customer milestone, has also just extended its promotion in partnership with Pick n' Pay that offers 5% discount on purchases in the store till the end of July 2013.
Rautenbach noted that as a relatively new entrant in the market the growth of the bank's reward programme was good. He added that in the introduction of two new benefits, its older ranges of free value added services, forming part of the holistic rewards offer had not completely been discontinued, but enhanced to offer more fitting aspects, to increase value to customers.
He said the bank's lifestyle concierge service that assists members with information on sourcing of products and services including bookings for theatre tickets‚ concerts‚ events and restaurants as well as a Dial-A-Discount service that searches for the best prices on any item or service near customers would remain.
The bank says the complement of both old and new bonus benefits will help South Africans take charge with even more ways to save money and make life easier.
"In support of the strategy that strives to 'make customer's lives easier', we needed to ensure that the benefits offered are relevant and, most importantly, provide convenience not only to customers' banking and shopping but also in their daily lives," he concludes.
