Chase announced on May 1 that it had teamed up with LivingSocial to launch the LivingSocial Rewards Visa Card. In a press release, the companies promised that the product is going to “provide LivingSocial users with additional value on purchases made everywhere and special cardholder-only benefits and offers.”

Rewards credit cards go local

If you’re not already familiar with LivingSocial, it is an online service that connects consumers with businesses — especially small ones — in their area. In big cities, that area might as small as a neighborhood. The idea is that local merchants can connect with nearby potential customers through daily deals and other promotions. With luck, those potential customers eventually become regulars. The company claims to have 60 million members in 20 countries on six continents.

If you’re a regular user of LivingSocial, then the new Chase product might well have a place among your rewards credit cards. It certainly provides a good opportunity to quickly build up points, which can later be redeemed as “LivingSocial Deal Bucks” at a rate of 100 points to the buck. The points on offer are:

• 5 points for every dollar spent on LivingSocial purchases
• 3 points for every dollar spent on dining
• 1 point for every other dollar spent

There are no caps on the number of points you can earn, and they are automatically applied to your next eligible purchase. It’s worth bearing in mind that you can’t use Deal Bucks to buy gift cards or for takeout and delivery orders.

As a special promotion, just for 2012, you can also receive an additional 10 deal bucks in every billing cycle within which you make at least 10 purchases on the credit card.

Chase boosts support for AARP Drive to End Hunger for Older Americans

In more news from Chase, the credit card company announced that, during “Older Americans Month”, it would be boosting its support of the AARP Foundation’s Drive to End Hunger. The issuer says it plans to double through May its ongoing contributions, donating six cents for every purchase made using an AARP Visa Card from Chase, and $2 for every new account opened for that product.

Chase says that it contributed $1.6 million to the cause last year, which represented about 750,000 meals for older people in distress. In a press release, Ralph Pinto, a senior director of Chase Card Services, commented:

Doubling donations provides an easy way for Chase and our cardmembers to make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans who are uncertain where their next meal will come from. Older Americans Month is a critical opportunity to highlight this growing issue, inspire action from others and take additional steps on our own to help solve this problem.

Published 05/04/12 (Modified 05/08/12)