The exclusive, upscale
Visa Infinite card was launched in France on
11th March 2003. The first three banks to propose
this card to their customers are BNP Paribas,
Crédit Commercial de France (CCF) and
the Banques Populaires group. The bank OBC and
the CIC are expected to follow suit in the next
few months.
Over and above the traditional upscale Visa
Premier card, the Visa Infinite card targets
a very privileged and particularly demanding
group of customers. The withdrawal and payment
ceilings, which cardholders can negotiate directly
with their account officer, are very high (20,000
euros monthly for payments). Cardholders have
access to the Infinite Service which is available
24 hours a day seven days a week and, in addition
to the very comprehensive assistance and insurance
services linked to the card, offers a very sophisticated
"concierge" service, as well as full
range of privileges with luxury services providers
(hotels, airline companies, organisers of cultural
and sporting events etc.). The annual fee for
the Visa Infinite card varies from 280 euros
(BNP Paribas) to 350 euros (CCF). Visa Infinite
is already on the market in nine other countries:
Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, USA, Iceland, Italy,
Kuwait, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Each Visa Infinite card is used on average for
214 transactions a year, for an average amount
of 100 euros, with an annual volume of transactions
of 21 350 euros.
