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The Power of Plastic: Non-Traditional Business Grows with Card Acceptance

The local arts agency, museum or charity may not be the first business that comes to mind when you think of electronic payment processing, but more and more non-traditional merchants are discovering the convenience of plastic.

The importance of credit cards to not-for-profit causes was underscored during the efforts to raise funds for victims of the September 11 World Trade Center attacks. Chase Merchant Services, LLC, worked with the New York State World Trade Center Relief Fund to quickly set up a website that was fully-enabled to accept donations. The site is a stand-alone site as well as a single click away from the state of New York website, www.state.ny.us.

This Disaster Relief Fund is an extraordinary example, but nontraditional businesses utilize electronic processing for other causes every day.

In the case of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), a Chase Merchant Services client since 1992, the organization currently accepts all major credit cards online, by phone and by mail. Almost two percent of its total gifts are currently processed electronically; this is increasing each year and is expected to grow over the years.

"Credit card processing is convenient for donors and easier for us," said Donald Sayer, Revenue Processing Officer for UNICEF. "We get real-time authorization, and we don't have to run a tape on it, code it and deposit it as we would a check. It also works with our new automated database."

The holidays are a natural time for nonprofit organizations, card issuers and traditional businesses to work together with charitable programs. The positive feelings associated with contributing to worthy causes such as UNICEF give shoppers an extra incentive to use a specific card and shop with retailers who accept it.

With the American Express Member Rewards Program, a cardholder can designate a particular charity in the program. For example, if a cardholder chooses UNICEF, American Express donates $0.05 per 10 points redeemed to provide healthcare, better nutrition, clean water, sanitation, education and emergency relief to children in more than 160 countries and territories. A 10,000-point donation will immunize three children for life. Businesses can apply to participate in the American Express Member Rewards program by logging on to www.americanexpress.com and clicking on the "Merchants" tab, or by calling 1.800.AXP.1234 at any time.

By making it more convenient to donate, many nonprofit organizations find that adding credit card acceptance boosts overall donations and makes the whole process much simpler for everyone.

To add electronic payment processing to your nontraditional business, call Custom Credit Card Processing at 703-739-2224 or email us at info@customcreditcardprocessing.com.

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