Buzz Points, a leader in connecting local merchants, community financial institutions and consumers through rewards, today announced that QNB Bank, an independent community bank with eleven locations throughout Bucks, Montgomery and Lehigh Counties in Pennsylvania, has selected the Buzz Points merchant-funded loyalty program for its customers. Buzz Points is free and will allow bank customers to earn rewards while supporting the local economy by using their check cards for everyday shopping.
"As one of the few remaining independent banks in the region, we are very tied to the communities we serve, all of which have vibrant downtown areas with a great mix of local merchants," said David Freeman, President of QNB. "Being a small bank founded by local merchants, we are very happy to offer our customers and business community a rewards program that makes their money work harder for them while helping to level the playing field for independent businesses that don't have the marketing budgets to compete with big box chains and online retailers. With Buzz Points, customers can earn points every time they shop with their check cards, but, unlike other programs, they earn the most points for shopping with our local merchants enrolled in the program. In keeping with QNB's commitment to supporting local causes, we especially like that customers can choose to donate their rewards to local charities."
Buzz Points is the only merchant-funded loyalty program that focuses on connecting Main Street merchants with community financial institutions to engage mutual customers. The program creates additional revenue for local financial institutions and gives independent merchants, who don't have the market power to negotiate lower card-based transaction fees, a turnkey marketing solution that provides the sophisticated data analysis and technologies they need to expand their market reach, attract new business and increase the loyalty of existing customers.
"QNB Bank has a history of community engagement and corporate citizenship dating back to 1877," said Jay Valanju, CEO of Buzz Points. "In keeping with QNB's philosophy of offering personal and commercial banking services that provide greater value, Buzz Points will enable QNB Bank to reward customers for everyday shopping while also strengthening local economies in the communities that they serve."
Participants in the free program earn points automatically through debit card purchases that can be easily redeemed for local gift cards, cash cards and donations to local non-profits using the Buzz Points web interface or mobile app. A continually expanding network of 30,000+ local merchants nationwide allows cardholders to shop locally, accrue points and redeem rewards wherever they are.