Bank Mandiri, Merpati Airlines team up on credit cards

Mandiri credit card holders will be able to buy three Merpati tickets for the price of two at the airline’s sales office in a promotion that will run from Sept. 19, 2012 until Sept. 18, 2013.

THis is based on the deal signed between PT Bank Mandiri and PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines.

“The cooperation is part of Mandiri’s efforts to accommodate increased credit card use,” Mandiri executive vice president coordinator for consumer finance Mansyur S Nasution said recently.

“The partnership with Merpati is expected to increase Mandiri’s credit card business to penetrate travel and airline market, which is expected to grow significantly,” Mansyur said.

Mandiri has issued 2.6 million credit cards as of the end of August with monthly transactions totalling Rp 1.5 trillion (US$156.77 million), according to Mansyur.

He added that most of the bank’s credit card transactions were related to lifestyle payments, such as purchases of electronic goods and daily needs, while travel-related transactions comprised about 25 percent of total volume.