Discover partners with Utix for pre-paid gift scheme

The partnership enables consumers to redeem prepaid cards for rounds of golf, visits to day spas, or days at the slopes in the form of a prepaid gift ticket at thousands of venues across the country. The first of the new prepaid Universal Golf and Universal Spa Tickets will be available to the corporate premium industry this month. The retail product, Giftix, will be available to consumers at national retailers by the fall of this year.

The new suite of Utix prepaid products is one of the first designed under the exclusive partnership agreement between Discover Financial Services and WildCard Systems, and are accepted throughout the Discover/NOVUS Network. The Discover/NOVUS acceptance mark will be present on the back of all Universal Golf and Universal Spa prepaid gift cards. In addition, a directory of participating venues will accompany each prepaid card.

"The flexibility and functionality provided through the Discover/NOVUS Network and the processing experience and services provided by WildCard Systems were the driving forces behind our decision to move forward with the launch of our electronic prepaid gift products, said Tony Roth, president, Utix. "The use of the magnetic stripe will allow us to penetrate other leisure markets and fuel our business growth exponentially."

"The Utix magnetic-stripe gift tickets are revolutionary and require a complex technology solution. From not requiring merchants to change their existing point-of-sale process to making certain that customers are able to redeem their tickets at participating venues, these prepaid gift products call for a unique electronic payments platform," said Gary Palmer, chief operating officer, WildCard Systems. "But in the end, all consumers and merchants really expect is for these cards to work the first time and every time. The role of WildCard Systems and Discover/NOVUS Network is to make sure this happens."

"We are enthusiastic about this unique product offering and the opportunity to leverage the strength of the Discover/NOVUS Network," said Harit Talwar, senior vice president, Discover Business Services. "Our Network allows Utix branding flexibility, multiple methods of distribution, as well as targeted acceptance for their prepaid gift product and other card payment needs. This partnership makes it possible for clients to enhance their current practices with prepaid gift cards and open many doors for future growth."