Olympic-themed Visa Prepaid Cards to be issued by Vancity and Citizens Bank

Vancouver, B.C. November 13, 2008 – Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Visa prepaid cards, issued by Vancity and Citizens Bank of Canada, are now available.

The first in a series of 10 Visa prepaid cards features an ice hockey theme. The cards use vibrantly-coloured art images of athletes in motion to portray winter sports of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and to commemorate the achievements and challenges of everyone involved in sports. They are available at all Canada Safeway stores.

David Chong, Director of Prepaid Visa with Citizens Bank and Vancity says the Visa prepaid cards honour all athletes – both amateur and world class.

“We are proud of our uniquely designed Visa prepaid cards,” he said. “We want to celebrate people and sports as essential parts of a community. This is the part of the Games that invigorates and inspires all of us.”

The series of Visa prepaid cards includes images of athletes in eight Olympic and two Paralympic Games events. The initial ice hockey-themed card packaged for retail markets is valued at $50, and can be used wherever Visa cards are electronically accepted. Visa prepaid cards make ideal gifts for all ages, especially for the sports-minded on holiday shopping lists, and they are a unique Games collectible.

The complete series of Visa prepaid cards issued by Vancity and Citizens Bank will be available in early 2009 through a variety of outlets, including all Canada Safeway stores.

The cards are also available as corporate incentives (www.rewardgiftcard.ca/2010Visa) ranging in value from $25 to $1,000.

Vancity was the first financial institution in Canada to issue Visa prepaid cards. The mytreat Visa continues to be a flexible option for individual and corporate gift giving.

Click here to see the original designs of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Visa prepaid cards, issued by Vancity and Citizens Bank of Canada.

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Visa operates the world's largest retail electronic payments network providing processing services and payment product platforms. This includes consumer credit, debit, prepaid and commercial payments, which are offered under the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink and PLUS brands. Visa enjoys acceptance around the world and Visa/PLUS is one of the world's largest global ATM networks, offering cash access in local currency in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.

For more information:
Rosetta Cannata, Communications Consultant
Citizens Bank of Canada
(604) 877-7561
Rosetta_Cannata@citizensbank.ca

For information on Visa’s sponsorship of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, please contact:
Teri Broughton
Corporate Communications, Visa Canada
(416) 860-8869
tbrought@visa.com