Frequently Asked Questions

Please note the following responses only apply to the Citizens Bank Reward™ Visa* Gift Cards.

What is the difference between a co-branded gift card and the standard consumer gift card?
Below is a summary of the major differences between the co-branded and a standard gift card.

Attribute Co-Branded Card Standard Card
Branding Card carrier can be designed. Emphasis on company branding. Card is co-branded with the company logo in black print on the top left corner of the Visa card. Card carrier is designed with the Company look and message to the recipient. Company has ability to use Visa and Citizens Bank in promotional offers (see Affinity Relationship). Branded Citizens Bank Reward Visa Gift Card
Affinity Relationship Company enters into trademark license agreements with Visa and contractual agreement with Citizens Bank which provides the opportunity to use Visa and Citizens Bank marks in marketing campaigns. (subject to approval of copy by Citizens Bank of Canada). No use of Visa and Citizens Bank marks allowed in promotions.

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Is the Visa gift card a credit card?
No. The Citizens Bank Reward™ Visa Gift Card is a prepaid Visa card that carries a fixed load amount determined by the company at the time of purchase. Each time the gift recipient uses the card, the purchase amount is deducted from the available balance.

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What happens if my client, employee, or supplier loses their Citizens Bank Visa Gift Card?
If their card has been lost or stolen, they must immediately notify us by calling Cardholder Services at 1-866-298-2854 and provide their card number and other information as requested. Provided their card has been registered, a free replacement card will be mailed to them subject to verification of their request. The cardholder will be responsible for any transactions conducted before they notify us that their card has been lost or stolen.

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What happens to any remaining balance at expiry of the card?
While an expiry date is required to complete Visa transactions, the funds on the card never expire. So if a cardholder has a card that has expired and provided the card has been registered, the cardholder can call Cardholder Services at 1-866- 298-2854 to request a free replacement card.

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Are any fees paid by the recipient of the card?
The Citizens Bank Reward™ Visa Gift Card has been designed to ensure the recipient has no fees except for a foreign exchange margin of 2.5% over the wholesale foreign exchange rate on foreign currency transactions.

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Can the recipient use the card to purchase on-line?
Yes the recipient of the Citizens Bank Reward™ Visa Gift Card can use it for online transactions however, due to the number of different security features of websites, we cannot assure that the card will be accepted by all websites. We encourage cardholders to register their card on the website provided with the card to improve acceptance.

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Does the card have a minimum and maximum gift value?
Yes, the Citizens Bank Reward™ Visa Gift Card require a minimum load value of $25.00 and have a maximum load value of $1,000.00 per card.

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How long does it take to establish a Co-branded Visa Gift Card program?
It takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks estimate to establish a co-branded Visa gift card program. The program involves:

  • Creating and proofing the card design.
  • Establishing the Affinity Program Agreements with the Bank and Visa.
  • Creation of card carriers to companies specifications.

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How long does it take to receive cards?
How long it takes to receive card depends on the payment option the company chooses. Different payment options have different hold periods.

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