First Bank Selects Buzz Points to Offer Shop Local Loyalty and Rewards Program

MCCOMB, Miss., Oct. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Buzz Points, a leader in connecting local businesses, community financial institutions and consumers through rewards, today announced that First Bank, a financial institution headquartered in McComb, Miss., with eleven branch locations serving customers in southwest and south central Miss., has selected the Buzz Points merchant-funded loyalty program. Buzz Points is free for consumers and allows bank customers to earn rewards while supporting the local economy by using their debit cards for everyday shopping.  

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"Community banks and local businesses are vital to the economic growth of this area," said Vickie M. Webb, Senior Vice President of First Bank. "Southwest Mississippi is our home. We are local people making local decisions and we are always looking for ways to bring value to our customers and our communities. Buzz Points will help strengthen the growing sentiment that buying local is a real possibility for our community by rewarding our customers while also providing local businesses with a robust set of data analysis and marketing tools to help them compete with the national chains. It is a win-win-win for our customers, our local merchants and our own institution."

Buzz Points is the only merchant-funded rewards platform that works with community financial institutions and local businesses to engage mutual customers. First Bank customers can earn points by using their debit card whenever they shop, but they earn more points for local shopping and the most points for shopping with local businesses enrolled in the program. Buzz Points creates additional revenue for financial institutions and gives local businesses a turnkey marketing solution that provides the data analysis and targeted marketing technologies they need to expand their market reach, attract new business and increase the loyalty of existing customers.

"Southwest Mississippi has a rich heritage of hard work and industry, and is home to many independently-owned businesses," said Jay Valanju, CEO of Buzz Points. "The continued success of area merchants, despite the introduction of national chains and big-box retailers, attests to these businesses' resilience, unique offerings and exceptional customer service. First Bank has been an active and integral part of the communities it serves since 1895, and by launching Buzz Points, they will further stimulate the local economy and help create a competitive edge for their independent business owners."

Bank customers enrolled in the free program earn points automatically through debit card purchases that can be redeemed easily for gift cards, cash cards and donations to local non-profits using the Buzz Points web interface or mobile app that allows users to track, manage and redeem points. A continually expanding network of 30,000+ local businesses nationwide allows cardholders to shop locally, accrue points and redeem rewards wherever they are in the United States.

About Buzz Points, Inc.
Buzz Points, Inc. is the creator of the Buzz Points loyalty product suite, which connects consumers, local merchants and community financial institutions through social media engagement, targeted marketing and rewards. The Buzz Points Program enables credit unions and community banks to generate greater non-interest income, increase transactions, reduce account attrition, drive new loans and attract new customers. The Buzz Points Merchant Program provides additional revenue to financial institutions, increases existing consumer loyalty and supports local businesses by increasing their market reach and attracting new customers. For more information, visit www.buzzpoints.com.

Media Contact:
Susan Guerra 
Thatcher+Co. 
[email protected] 
973-650-6555

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SOURCE Buzz Points, Inc.

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