Citi takes over Coles' credit card operations
Citi has added a significant new partner to its white label credit card business, signing a ten-year agreement with Coles. Citi will take over around 500,000 accounts worth A$880 million.Citi will acquire the receivables and run the accounts on its balance sheet. It will be the card issuer and manage the portfolio.Coles will continue to distribute cards under its own brand.Citi's other white label credit card clients include Bank of Queensland, Suncorp Bank and Virgin Money. The latest deal will take Citi's share in the credit card market to around 11 per cent.In August Citi lost one of its clients when CUA switched to a partnership with Cuscal.CUA said the Cuscal arrangement allowed it to keep credit card balances on its own balance sheet, which it preferred from a customer relationship management perspective.