MICHIGAN CITY, Mich.--Members Advantage Credit Union has partnered with Austin, Texas-based Buzz Points on a program that rewards customers for shopping locally. Anyone with a Members Advantage Credit Union debit card can earn points for using it, and earn four to 20 times as many points when they shop at local businesses in the community that are enrolled in the program instead of at big box stores, according to the company. The points can be redeemed for gift cards at local businesses.
The Buzz Points program — intended to promote the national shop local movement — is free for the credit union's members. Participating merchants benefit by getting targeted marketing, customer segmentation tools and data analysis they might not otherwise be able to afford, the company said.