ANZ today announced it would re-launch its most popular general rewards program, the Telstra Visa Card, with a new name and a wider range of rewards.

From 28 November 2004, the card will be know as ANZ Rewards Visa and the expanded program will offer a wider range of rewards including merchadise, shopping vouchers, travel and entertainment. Features of the new program include:

• A new ANZ Holiday RewardsTM service offering the ability to redeem Rewards Points for a wide choice of flights, accommodation, tours or other travel services. As part of this service, customers can also use 'Points Plus Pay' allowing them to combine Rewards Points and card payment.
• Option to redeem Reward Points for frequent flyer points for members of Qantas, Air New Zealand or Singapore Airlines frequent flyer programs.
• Vodaphone as a new bonus partner, allowing customers to earn two Bonus Reward Points per dollar when they use their card to purchase Vodaphone products and services from Vodaphone stores or pay their Vodaphone account at www.vodaphone.com.au or directly with Vodaphone.

Fees, charges and Reward Points earn rates are unchanged.

The changes are part of a re-branding program for Telstra Visa Card and follow the transfer of management of the program from Telstra to ANZ in 2002. Effective 28 November 2004, Telstra will also cease being a Bonus Partner in the program.

ANZ Managing Director Credit Cards Australia Ms Jenny Fagg said: "This is a natural evolution for the program and reflects the growing customer interest in general rewards.

"We've re-branded the card as ANZ Rewards Visa and expanded the rewards program to offer customers more flexibility and a greater choice of rewards" she said.

Qantas Frequent Flyer members will be able to redeem Reward Points for Qantas Frequent Fyer points at a rate of 1 Qantas Frequent Flyer point for 1.5 Rewards Points. Air New Zealand Airports members will be able to redeem Reward Points for Airpoints Dollars at a rate of 1 Airpoint Dollar for 133.33 Reward Points. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer members will be able to redeem Reward Points for KrisFlyer Miles at a rate of 1 KrisFlyer Mile for 2 Reward Points. Minimum redemption thresholds and redemption terms and conditions apply.

Existing customers will be notified of the change by letter and will receive the new-look ANZ Rewards Visa plastic as their cards come up for renewal.