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Chase rewards small business owners with mobile points program

Ink from Chase, the small business payment solution from Chase Card Services, is using rewards as incentives for new customers to sign up and use their mobile application.

The program works with the Ink Classic and Ink Cash cards. Using the Jot app, small business owners are able to track and organize business expenses.

“The new program was created based upon research we conducted with small business owners to determine what would be the most meaningful rewards program for them,” said Rob Tacey, spokesman for Chase, New York.

Ink Classic and Ink Cash are part of Chase’s Ink from Chase division and offer payment solutions and resources targeted at small business owners.

Little rewards
The new features are currently only available for new clients, but are planned to be available to existing customers soon.

After using their card, consumers can rack up points to buy office supplies, telecommunication services and cable services – all expenses of running a business that Chase believes are vital to small business owners.

“Ink Cash card members can redeem their points for cash back, while Ink Classic card members can redeem points for restriction-free travel, unique experiences, gift cards and merchandise,” Mr. Tacey said.

For Ink Classic owners, consumers will earn five points per dollar on the first $25,000 that a company pays towards telecommunication services, office supplies and cable services.

Additionally, Ink Classic users earn two points per dollar on the first $25,000 they spend annually on business-related fuel and dining.

A final incentive lets users earn one point per dollar on any other card purchases.

Ink Cash owners will receive cash back instead of points for their purchases. The biggest return lets users earn five percent cash back for the first $25,000 they spend on cable services, telecommunication services and office supplies.

Similar to Ink Classic owners, Ink Cash owners get two percent cash back on the first $25,000 they spend annually on business-related fuel and dining.

Ink Classic consumers will earn one percent cash back on all other card purchases.

“Small business owners are accelerating their adoption of mobile technologies,” Mr. Tacey said.

“They are moving away from desktops and laptops and toward smartphones and tablets,” he said.

Business on mobile
The news about new reward-based services from Ink from Chase shows the importance of mobile for small businesses.

Recently, the company rolled out a mobile app that lets customers manage their finances while on the go (see story).

“Chase launched the Ink from Chase card portfolio with the goal of providing small business owners with products that save them time and allow them to focus on growing their business,” said Mr. Tacey.

“Both the recent Jot mobile app launch and the new rewards program offer small business owners greater ease, additional benefits and more support,” he said.

Final Take
Lauren Johnson is editorial assistant on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York