The dream of Mr. Akinfenwa Oluwaseun, a chartered accountant who won the first Diamond Visa  Credit Card FIFA promo, to watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches live in South Africa has  become a reality with the presentation of the coveted prize to him in Lagos.

In his speech at the event which took place at Diamond Bank’s Head Office in Victoria  Island, Lagos, the Bank’s Head Corporate Communications, Charles Udoh, said that Diamond  Bank is happy to create opportunities for the Nigerian soccer loving fans to watch the first  ever FIFA World Cup on Africa soil live in South Africa.

“It gladdens our heart to see our people witness this historical event in the continent by  merely using their Diamond Visa Credit Card.  Opportunities abound for all our customers who  use their Diamond Visa Credit Cards to also join the world to cheer our great Supper Eagles  to victory and have the privilege to watch other matches in the tournament,” he stated.

Udoh stated that Diamond Bank and Visa are giving away one package a month for the next six  months to the FIFA World Cup™, adding that every time a customer uses any of Diamond Visa  credit card, he/she automatically gets another chance to win.  “We’re giving away one  package a month for six months between 1 September 2009 and 28 February 2010, and your  transactions each month get you into that month’s draw”, he stated.

Udoh further stated that packages are for the Bank’s customer and he/her partner, adding  that the benefits include flights, accommodation, hospitality and transport within South  Africa. “If you already have a Diamond Visa Credit Card, you are automatically eligible for  the competition. The more transactions you make, the more chances you get, so start using  your card today,” he stressed.

In his speech, the winner, Mr. Akinfenwa Oluwaseun, 37 and a father of 2, stated that he was  elated to have emerged winner of the campaign which he said he never knew about. “I was not  aware of the campaign and when I was called on the phone to announce to me that I have won,  I did not know where to start from. All I can say is thanks be to God and Diamond Bank for  this wonderful opportunity. I have been telling my friends and encouraging them to use the  Diamond Credit Card,” he said.

It could be recalled that barely 9 months after its launch into the Nigerian consumer  market, Diamond Visa Credit Card, the first naira denominated credit card in the country,  recorded well over 200,000 successful transactions valued at N5billion naira, a feat the  Bank says is “outstanding”.

Diamond Bank was the first financial institution in the country to launch a naira  denominated internationally functional Visa Credit Card, which can be accepted at over 29  million merchant locations and 1.2 million ATMs both locally and abroad. Of course the cards  are Chip and Pin for added security.
All customers have a choice of repayment options _ from as little as 5% per month to as much  as 100% full repayment _ and many cardholders are taking full advantage of up to 45 days  interest free credit. Of course, there is no need to source foreign currency as all  repayments are made in Naira, irrespective of where the transaction took place.

Since the launch some months ago, Diamond Bank’s customers now have access to a range of  Visa branded credit card products to meet a variety of individual needs. The product range  includes a Classic, Gold and Platinum card that employ the global standard Europay  Mastercard Visa (EMV) application to ensure the cards work at all Visa merchants.

In addition, the credit cards offer customers secure online functionality with Verified by  Visa (VbV), a simple password_protected identity_checking service that takes the risk out of  making online retail transactions. Visa’s VbV application aims to give its card holders a  safe and sure online application that will make purchasing online safe from potential forms  of card fraud.