[Practical Finance] From Utility Bills to Easy Payments... Find the 'Aljja Card'

Discount Benefits Vary... Picking Rate Increases by Matching Consumer Habits

As discounts linked to utility bills and various easy payment methods increase, experts advise that credit card strategies need to be carefully planned. It is analyzed that maximizing the 'benefit amount ratio relative to the usage amount (picking rate)' by configuring discount benefits according to consumption types is essential.

According to the financial industry on the 8th, products that focus on telecom bill discounts or combine with various easy payment methods to increase accumulation rates and discount rates are gaining attention. In the case of telecom bills, since most citizens pay them monthly like taxes, it is analyzed that consumption can be reduced like a 'tax discount.' The 'Shinhan Card AltteulMore' card is a representative example. Depending on performance, users can get discounts on Altteul phone bills up to 15,000 KRW. A particular advantage is that there are few excluded items from performance. Payment details such as telecom discounts, national taxes, local taxes, apartment management fees, and national pension contributions are all recognized as performance.

The 'Samsung iD ON Card' also offers a 10% discount on Altteul phone bills as well as SKT, KT, and LG U+ mobile communication fees. Lotte Card's 'Mobile x Roca' card changes its discount benefits based on 13 months after issuance. After 13 months from card issuance, users can receive a 10% discount on telecom fees (up to 10,000 KRW) and unlimited 1% discounts at all domestic merchants.

With Apple Pay's official entry into the domestic market, increasing the accumulation rate or discount rate, i.e., the picking rate, through credit cards combined with various easy payment methods is also a strategy. Since credit or check cards are usually registered and used when using easy payments, it is analyzed that using specialized cards for each 'Pay' can maximize the picking rate.

The 'Naver Pay Hyundai Card,' a type of Private Label Credit Card (PLCC), focuses on Naver Pay as its name suggests. It accumulates 1% of general merchant payment amounts and 5% of payment amounts eligible for Naver Plus Membership in Naver Pay Points. Naver Pay Points can be used like cash within the Naver platform for payments. Registering this card as a regular payment method applies a '5% accumulation rate' and a free membership voucher available only to Naver Plus Membership members.

Samsung Pay, a strong player offline, has also partnered with various card companies. The 'Samsung Pay Card,' launched in partnership between Samsung Electronics and Samsung Card, is a representative example. When paying with Samsung Pay, a 1.5% discount is provided for domestic online payments and a 1% discount for offline payments. For overseas offline payments, discounts of up to 5% (monthly limit of 100,000 KRW) are available. Additionally, products such as 'Samsung Pay KB Kookmin Card' in partnership with KB Kookmin Card, 'K Bank Lotte Card,' and 'Shinhan Card Hey Young Check' emphasize additional Samsung Pay accumulation.

Kakao Pay has also introduced related PLCCs. The 'Kakao Pay Credit Card,' in partnership with Samsung Card, is a representative example. Registering this card with Kakao Pay accumulates 2% of the payment amount as Kakao Pay Points without monthly performance or accumulation limits, and 1% when using the card for general payments. Since 3% is usually accumulated when paying through KakaoTalk Gift, it is beneficial for those who frequently use the KakaoTalk platform. The absence of monthly performance and accumulation limits is also noteworthy.

There are also products focusing on various payments other than Naver and Kakao. Hana Card's 'Multi Any Card' has partnered with multiple easy payment services such as Samsung Pay, Coupay (Coupang), L Pay (Lotte), and Hana OneQ Pay (Hana Financial). It accumulates 1% of the payment amount registered and paid through these payment services as 'Hana Money,' which can be used on the Hana Financial platform. There are no monthly performance or accumulation limits here as well.

A card industry official explained, "Since individuals have their main easy payment services, it is necessary to choose a card that suits them," adding, "Since many products have no monthly performance limits, it is important to examine them carefully."

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This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.