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Companies: Citigroup (www.citigroup.com) Banamex ([email protected]) Type of Card: Bi-national credit card Special Features: The card allows cardholders to pay bills in U.S. dollars, while those in Mexico can pay in pesos; cross-border remittances are simplified. U.S.-based cardholders will receive Banamex USA cards and monthly statements for both cards, while cardholders in Mexico will receive Banamex cards and statements showing only their billing activity. The Buzz: Banamex USA credit cardholders in the United States will be able to share their lines of credit with family or friends in Mexico. The bi- national program for which cards will be issued include California Commerce Bank, the U.S.-based banking arm of Citigroup's Banamex unit. Companies: Household International Inc. (www.household.com) Type of Card: Private-label credit card Special Features: Household's retail-services business launched a new private- label credit card program for Plunkett Furniture, a high-end furniture retailer headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Ill. The Buzz: This new program offers Plunkett's customers a quick and easy way to purchase high-quality home furnishings. Cardholders have the opportunity to take advantage of deferred financing and additional cardholder- exclusive, money- saving offers. Companies: VISA (www.visa.com) Type of Card: Miniature payment card Special Features: Visa introduced its Visa Mini in Indonesia after successful rollouts in India, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Buzz: The mini payment card is 43-percent smaller than the regular-sized VISA card and can be used at most POS terminals with swipe readers. It cannot be used at some traditional acceptance devices, such as ATMs and terminals with deep magnetic stripe readers, and for transactions that require a manual card imprint. Companies: Metavante (www.metavante.com) UniRush Financial Services (www.rushcard.com) Type of Card: Prepaid credit card Special Features: UniRush Financial Services teamed with Metavante to offer Rush Pay to its "unbanked" Prepaid Visa cardholders. The Buzz: The prepaid card will give cardholders access to Rush Pay's 24-hour on-call accountant; more than 20,000 electronic billers; and the ability to pay anyone any time of day. Rush Pay eliminates money orders, helps Rush Pay holders track their spending, it eliminates bounced checks and associated fees, and it is cost effective.