LKP Forex - a division of LKP Merchant Financing Ltd - will offer the reward programme to customers who purchase foreign exchange for overseas travel (business or holiday). `Dollars and Sense' enables members to earn value points for foreign exchange purchases, pre-paid international calling cards, and overseas medical insurance - all products marketed by LKP Forex. These value points can be accumulated and redeemed for an exciting choice of rewards ranging from hotel stays and packages to fine dining at leading restaurants, free electronic products, cameras, and departmental store gift vouchers.

LKP Forex executive director Parag Mehta said, "With `Dollars and Sense,' we have moved up the value-chain to offer significant value to our loyal and frequent customers. We want to strengthen our position as a market leader by knowing and understanding our customers better. We hope to develop our product to meet their expectation and lock-in their loyalty in the years to come."

The first membership card was presented to industrialist and liquor baron Vijay Mallya by Mr Mehta. A strategic aliance with Citibank enables members to acquire Citibank Diners Club International Card at preferential rates and transfer `Dollars and Sense' value points to their Diners Club rewards account. This will enhance their points earning and giving them access to an additional range of reward options. The first and instant bonus to qualifying members is a free dining club card worth Rs 2,500 which is given without debiting their value points. With the dining club card, members can avail of discounts and privileges at over 500 hotels, restaurants and pubs, at 22 cities in India, six in the Gulf, plus some shopping centers in the Gulf.The programme offers a new area of benefit to the frequent traveller.

Accustomed to rewards against air travel, car hire, hotel stays and credit-card purchases, the traveller will for the first time be rewarded for purchases of foreign exchange which can earn substantial points and rewards.

u In fact a traveller availing his full quota of exchange on an overseas trip can earn higher points from a single transaction rather than a whole year of normal spends on a credit card.

Depending on the exchange purchased, `Dollars and Sense' members will earn one value point per US dollar. The pre-paid calling card can earn 100 and 800 value points, and earnings on overseas insurance are related to premium value. There are also exciting bonus point opportunities.