KUALA LUMPUR: Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd today launched its unique rewards programme with three local leading loyalty providers - AirAsia BIG, B Infinite by Berjaya Group and BonusLink.
The three affiliate partners are joining hands under one robust ecosystem by Rakuten Trade in a bid to raise the bar in the online equity trading market, which is more accustomed to single partner programmes.
Rakuten Trade is a 50:50 joint venture company between Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd and Japan-based Rakuten Securities, Inc.
Rakuten Trade’s rewards ecosystem intends to cater to retail investors by appealing to their digitally-savvy nature and diverse tastes by providing a wide range of reward choices.
In line with the eco system’s official launch, the FC Barcelona GOAL Campaign was also announced whereby all Rakuten Trade clients will earn double Rakuten Trade Points on successful trades whenever FC Barcelona wins a match in the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League and 2017/18 La Liga.
This campaign will be hosted as part of the newly formed partnership between FC Barcelona and Rakuten, Inc. The FC Barcelona Goal Campaign begins tomorrow, 5th September 2017.
“As the first fully online trading platform, we must continue to enhance our product servicing by differentiating ourselves from current industry standards," Rakuten Trade managing director Kaoru Arai said in a statement.
He said redefining the equity broking industry is important to Rakuten Trade as it leverages on financial technology.
"Emulating a similar rewards model currently employed by Rakuten, Inc, we are pleased to be officially launching a first-of-its-kind three-partner rewards ecosystem," Arai said.
"The new ecosystem provides us with an ideal way to not just attract retail investors who may have never traded before but to also continue to impress and entice existing traders," he said.
"We look forward to building this three-way partnership into something very special and long lasting," he added.
The Rakuten Trade rewards ecosystem incentivises retail investors for executing trades via their online trading platform.
Investors will automatically get rewarded with RT Points when signing up as a new client, trading, transferring in shares, and through a referral system. Rakuten Trade Points earned can then be converted into AirAsia BIG, B Infinite and/or BonusLink points of the same value.
AirAsia BIG Loyalty Programme head of commercial (Singapore & Malaysia) Kathleen Leong said, “This partnership is a win-win-win for the broker, affiliate and investor. By tying up with Rakuten Trade, we are expanding our system and exposing new customers to other means of earning and redeeming AirAsia BIG points.
"The affiliation comes at an opportune time as we have also just recently launched the AirAsia Freedom Flyer programme that pledges to open up a world of rewards, recognition, and privileges previously enjoyed by a select few in similar programmes, to as many people as possible,” she added.
BLoyalty Sdn Bhd director of retail & innovations Yau Su Peng said as B Infinite progresses in its transformation from the physical world to the realm of mobile, it is imperative that it prepares for the growing preference amongst consumers for digital-based channels.
"We are therefore pleased to collaborate with Rakuten Trade, the country’s first completely online equity broker, in its launch of the country’s first rewards eco-system for investors," Yau said.
"B Infinite is constantly open to win-win partnerships that will benefit our members and believe that this collaboration with Rakuten Trade will well serve their lifestyle needs. Congratulations Rakuten Trade, and a warm welcome to the B Infinite family!" Yau added.
BonusKad Loyalty Sdn Bhd general manager Victor Goon view the partnership with Rakuten Trade as an avenue to elevate the BonusLink brand to another level.
"With this savvy new trading platform that is already making waves in the market, there are now more ways to collect BonusLink points,” Goon said.