Mark Twain Museum Partners with VISA

 Shoppers can now support the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum when they use their new Museum VISA card.  The Museum will receive a donated percentage of each purchase at no cost to the customer.

"We're very excited about this affinity program," interim director Cindy Lovell said.  "Many non-profits have their own credit card program that helps support their cause, and we decided it was time for the Mark Twain Museum to benefit." 

Ryan Murray, Marketing and Community Relations Manager explained the program.  "There is no annual fee for the card, and each time it's used the Museum will receive a small percentage.  We're encouraging people who typically use a credit card for routine purchases to consider signing up for a Museum VISA card." 

Lovell sought a partnership with local banks, but none offered this type of program.  She did some research and found New York-based CardPartners.com, which works with UMB, based in Kansas City.  SmartMoney described UMB as "the highest-scoring traditional bank among our favorites." 

"We feel optimistic," Lovell said.  "Personally, I charge everything and then pay it off at the end of the month.  It sort of takes the sting out of my grocery shopping and filling up my tank when I know that a portion of every purchase is coming back to the Museum just by using my Museum VISA card.  I've even had several compliments on the design of the card.  There are five different card styles to choose from."

The online application takes less than five minutes.  A link is available on the Museum's website: www.MarkTwainMuseum.org.