This innovative credit card program is a unique endeavor between the public and private sectors. Hutchinson Credit Union and the City of Hutchinson Kansas (population 45,000) have cooperated to make the HutchCard program possible. A portion of each dollar spent with the HutchCard VISA credit card goes into a "community chest" designated to make improvements to the City's parks and zoo. In addition, the credit union pays the city a fixed amount once per year for the number of active accounts. Currently the program, which began in mid-1998, is generating approximately $25,000 per year in non-tax revenues for improvements to our city.
The card design features well known sites of our community and can be seen at: http://www.hutchinsoncreditunion.com/products_and_services/consumer_loans/hutch_card.asp
The credit union has a community charter and is responsible for aspects of the credit card program. The City provided no-cost marketing via their utility billing as well as space for posters at all appropriate city-owned facilities.