eBucks.com has successfully surpassed it's customer target of 300 000 and is well on the road to reach half a million customers by the end of 2002, says chief operating officer Sandy Yates.

She said this had been achieved by using combined strategy of three business units, namely internet shopping, internet banking and a customer appreciation programme geared to rewarding the customer on a regular basis.

"The sustainability of the model has meant that a constant average of 6000 customers a month have joined eBucks.com, FNB's Internet banking portal and First Rand's customer appreciation programme since it's launch in October 2000," she said.

"Long - term planning and not betting the race on one horse were two key elements that have allowed eBucks.com to consistently grow its customer base."

Unlike other players in the market, eBucks.com had never thought that Internet shopping would be profitable from day one, she said.

It had rather decided to use it as part of a three - tiered strategy to allow customers to spend the eBucks they had accumulated on the Internet.

About eBucks:

eBucks, the rewards programme offered by First National Bank (FNB) and RMB Private Bank, is acknowledged as one of South Africa's leading rewards programmes with highly active members spending in excess of 80% of the eBucks earned in any given month.