With local online spending on an upward trend, eBucks, South Africa's leading rewards programme, is bracing itself for another bumper online festive season.

"Traditionally the festive season is one of our biggest annual spend periods. Over the last few years we've seen considerable growth in online member spend with the eBucks shop, a trend we expect will continue this festive period," says Lezanne Human, eBucks CEO.

According to a recent report by World Wide Worx, which named the eBucks shop as one of the top two online malls in South Africa, local online spend is expected to increase by more than 35% to R929 million before the end of 2007, compared to the R688 million spent in 2006.

During the 2006 festive season, eBucks members spent a record R46 million worth of eBucks. The two largest contributors to member spend, online shopping on the eBucks website and in-store spend with the eBucks card at in-store partners, both enjoyed steady growth.

Economic modelling shows that eBucks spend patterns closely follow retail rand spend patterns. eBucks don't expire and many members save their rewards earned during the year to add to their disposable income during the festive season.

"In line with the macro South African telecommunications picture, we expect an increase in airtime sales as airtime is an attractive spend opportunity for members with low eBucks balances. We furthermore anticipate an increase in general voucher sales and electronics in the eBucks shop, and an increase in spend at our in-store partners with the eBucks card as members use their eBucks to extend their in-store buying power," adds Human.

eBucks, the reward of choice, has over 1.2 million members and has allocated more than R940 million worth of eBucks to its members in seven years. eBucks' member base is very active, with an average spend to earn ratio of 78%, exceeding the international benchmark for developed nations of 70%.

eBucks, which was recently named in the Razor's Edge Business Intelligence's 2007 Value in Rewards Programmes survey as the rewards programme that consumers get the most value out of, offers its members the widest range of choices of any rewards programme in South Africa – not just the choice of rewards, but also in the range of channels available to members to spend their eBucks through.

eBucks can be spent in the eBucks shop, at eBucks auctions, through eBucks travel, with eBucks' online partners or at eBucks' in-store partners with the eBucks card.

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.