Visa and Raiffeisen Bank have launched for the first time in Central and Eastern Europe the Visa Signature card (debit and credit), expanding exclusive benefits for super-premium cardholders in the Romanian market. This initiative reinforces both companies’ commitment to providing innovative financial products and services, offering clients significant advantages and an enhanced experience with Visa Premium cards. Made from 99% recycled plastic, the new card has been added to the bank’s product portfolio and is accessible to a significant segment of premium clients. Visa Signature stands out with a flexible structure and multiple benefits designed to offer a superior level of comfort and extended access to a range of exclusive services. These include personalized concierge services, access to the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection, special offers through the Visa Merchant Offers Centre, and 24/7 Global Customer Assistance Services (GCAS). “Visa Signature represents an important step in expanding our relationship with premium segment clients, providing them access to a wide range of exclusive benefits. The new Visa Signature card comes with a series of advantages specifically designed to meet their mobility and flexibility needs, while also allowing secure payments, globally accepted, enhanced with premium benefits and a more seamless digital integration. We are thrilled to partner with Raiffeisen Bank to bring this regional premiere to Romania. This continues the strategic partnership extended this year through the issuance of all the bank’s cards under the Visa brand, once again confirming once again that together we can constantly innovate and take the digital payments in Romania to the next level,” stated Elena Ungureanu, Visa Country Manager for Romania. “Visa has been a trusted partner of Raiffeisen Bank since our early presence in the Romanian market, and with the exclusive partnership announced this year, we have entered a new phase of collaboration. The launch of Visa Signature reinforces our commitment to delivering solutions that add value to both our premium product portfolio and the customer experience”, said Vladimir Kalinov, Vice President of Retail at Raiffeisen Bank Romania. The new Visa Signature card complements the Visa Premium universe, joining the Infinite, Platinum, and Gold cards. Designed to meet the high standards of affluent clients seeking personalized services and exclusive experiences, Visa Signature expands the range of lifestyle benefits for cardholders, offering enhanced convenience in everyday life, such as full travel insurance, extended access to national and international airport lounges, and global emergency assistance services. The local benefits of premium cards particularly target transportation, roadside and home assistance services: discounts on BlackCab rides, safe transportation for children, private drivers for personal car transport and airport transfers. Additionally, Visa Premium cardholders enjoy discounts at restaurants, dental clinics, beauty salons, and fitness centers. They also have free access to airport lounges in Bucharest, Cluj, Timisoara, and Vienna, and discounts on mobility packages, including replacement car and towing services in case of accidents or technical malfunctions. International privileges within the Visa Premium universe include global assistance, preferential access to international airport lounges, and significant discounts on car rentals and hotel bookings. The Visa Luxury Hotel Collection provides access to over 900 locations, ranging from boutique hotels to major luxury hotel chains, with best-guaranteed booking rates, automatic room upgrades based on availability, VIP Guest status, and other benefits. The platform is available in 10 languages and offers a dedicated concierge service. Furthermore, cardholders have access to Air Refund, a service that simplifies and speeds up the claiming compensation for delayed or canceled flights, offering up to 600 euros depending on the flight distance and delay duration, with no commission charged for unresolved cases.
The Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca (UBB) has established an endowment fund, which the institution described as a "strategic" financial mechanism aimed at supporting academic excellence and ensuring the long-term sustainability of university projects. The initiative is a first of its kind in the local academia, UBB said. The endowment fund involves attracting donations/financial resources and […]
Romanian authorities are reportedly considering imposing an access fee for the Transfăgărășan mountain road. The funds would be used for setting up decent parking areas, selecting merchants, and similar initiatives. The beautiful, winding road is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country. Local authorities say the funds from an eventual toll would […]
Colombian reggaeton superstar J Balvin will perform in Dubai for the first time this November, headlining Untold, the globally recognized festival born in Romania. The event will take place from November 6 to 9 at Dubai Parks and Resorts, featuring more than 100 international acts across five stages. The festival is staged in partnership with […]
More than 17% of Romania’s population faced severe material and social deprivation last year, which was one of the highest shares in the EU, according to the statistical bureau of the European Union - Eurostat. In 2024, 6.4% of people in the European Union faced severe material and social deprivation, a slight decrease compared to […]
The Freedom and Respect for Every Earthling association will hold the March for Animal Rights in Bucharest on October 4, to mark International Animal Day. The march will start at 11 AM at the National Theater Park, and will go on to Piața Victoriei. Organizers say they aim to bring to the forefront the suffering […]
Several Israeli citizens got into a fight on a plane flying from Israel to Bucharest on Monday, September 15. Upon landing, Romanian police issued several fines. The scandal reportedly broke out for religious reasons. The argument involved roughly 30 passengers of the flight from Tel Aviv to Bucharest. At one point, seven passengers started to […]
