What is a Mass Affluent debit card?

[BertBert]

Mrs Bert has just received a replacement debit card from Barclays. The accompanying letter refers to is as "your Mass Affluent" debit card. Now I had to google what that meant. I'm bemused as to why Barclays would want to say that to a customer. Is it a compliment? It's just a standard debit card on a regular Barclays bank account!

[Doofus]

BertBert said:

Mrs Bert has just received a replacement debit card from Barclays. The accompanying letter refers to is as "your Mass Affluent" debit card. Now I had to google what that meant. I'm bemused as to why Barclays would want to say that to a customer. Is it a compliment? It's just a standard debit card on a regular Barclays bank account!

Tell us you're wealthy without telling us you're wealthy.

[BertBert]

Doofus said:

BertBert said:

Mrs Bert has just received a replacement debit card from Barclays. The accompanying letter refers to is as "your Mass Affluent" debit card. Now I had to google what that meant. I'm bemused as to why Barclays would want to say that to a customer. Is it a compliment? It's just a standard debit card on a regular Barclays bank account!

Tell us you're wealthy without telling us you're wealthy.

Indeed, but not really the intent. I had never come across the term before, maybe I'm just behind the times!

[Doofus]

It's one of those new, meaningless terms, inteneded to put more individual customers into more generalised boxes.

[Mars]

Wikipedia said:

In marketing and financial services, mass affluent and emerging affluent are the high end of the mass market, or individuals with US$100,000 to US$1,000,000 of liquid financial asset plus an annual household income over US$75,000

[BertBert]

But why would they tell us by calling the debit card that? That's what I can't quite understand!

[Mars]

BertBert said:

But why would they tell us by calling the debit card that? That's what I can't quite understand!

They've always appealed to people's "value" by giving gold and platinum cards. This sounds no different. They clearly think people like to show off their status.

I would prefer a plain card so that no-one knows how exceedingly wealthy I am. In a similar manner, I try to hide my wealth by driving a 13yo car and I make my butler hide in the boot.

[Countdown]

BertBert said:

Mrs Bert has just received a replacement debit card from Barclays. The accompanying letter refers to is as "your Mass Affluent" debit card. Now I had to google what that meant. I'm bemused as to why Barclays would want to say that to a customer. Is it a compliment? It's just a standard debit card on a regular Barclays bank account!

Don't Barclays do a "Premier Account" for their wealthier customers?

I'm not suggesting you're not wealthy by the way but they have an existing way to segment customers, so I'm just wondering how the "Mass Affluent" differentiates even further?

[BertBert]

Countdown said:

Don't Barclays do a "Premier Account" for their wealthier customers?

I'm not suggesting you're not wealthy by the way but they have an existing way to segment customers, so I'm just wondering how the "Mass Affluent" differentiates even further?

There is a Barclays Premier account which we have had for ages and ages. So the card does say Barclays Premier, just like it has for ages.

The Mass Affluent title is just how it is referred to in the accompanying letter, nothing on the card, it just struck as slightly odd!

[jrb43]

BertBert said:

Countdown said:

Don't Barclays do a "Premier Account" for their wealthier customers?

I'm not suggesting you're not wealthy by the way but they have an existing way to segment customers, so I'm just wondering how the "Mass Affluent" differentiates even further?

There is a Barclays Premier account which we have had for ages and ages. So the card does say Barclays Premier, just like it has for ages.

The Mass Affluent title is just how it is referred to in the accompanying letter, nothing on the card, it just struck as slightly odd!

We are new to being loaded so have been recently inducted as Barclay Premier customers and they haven't sent us new cards which suits me fine. It's the reason my S-Class is debadged*...

Mass affluent is how I'd describe the results of a particularly fibrous breakfast.....

• things you read on the internet may not be entirely true...

[BertBert]

Mrs Bert was on the same lines. She thought it said effluent!

[eliot]

[DickyC]

Doofus said:

BertBert said:

Mrs Bert has just received a replacement debit card from Barclays. The accompanying letter refers to is as "your Mass Affluent" debit card. Now I had to google what that meant. I'm bemused as to why Barclays would want to say that to a customer. Is it a compliment? It's just a standard debit card on a regular Barclays bank account!

Tell us you're wealthy without telling us you're wealthy.

I don't have that with my Coutts card.

[ferret50]

Perhaps Mrs BB has now joined the Mass ranks of the Affluent society?

Wonder if they will let yourself join in?

[BertBert]

ferret50 said:

Perhaps Mrs BB has now joined the Mass ranks of the Affluent society?

Wonder if they will let yourself join in?

I very much doubt it, I am far too vulgar as well as being working class

[anonymous-user]

BertBert said:

But why would they tell us by calling the debit card that? That's what I can't quite understand!

So that people can boast about it, like starting humble brag threads on forums.

[BertBert]

Genuinely, is it a thing to boast about? "I've got a Mass Affluent debit card" I'm struggling with that I think

[Mr Overheads]

I reckon it's a template letter term that shouldn't have made it through the final mail merge, but clearly has.

[Ezra]

Mr Overheads said:

I reckon it's a template letter term that shouldn't have made it through the final mail merge, but clearly has.

This!

[NDA]

DickyC said:

I don't have that with my Coutts card.

Wealth whispers.