At its 34th Central Committee Meeting on November 17, RENGO endorsed an exploratory study of the RENGO Members Card as well as activities to materialize the card. RENGO has had plans for the card project under consideration ever since the organization's establishment. RENGO will work toward the realization of the card business in relation with the Labor Bank's "all-in-one card" which will be introduced next April.

1. "Business Plan Report" by RENGO Members Card study group (edited)

2. Basic Principle for the Realization of RENGO Members Card

Concept
Eight Million RENGO Members Activities that Support Lives and Expand Organization

(1) Base RENGO Members Card on the Labor Bank's All-in-one Card
When issued for the first time next April, the Labor Bank Card will be able to be used both for credit card purchases as well as an ATM card linked to one's bank account. The framework for the RENGO Members Card will be based on the Labor Bank Card.

(2) Promote the Labor Bank as the Main Bank
Push ahead with efforts to establish the Labor Bank as the main bank where one's salary can be directly deposited into the Labor Bank account.

(3) Linking up with Other Credit Card Companies
Link up with other credit companies such as the Labor Bank Card Service, JCB, NICOS and others to more fully exploit the merits of card management.

(4) Scale Perks of the RENGO Members Card
Remind the other card companies of RENGO's eight million members scale during negotiations to expand the number of shops and services available to card holders.

(5) System Maintenance-No Annual Fee for Card Holders
RENGO Members Card will design a self-contained management card system that requires no budget appropriation from RENGO or annual fee from card members, excluding initial start-up costs.
Depending on the overall revenues of the card system, labor unions and RENGO will make appropriate plans to use the money for social contributions.

(6) Preparation for Starting Businesses
Although the main operations are a function of RENGO, we will conduct a thorough study to move ahead on the premise that operating the organization will be independent since operation expenditures will arise.

(7) Enriching the Card's Functionality
With input from the affiliate organizations and local RENGO, we will enrich the Members Card by seeking partnerships and joint undertakings with current programs at each organization, extended benefit programs currently under study and preparation within each organization, and mutual aid activities at affiliated facilities and stores.

(8) Overcome Factors Leading to Multiple Debt from Credit Card
While RENGO Members Card will be based on the Labor Bank's all-in-one card, whether or not it will be able to used for cash advances will be left to the discretion of union members and organizations.

(9) Management of Personal Information
Establish an intensive system of checks to manage personal information among the Labor Bank, affiliated credit companies and others.

(10) Securing the Card System
Study theft insurance etc. as a necessary minimum guarantee to insure the secure use of the card.

(11) Activities at the Affiliate Organizations
Join the RENGO-established Members Card Start-Up Committee (tentative) and integrate opinions on its materialization.
See that the card can be jointly used in current programs, including designating or tie-up stores in the affiliate organizations and corporate groups, with the cooperation of the Labor Bank and ZENROSAI (National Federation of Workers and Consumers Insurance Cooperatives).

(12) Activities at Local RENGO
The Labor Bank all-in-one card can be applied for at a local labor bank. As application forms will be collected at the local level, it is necessary to develop joint activities with affiliates and local organizations. Specific arrangements for activities between the affiliate organizations ("vertical = top to bottom structure" activities; from industrial federation to unit unions) and the local RENGO ( "horizontal" = one local RENGO in each prefecture) will be forwarded to unit unions, branches of local RENGO, and local labor banks. Regional unions, which are special participating organizations of local RENGO, will be directly supervised by the local RENGO.
Organize briefing sessions sequentially by local blocks or/and by local RENGO.

3. Summary of the Materialization
Establish the RENGO Members Card Start Up Committee (tentative) and begin activities to launch the RENGO Members Card system by fall 2001.