Galileo Launches First Co-Brand Debit Rewards Program in U.S. Hospitality Sector
Slice of Finance Team
Feb 26, 2025
Key Highlights:
- Galileo’s co-brand debit program allows brands to offer credit card-style rewards to debit users.
- First-of-its-kind in the U.S. hospitality sector, targeting airlines, hotels, and travel brands.
- Accelerated launch timeline—reducing deployment time from over a year to just a few months.
- 45 million U.S. adults lack a credit history, making them ineligible for traditional credit card rewards.
- $4 trillion spent annually on debit cards in the U.S., yet most users don’t earn rewards.
Source: Business Wire
Quotes
“ "In the U.S. alone, people spend more than $4 trillion on their debit cards each year, but they aren't getting rewarded for most of that spend. That’s why we built a program that helps brands launch debit rewards quickly to capture this unmet demand.” ”
Derek White, CEO at Galileo Financial Technologies
Why This Matters:
While co-brand credit card programs have long rewarded consumers, debit card users—who make up the majority of U.S. adults—have been left out. Galileo’s new co-brand debit rewards program disrupts the industry by providing hospitality and travel brands a way to engage these users. With a faster launch process and seamless integration, brands can enhance customer loyalty and increase spending without requiring credit card adoption.
