One Card Does Two Jobs

<H1>One Card Does Two Jobs</H1><H3>By Justine Gerety</H3><I>Minneapolis </I>- First Bank System Inc. has launched a new product-the "one-card"-which combines corporate and purchasing card functions into a single piece of plastic.

The move comes at a time when many card issuers are debating whether the single, united card is the route to the future. First Bank became the second vendor, after NationsBank of Charlotte, N.C., to promote a combined product.

"We believe that this is the future," said Jan Beckstrom, senior vice president of the Minneapolis-based issuer of Visa corporate and procurement cards. "We want to continue to offer further streamlined processes-and thus, cost reduction opportunities-to our customers."

First Bank's one-card was launched in May after being beta tested by two customers over the past six to nine months.