Focus Blue and Rewards programs are similar but separate programs that allow researchers to pay research participants with a pre-loaded Visa card. Plastic and digital cards are available, and physical cards can be customized with the participants' names or instant-issued without names. The cards can be used anywhere that accepts payments from Visa.
These two card programs allow you to choose between different customization and payment options.
| Details | Focus Blue Program | Rewards Program |
|---|---|---|
| Program setup time | 8-12 weeks | 2-3 weeks (if not customized) |
| Cost | No cost | $1 per card |
| Support for recurring payments | Yes | No |
| Requires fee disclosures | Yes, available in English and Spanish | No |
| Monthly maintenance fee | Inactivity fee info in disclosures | $3 per month after first 12 months |
| Personal information | Name, address, email address, DOB, SSN, and Employee ID/unique identifier (required) | Name, address, email address |
| Anonymous option | Yes | Yes |
| 1099 Reportable | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| MAX calendar year | No cap | $300,000 |
| Format | Physical card only | Physical or digital option |
To get started, email Purcard.Rewards@uvm.edu with a meeting request. Training with US Bank will be scheduled after meeting with the PurCard team.
Program Determination
Which program is right for my research?
The PurCard team can help you decide which program is best for your research needs, using the answers to these questions:
- Are these recurring payments?
- When are the cards needed, or when is the next study?
- How many cards are needed initially and ongoing (monthly/annually)?
- How often are cards loaded and with what amounts?
- What is the maximum spend per participant?
- What is the total spend for the study?
What is a digital rewards card?
Digital Rewards cards are sent to the recipient as an email. Participants will receive a message from ̽̽Rewards@mydigitalcard.com with the subject line “Your ̽̽ Reward card”. Digital cards are only available through the US Bank Rewards program.
What information will I need to order Focus Blue or rewards cards?
You will need the following information to order cards through these programs:
- Valid chartstring with account
- IRB Protocol Number
- Project Name and Number
- Department Number
- Responsible Individual
- Availability to train with US Bank and PurCard team
- for each recipient