实用英语词汇积累：高端信用卡

随着亚洲的富人数量持续大幅增长，银行在过去一年中不断发行新的信用卡来吸引他们的注意力，并争取他们的业务。

　　With the number of wealthy still rising strongly in Asia, banks have been rolling out new credit cards that offer high-end services and lavish benefits to capture the attention of ultra-high-net-worth individuals and compete for their business.

　　直到最近，高端信用卡市场主要被美国运通公司(American Express)，及该公司凭邀请才能持有的百夫长卡(Centurion card)所占据。但是，这块市场的竞争也日趋激烈。

　　Until recently, the high-end credit card market was served primarily by American Express and its invitation-only Centurion card. But competition has heated up.

　　2010年底，花旗银行(Citibank)在新加坡重新推出Ultima卡，这是一款最高端的生活方式卡，其目标客户是有价值500万新加坡元(约合400万美元)可投资资产由花旗银行管理的人士。该信用卡现在也在香港、印度、印度尼西亚、菲律宾和台湾发行。

　　In late 2010, Citibank reintroduced the Ultima card in Singapore, its most prestigious lifestyle card targeting those with 5 million Singapore dollars, or $4 million, of investable assets under management at the bank. The card is now also available in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan.

　　同样在新加坡，星展银行(DBS Bank)去年推出了Insignia Visa无限卡，面向的客户是在该银行拥有不少于300万美元投资资产，或年收入不少于50万美元的人士。

　　Also in Singapore, DBS Bank introduced the Insignia Visa Infinite card last year for clients with a minimum of 3 million dollars of assets under investment with the bank, or those with an annual income of at least 500,000 dollars.

　　在去年推出的还有大华银行(UOB)的尊贵专享卡(Privilege Reserve Card)，该卡针对的客户是在该行拥有至少200万美元资产者。

　　The UOB Privilege Reserve Card, also introduced last year, is extended to customers with assets under management at the bank of at least 2 million dollars.

　　最新加入该领域竞争的是万事达卡(MasterCard)，该公司计划很快在数个亚洲市场推出世界精英卡(World Elite card)。该卡面向私人银行客户，并提供多种旅行优惠，如乘飞机时免费升舱、私人飞机租赁折扣，还有旅行服务和全天候的礼宾服务。

　　The latest to join the fray in the region will be MasterCard, which intends to introduce its World Elite card in several Asian markets soon. The card is aimed at private banking clients and provides various travel benefits, like complimentary airline seat upgrades and discounts on private jet rental, along with travel services and a 24/7 concierge service.

　　“这张卡不只是提供优惠，还有优越的体验和独享性，”万事达卡中东、非洲和亚太地区高级副总裁波鲁什•辛格(Porush Singh)说。“每家银行都会各自规定获得此卡的最低要求，但此卡针对的确实是最高端的银行客户。”

　　“This card is not only about the benefits, but also about experiences and exclusivity,” said Porush Singh, a senior vice president of MasterCard for the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. “Each bank will come up with their minimum requirements for the customer to be able to get the card, but this is really for the top-tier banking customers.”

　　所有这些信用卡都以高水准的服务为特征，持卡人拥有专属的服务人员或“生活方式经理”，可以随叫随到，帮助他们安排专享的旅程体验、入手一个很难买到的奢侈品牌手包、或在最后一刻预定到顶级餐厅的桌位。

　　All of the cards are characterized by a high level of service, with dedicated concierges or “lifestyle managers” that cardholders can call at any time to get help organizing exclusive travel experiences, securing a hard-to-get luxury handbag or booking a last-minute table at a top restaurant.

　　有时候，客户要求的不是昂贵、而是罕见的物品，大华银行的一名顾问曾帮助新加坡的一位持卡者，找到了一家位于瑞士的著名特色烘培屋，并为这位客户的一位有忌口的家人，送去了一个不含面粉和麸质的蛋糕。

　　Sometimes the requests are for things that are more rare than costly. At UOB, one consultant helped a cardholder in Singapore locate a renowned specialty bakery in Switzerland and send a flourless, gluten-free cake to a loved one who has dietary restrictions.

　　星展银行信用卡和无担保贷款业务负责人黄惠婷(Ooi Huey Tyng，音译)说，她所在的银行收到的最不同寻常的要求是，一位客户想要制作一个个性化的相册作为答谢礼物。服务人员专门来到这位客户家中翻阅一些旧相册，帮助客户确定用以制作礼物的照片。

　　Ooi Huey Tyng, head of cards and unsecured loans at DBS Bank, said the most unusual request her bank had received was from a client who wanted to create a personalized photo album as a thank-you gift. The concierge went to the client’s home to look through some old photo albums to help determine the pictures.

　　尽管欧洲和美国经济低迷，而且欧美经济已经开始对亚洲经济造成更大的影响，但辛格说，他认为现在仍然是向高净值人士推介信用卡的良好时机，这一客户群体“通常是支出高、风险低”。

　　Despite the economic downturn in Europe and the United States, which is beginning to have a more significant impact on Asian economies, Mr. Singh said he believed the time was still right to introduce credit cards for high-net-worth individuals, who are “typically high spending and low risk.”

　　根据《世界财富报告2012》(World Wealth Report 2012)，亚太地区现在拥有规模最大的高净值人群，有337万人，超过了北美的335万人。该报告每年一份，是由私营的加拿大皇家银行财富管理部门 (RBC Wealth Management)和咨询公司凯捷(Capgemini)通过调查共同发布的。

　　The Asia-Pacific region now has the largest population of high-net-worth individuals, at 3.37 million, surpassing North America with 3.35 million, according to World Wealth Report 2012, an annual survey by the private bank RBC Wealth Management with the consulting firm Capgemini.

　　在新加坡，高净值人士总人数在2011年下降了7.8%，降至9.12万人。但波士顿咨询公司(Boston Consulting Group)发布的报告《重获力量的竞争：全球财富2012》(The Battle to Regain Strength: Global Wealth 2012)显示，这座城市国家在2011年拥有的百万富翁家庭比例最高，逾17%的家庭拥有价值100万美元或更多的私人财富。

　　In Singapore, the total number of high-net-worth individuals declined 7.8 percent in 2011, to 91,200. But according to a Boston Consulting Group’s report, “The Battle to Regain Strength: Global Wealth 2012,” the city-state retained the highest density of millionaire households in 2011, with more than 17 percent of all households having private wealth of $1 million or higher.

　　这些新卡的发卡数量依然相对较低。发卡银行表示，他们并没有极力试图增加持卡人的数量，因为他们希望保持服务的独享性，并维持会员的高标准。

　　The number of these new cards issued remains relatively low. The card issuers said they were not aggressively trying to increase the number of cardholders because they wished to keep the service exclusive and maintain high standards for membership.

　　星展银行的黄惠婷说，新加坡目前约有1000名Insignia卡的持卡人，该卡的消费额度是100万美元。一般持卡人的年龄在35到45岁之间，他们在国外接受过教育，游历甚广。她说，“到目前为止，金额最高的单笔交易是花超过90万美元购买一辆豪华车。”

　　Ms. Ooi of DBS Bank said there were now about 1,000 people in Singapore holding its Insignia card, which comes with a spending limit of 1 million dollars. The average customer is 35 to 45 years old, was educated overseas and is well-traveled. “So far the highest single transaction was at over 900,000 dollars for a luxury car,” she said.

　　美国运通国际公司(American Express International)亚洲业务负责人古益川(Yat-Chung Koh)说，富有的亚洲持卡人和西方持卡人之间存在一些共同特点。“总的来说，人们都在寻找精美的用餐场所和最佳的旅行体验，只由极少人独享，”他说，“ 但在亚洲，我们有百夫长卡持卡人，会用信用卡购买艺术品、独家的珠宝，以及各种收藏品等。”

　　Mr. Koh said there were common traits between wealthy Asian credit-card holders and their Western counterparts. “In general, people look for very fine dining places, the best experiences when they travel, very exclusive ones,” he said. “But in Asia, we do have Centurion card members making purchases with their cards of art pieces, exclusive jewelry items, collectibles in general.”

　　万事达卡公司的辛格说，他认为西方客户更看重信用卡带来的回报和服务，较少关注生活方式上的好处。“一边注重购买商品，另一边注重优越的体验，”他说，在亚洲，“人们很重视独享的体验。”

　　Mr. Singh of MasterCard said he believed that Western customers were looking more at the rewards and services their cards offered, and less at lifestyle benefits. “It’s the purchasing of goods versus experiential benefits,” he said. In Asia, “exclusive experiences are valued.”

　　然而，有一种会尤其受亚洲客户喜爱：累积飞行里程来兑换免费机票和座位升舱。

　　One reward, however, is particularly popular with Asian clients: air miles to use for free airplane tickets or upgrades.

　　“他们乐此不疲，”黄惠婷说道，“因为他们在旅行时可能会携带全家，并让家人免费乘坐商务舱。倒不是他们付不起机票钱，而是他们觉得自己已经花了很多钱。”

　　“They can never get enough of those,” Ms. Ooi said, “because when they travel, they may bring their whole family and have them travel in business class for free. It’s not so much they can’t afford it, but they feel they’re already spending so much.”