GE Capital Retail Bank and Ritani Introduce Private Label Credit Card Program

Updated

GE Capital Retail Bank and Ritani Introduce Private Label Credit Card Program

Exclusive Financing Available on Ritani Engagement Rings and Fine Jewelry Purchases

STAMFORD, Conn. & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GE Capital Retail Bank and Ritani, a leading designer of engagement rings and fine jewelry, today announced a multi-year agreement to provide a branded private label credit card program for jewelry customers. GE Capital's Retail Finance business, the operating entity that provides financial solutions to retailers and dealers to help grow their customer sales, will manage the relationship and service the account.


The Ritani Credit Card is available for purchases on Ritani.com, participating Ritani Free In-Store Preview Jewelers, and via its telephone call center. An online application will be available at Ritani.com, providing cardholders with extended terms and special financing promotions* on purchases. Ritani cardholders can also access and manage their account with a suite of digital tools, including the online Consumer Center and mService, a mobile servicing platform available on iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows devices.

"Purchasing an engagement ring or other fine jewelry is a significant occasion in one's life," said Brian Watkins, president of Ritani. "We are committed to making the experience a positive one, and GE Capital's vast expertise, digital capabilities and special financing programs strongly support our growth strategy and the needs of our retailers and customers."

Financing plays an important role for jewelry shoppers, according to the second annual Major Purchase Shopper Study** commissioned by GE Capital's Retail Finance business. More than 80 percent of fine jewelry shoppers begin their research online, reviewing product styles as well as promotions and payment options; and spend 72 days (up 32 days from 2012) on average, considering a jewelry purchase. The findings confirm that 63 percent of all jewelry shoppers determine how they will pay for their purchase before they visit a store, and that the availability of financing drove their choice of retailer for 43 percent of all jewelry shoppers surveyed.

"Ritani is an industry leader, marrying the online and offline shopping experience," said Regina Leadem, vice president of Sales for the Jewelry and Luxury segment of GE Capital's Retail Finance business. "We are delighted to work with Ritani and provide convenient payment options that enable their customers to design and select the jewelry of their dreams."

For 80 years, GE Capital has provided billions of dollars in consumer financing through major retailers and more than 200,000 small- and mid-sized businesses throughout the United States. GE Capital is a leading provider of consumer credit in the Luxury industry for more than 30 years. The company helps merchants build their businesses through consumer financing programs that drive business growth and customer satisfaction, and supports its clients with proprietary online technology, comprehensive training, and retail insights and analytics.

*subject to approval and availability.

**The 2013 Annual Major Purchase Shopper Study surveyed more than 3,200 shoppers nationwide, comprised of nearly 2,220 GE Capital Retail Bank (GECRB) accountholders and 1,001 random shoppers who recently made a major purchase of $500 or more in 12 segments, including fine jewelry.

About Ritani

Ritani (www.ritani.com) is a premium jewelry brand, modernizing the way consumers purchase engagement rings and fine diamond jewelry. Founded in 1999, Ritani marries the online shopping experience for handcrafted and custom-made engagement rings, loose diamonds, and other fine jewelry with a network of trusted local luxury jewelers. Ritani enables consumers to create a custom engagement ring or purchase loose diamonds from its website and have it delivered directly to their home, or a local jewelry store, where they can preview their selection and decide to purchase. Ritani is focused on the growing percentage of people who like researching and shopping online, but also want to see the item before buying one of the biggest purchases of their life. Every order offers free overnight shipping and a 30-day return policy. Ritani is headquartered in New York with e-commerce operations in Seattle. Jewelers interested in becoming a Ritani retail partner can contact Ritani at partner@ritani.com. More information can be found at www.ritani.com; twitter.com/Ritani; www.facebook.com/Ritani or pinterest.com/Ritani/.

About GE Capital's Retail Finance business

GE Capital's Retail Finance business is among the country's most successful retail lenders, with more than 75 years of experience in consumer financing. The business, which originates loans as a unit of GE Capital Retail Bank, provides customized credit programs to retailers and consumers in the United States and Canada that help drive sales. This includes private label and bankcard credit programs to major national, regional and independent retailers in the U.S., as well as private label credit programs, promotional and installment lending, bankcards and financial services for consumers through dealers; contractors; manufacturers; healthcare practices; and service providers across nearly 20 industries. We are not just bankers; we help clients build better businesses. More information can be found at www.gogecapital.com and twitter.com/GoGECapital.

GE Capital is one of the world's largest providers of credit. For over one million businesses, large and small, GE Capital provides financing to purchase, lease and distribute equipment, as well as capital for real estate and corporate acquisitions, refinancings and restructurings. For our 100+ million consumer customers, GE Capital offers credit cards, sales finance programs, home, car and personal loans and credit insurance. For more information, visit www.gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter @GECapital.

GE (NYS: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

©2013 General Electric Company, All rights reserved.



For GE:
Cristy Williams, 678-518-2596
cristy.williams@ge.com
or
For Ritani:
Dave Donovan, DKC
O: 212-981-5240
M: 917-750-7514
dave_donovan@dkcnews.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Connecticut New York

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