Question
FNB has an ebucks rewards program whereby FNB customers gain ebucks through two means:
Firstly FNB directly rewards customers depending on how many services a customer uses through the bank.
Secondly a customer is rewarded with ebucks when he makes transactions with other entities e.g. purchasing from Checkers or Engen.
Are the ebucks from both these means permissible for a person to use ?
Answer
We do not approve of the first category where the bank itself directly rewards their E-bucks clients with points, as the bank’s income primarily devolves upon interest. One should avoid taking benefit from these points.
The second category is in order where E-bucks cardholders are rewarded by stores participating in the E-bucks program. These points are permissible for one’s use.
One thing to further bear in mind is that one should not open an FNB account expressly with the intention of earning E-bucks. Yes, if a person already had an existing account, or he opens an account solely for the safekeeping of his money (with no intent to earn E-Bucks) and in both these scenarios, he is then automatically included by the Bank in the E-Bucks programme, then he will be allowed to benefit from the second category mentioned above.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.