The Loyalty Newswire April 27, 2026

The Loyalty Newswire from The Wise Marketer

From the Editor

Trust, brand power and corporate responsibility are on top of the news stack this week. Newsweek has released its list of most trustworthy brands for 2026, The Conference Board honored six companies with Corporate Citizenship Awards, and we learn that trust is the tipping point for successful mobile banking apps.

Chico’s FAS introduces a multi brand loyalty program with new cobrand payment cards, IHG and All Nippon Airways announce a new partnership, and SPAR Australia reimagines loyalty in the grocery space with a new structure for SPAR Rewards.

Wise Marketer is on the road this week, attending the Loyalty Leaders Summit 2026 and Loyalty Connect Global / International Loyalty Awards. We hope to see you in Fort Lauderdale and Atlanta. Register for one or both of these important events. You still have time.

We are here to help you succeed. Let us know how we can help.

Bill Hanifin, Managing Editor, The Wise Marketer

Short Takes

Most Trustworthy Brands in the US in 2026 – Here’s the List

The PwC 2025 Customer Experience Survey and the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer both highlight a significant trust gap between executives and consumers. While business leaders often believe they are successfully building loyalty and acting ethically, consumers report a much more skeptical reality. To help bridge this divide, Newsweek partnered with market research firm Statista to identify Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2026.

The list covers 23 separate business categories and in the Retail sector, Chewy, Costco, Amazon, Academy Sports and Outdoors, The Home Depot, Tractor Supply, Lowe’s, ACE Hardware, Barnes & Noble, and Ulta Beauty compose the top 10 most trusted brands. See where you rank on this list.

2026 Corporate Citizenship Awards Announced by The Conference Board

The Conference Board honored six companies with its annual Corporate Citizenship Awards, recognizing outstanding leadership in sustainability, governance, and corporate citizenship. The awards ceremony took place on 22 April. Ulta Beauty was the only retailer on the list and was joined by Dynex, Edelman, Nuveen, SC Johnson, and WM.

“This year’s honorees show that corporate citizenship is most impactful when ambition is matched by action. Their leadership demonstrates how governance, sustainability, and social impact can be embedded into core business strategy in ways that strengthen resilience, build stakeholder trust, and create long-term value,” said Brian Campbell, Leader of the Governance and Sustainability Center at The Conference Board.

The Loyalty Leaders Summit 2026 is Tomorrow

There is still time to join this year’s Leaders in Loyalty 2026, where business leaders will gather to explore the theme “Precision Loyalty: The Era of Intelligent Engagement”. Ebbo is hosting the event at the Pelican Grand in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

In an age defined by data, automation and elevated expectations, brands are reimagining how they connect with their customers. Keynote speaker Kelly Mahoney, CMO Ulta Beauty, Ryan Baltrip, Loyalty Science Lab, and Aaron Dauphinee, Wise Marketer Group will stimulate broad conversations with your fellow loyalty, marketing, and customer experience leaders during an immersive day exploring the future of intelligent customer engagement. Apply now.

Last Chance to Meet in Atlanta for Loyalty Connect US & The International Loyalty Awards

The excitement for the International Loyalty Awards has reached a crescendo and the festivities are being held this week in Atlanta on April 29-30, 2026. 2026 promises to be a landmark year for the loyalty community as Loyalty Connect Global expands to bring the world’s loyalty leaders together in the US for the first time ever.

Loyalty Connect Global is the world’s premier loyalty only conference and will take place on Wednesday April 29. The event is followed the next day by the International Loyalty Awards gala celebration. Follow these links to register and attend.

Chico’s FAS Reimagines Loyalty Experience in partnership with Synchrony and Mastercard

Chico’s FAS and Synchrony have launched co-branded Mastercard and private label credit card programs to provide Chico’s, White House Black Market (WHBM), and Soma customers with expanded benefits and payment options. The partnership enables Chico’s FAS brands to leverage Synchrony’s digital and omnichannel capabilities, including Synchrony PRISM, its data-driven credit decisioning platform.

Chico’s, WHBM, and Soma (collectively, the Chico’s FAS brands) have each relaunched their loyalty programs (Club Chico’s, WHBM Prestige, and Soma My Rewards) making it simpler for customers to understand how they earn rewards and easier to get rewarded more quickly. News here.

Minty Brings the First AI-powered Cashback and Rewards Companion to ChatGPT

Minty, the popular AI-powered shopping companion, announced that it is the first cashback and rewards app available on ChatGPT. Seventy percent of U.S. shoppers are already using or exploring AI to find better deals, and Minty is now inside the platform where those conversations are happening.

Powered by Minty’s proprietary shopping intelligence, the app automatically delivers exclusive deals and cashback offers the moment shoppers need them, surfacing the right offer at the right point in every conversation. News here.

SumUp Announces Payment Embedded Loyalty Technology for Small Business Owners

SumUp, the global financial technology company serving more than 4 million merchants worldwide, launched SumUp Loyalty, a digital rewards program that turns everyday card payments into automatic loyalty points and stamps for consumers. News here.

SumUp Loyalty makes loyalty available to small business by embedding rewards directly into the payment flow, giving independent merchants a competitive tool to drive repeat visits and increase sales.

SPAR Australia Announces Upgraded SPAR Rewards Program

SPAR Australia has announced the launch of a national loyalty program designed to deliver more personalised shopping experiences. The new SPAR Rewards program, powered by Australian loyalty provider Slyp, gives SPAR access to advanced loyalty capabilities seen in many large supermarket chains, while allowing SPAR to preserve their community-first approach that defines the brand.

The launch of SPAR Rewards reflects a deliberate shift in how SPAR Australia is approaching customer engagement, moving beyond traditional, one-size-fits-all loyalty models to a more dynamic and personalised strategy as seen among other leading Australian grocery organizations.

Taj InnerCircle – Neupass partners with Etihad Guest to expand global loyalty reach

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, announced a frequent flyer partnership between its Taj InnerCircle-Neupass and Etihad Guest, the award-winning loyalty programme of Etihad Airways. This alliance will offer Etihad Guest members enhanced travel and stay benefits across participating hotels worldwide.

Under the collaboration, Etihad Guest program members will gain access to exclusive savings during stays at Taj, Claridges Collection, SeleQtions, Gateway, Vivanta and amã stays and Trails properties worldwide and earn Etihad Guest miles every time they stay. News here.

Western Union Reshapes Remittances With Digital Deals And New Stablecoin

Western Union is launching its proprietary stablecoin, USDPT (US Dollar Payment Token), in May 2026. Built on the Solana blockchain and issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, the stablecoin serves as the foundation for the company’s new Digital Asset Network (DAN). News here.

Western Union is pursuing digital-first growth through recent acquisitions of Intermex (expected to close Q2 2026), digital wallet provider Lana, and partnerships with platforms like Crossmint and Singtel Dash.

13 Popular Fast Food Loyalty Apps, Ranked Worst To Best

With so many QSR’s re-engineering their loyalty programs over the past year and making upgrades to their mobile apps, it’s hard to stay on top of the news. Some upgrades make earning rewards feel effortless, while a few barely function at all.

This article sorts through a baker’s dozen of QSR’s and shares the fast-food apps they say are worth your loyalty, and the ones that need to be seriously tweaked. Chick-Fil-A, Burger King, and McDonald’s make up the top three while Starbucks ranks only #9.

Trust is the True Tipping Point of Mobile Banking Loyalty

In the modern financial landscape, mobile applications have evolved into the primary battleground for customer retention. Recent industry insights suggest that nearly 50% of digital banking users are prepared to switch institutions in favor of a superior digital experience.

A global survey of mobile developers and security leaders found that 65% of organizations have experienced customer churn or app uninstalls directly linked to security concerns. While many banks focus on sleek interfaces and frictionless services, a critical realization is emerging: user experience (UX) and performance are only half of the equation. The true foundation of long-term loyalty is trust.

Elon Musk teases X Money debit card with rewards and 6% APY

Elon Musk is once again hinting at expanding the financial ecosystem around X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter. The latest tease? A potential rewards debit card tied to the upcoming X Money platform, along with promises of up to 6% APY on stored funds.

While details are still limited and the product hasn’t officially launched yet, the announcement has already sparked curiosity — especially among rewards enthusiasts wondering whether this could become another tool for earning points or cash-back on everyday spending.

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