SAN DIMAS, Calif. — Procura, LLC, a CUSO owned by WesCorp, PSCU Financial Services, Callahan and Associates and Members Development Company, LLC, is making inroads with purchase cards, a relatively unknown card type for many credit unions.

Purchase cards have long been a fixture in the government and educational sectors and have gradually migrated into the business world as well, according to Amanda LoBiondo, managing director of Purchase One, Procura's card program.

Purchase cards are becoming increasingly popular with businesses and other organizations as tools they can use to simplify and streamline their purchasing and accounting processes. On average, studies have shown that companies which use purchase cards can enjoy over 76% in increased efficiency and cost savings over using payment systems based on checks and purchase orders.

Since its launch in 2005, 43 card programs, 40 serving credit unions and 3 serving credit union SEGs, have started using the cards. In the first quarter of 2007, users spent $19.7 million on the cards, over 147% over the amount spent in the first quarter of 2006.