Co-operative Bank have launched a new charity credit card which will donate money to the homeless charity - Shelter.

The bank will donate £20 to the charity when first issued, and then a further 25p for every £100 spent. This money will then be put towards projects to benefit the homeless and people with housing problems, with Shelter expecting up to 2,000 people to apply for their credit card.

The Co-operative’s Shelter Bank card is the latest addition to the charity credit card family, alongside the WWF, RSPCA and the Bono organised American Express Red. All of these cards offer an initial one-off donation, with a proportion of the cash then spent on the card put back into the charity. It’s an excellent way for both banks and consumers to give something back and help a number of good causes in the process.

Another great way to help raise funds is to buy a plot of land at the virtual Shelter Build a City website. There you can pick your own bespoke vitrual property and advertise your business, or even buy one for a present for someone. This is a great place to advertise your business, whilst making a donation to help out people with homeless people and those with serious housing difficulties.

> > click here to sign up for the Shelter credit card today

> > click here to view some of the other charity credit cards available

The RSPCA have slammed the Australian government’s annual kangaroo culling as a ‘killing frenzy’.

The government have increased the numbers allowed to be shot by commercial hunters from 5million every year to 7million.  The Farmers’ Association of New South Wales claim a leap from 8million to over 13million in the past 12 months justify the extra Kangaroo culling. The Association also blame the overpopulation causing damage to fences, crops, and depletion of the Outback’s water supply. But with the meat Kangaroo goods now becoming a multimillion dollar industry, animal rights groups see this as an excuse for commercial gain.

It’s not just animal rights groups who disagree with the cull either. 8 Aboriginal elders scaled the fences of the former naval communications post in Canberra where a cull was taking place. Once inside the elders held a smoking ceremony, to ‘claim back their land’. Local Aborigines have been closely involved in the protest against the cull for several weeks.

Ngunnawal tribe spokeswoman Isobel Coe told police -

“If you are going to treat us like trespassers you will have to arrest us and take us to jail. We are claiming our land and that’s what our sacred fire means.”

It is now possible to help fund the work of the RSPCA by using their charity credit card. MBNA will pledge £20 to the RSPCA for each card issued, with a further 25p being donated for every £100 spent.

> > click here to find out more about the work of the WSPA

The RPSCA charity credit card from MBNA is a great way to help the RSPCA animal charity whilst you go about your everyday business. This includes a £20 payment to the RSPCA when you first spend on your card!

Check out the information provided from the RSPCA and MBNA below. Please note the details are correct at time of publication - (07/05/08)

>> Click here to check full details and to sign up for the RSPCA charity credit card

• 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 12 months from the date your account is opened (3% handling fee applies)
• 0% p.a. on card purchases* for 3 months from the date the account is opened
• 15.9% APR typical rate (variable)

Help relieve the suffering of animals. When you first use your card, MBNA will make a payment to RSPCA provided you apply online for your card, and make a further payment every year you continue to use your card. In addition, every time you use your RSPCA Credit Card to make a card purchase, a payment equivalent to 0.25% of the value of the purchase is made to RSPCA. And with great rates, it’s not only the animals we rescue that benefit.

* See summary box for details of how payments to the account will be allocated”

>> Compare charity credit cards

Dell and Microsoft have combined forces to release a pair of laptop’s and one desktop to raise money for the Aid’s awareness charity – Red.

The charity ‘Red’, was set up by U2 singer and general man on a mission Bono. His promise is to give a percentage of profits on all things sold that are ‘Red’, to buy and distribute anti-retroviral medicine to people dying of AID’s in Africa. Current ‘Red’ products include charity credit cards like the American Express Red, along with iPods, clothing, and now 2 Dell laptops and a desktop.

Both Dell ‘Red’ products will have no extra cover charge on the same current models available. Instead, Dell will themselves be donating to the Global Fund £25 for the sale of each laptop, and £40 for the desktop, generous stuff!

The PC’s, which were part designed by Bono himself, are expected to be big sellers this year and another major contributor to the Global Funds proceeds. Having only been established since 2006, the Global Fund and ‘Red’ have already raised over £30 million worldwide.

> > click to apply for the American Express ‘Red’ credit card

> > click here to find out more about charity credit cards

News has reached us that the WWF Credit Card has won the Charity Credit Card of the Year 2008 at the prestigious Card Awards. This is fantastic news for all animal lovers out there who show their support by signing up for a charity credit card. The Card Awards are organised by Card Partnerships Limited with the main focus on raising the profile of best of breed programmes in the market.

WWF is just one of the MBNA Charity Credit Cards and helps it’s users to donate to charity each time they make a purchase and for each year they keep the credit card.

 >> View more charity credit cards

>> Sign up for a WWF Charity Credit Card