By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Westborough—Avidia Bank is expanding its Avid discount card into Westborough and will offer it in all of the communities the bank serves by the end of the year.
The Avid card allows local businesses to offer a variety of discounts to cardholders, who can get the card just by signing up at Avidia.
Avidia started the program as a pilot last year in its Hudson headquarters in conjunction with that town’s 150th anniversary.
Katelin Cwieka, assistant vice president, social media and brand communications manager, noted the Westborough introduction is likewise tied to that town’s 300th anniversary celebration.
Local businesses can participate in the program at no charge, “and can offer any type of discount they want, as well as changing the discount at any time,” Cwieka said. Merchants do not have to be Avidia customers to participate. They will get a window sticker to show they offer an Avid discount.
Avid card offers have included a 10 percent discount on purchases at Mullahy’s Cheese Shop, free pickup and delivery of snowblowers for a tune-up at Robinson’s Hardware, a free manicure on Thursdays by cosmetology students at Assabet Valley Regional Technical School, and $5 off of a $20 purchase from CJ’s Pizza.
Anyone who wants an Avid card can visit an Avidia branch and fill out a form, or sign up online at www.avidiabank.com/avid-card.
Avidia promotes the card and available discounts on its social media sites. Updates of discounts available with the card are listed on the bank’s website as well.
“We want to encourage people to shop locally as much as they can,” Cwieka said.
Avidia Bank was formed in 2007 with the merger of Hudson Savings Bank and Westborough Bank, both founded in 1869. Avidia has nine branches, in Hudson, Westborough, Clinton, Marlborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury and Leominster, and will open a branch in Framingham in late summer.