Our Story
Since creating the affinity credit card in the late 1970s, our team of financial services experts have spent the past four decades building and expanding the business far beyond its credit card roots. As a result, KG is widely known for developing elegant solutions to the most complex problems faced by our clients.
Innovative partnerships and concepts created by KG continue to reshape the payments industry. The result — billions of dollars of value for our financial services clients and their non-profit and co-brand partners. See timeline below
1979
Based on his success in marketing teacher loans using a state teacher union’s endorsement, Howard Kessler takes the newly conceptualized affinity credit card to MNC Financial.
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1980
Affinity concept expands to a wide range of sectors including colleges and universities, preferred professionals, professionals, special interests, sports, and non-profits. During the 1980s and 1990s, KG signs over 6,000 partners, while also performing marketing services for hundreds of partners.
1982
MBNA is founded as the credit card subsidiary of MNC. KG partners with MBNA to establish card partnerships between MBNA and affinity groups, resulting in the issuance of the first affinity branded credit cards.
1989
Further expands concept to include partnering with smaller banks to issue credit cards. Begins managing the acquisition of the smaller banks’ pre-existing credit card portfolios. Signs hundreds of banks and credit unions for MBNA, FNBO, and U.S. Bank in the 1990s and 2000s.
1990
Partnered with NOVA (later U.S. Bank) in merchant acquiring to convince banks to sell their merchant portfolios and use NOVA to process them.
1993
Kessler Group becomes a free standing entity.
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2004
Creates the first affinity/co-brand partnership with 2 major bank issuers — a super-prime/prime issuer and a near-prime/sub-prime issuer — to maximize the value of the partnership to the issuers and co-brand partners.
2007
Launches the risk-based funding business enabling issuers to expand their marketing acquisition efforts leveraging a $100 million investment by J.C. Flowers & Co.
2009
Launches debt advisory business in Australia, facilitating the sale of debt to third party buyers and optimizing collections performance via complex, in-house data analytics practice.
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2014
Creates new concept of “participation” model enabling agent banks to put some of their card programs’ receivables on balance sheet without moving credit card program in-house. The participation model allows the agent bank to put high-yielding credit card assets on their books while leveraging the scale and expertise of a top 10 credit card issuer.
2016
Advises Capital One on its announced acquisition of Cabela’s credit card operation, including approximately $5.2 billion in credit card receivables and other assets. The acquisition will close concurrently with Bass Pro Shops’ acquisition of Cabela’s. See full press release here.
2018
Signs several new Risk-Based Marketing clients and begins funding across multiple bank products.
ECN Capital, one of North America’s leading financial services companies, makes a significant strategic investment in KG. See full press release here.
2019
ECN Capital purchases additional minority ownership resulting in 96% ownership of KG.
Builds credit card investment management platform. Acquires and manages over $1B in receivables to date.
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2020
Investment management platform adds $500 million personal loan portfolio. Began first pre-screen wireless marketing for major telco provider.
2021
Exciting changes are coming. Stay tuned to learn more about the new Onboard Partners (OP).
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