What are CLOs (card-linked offers)?

Card-linked offers (CLOs) are Card-Linked Offers (CLO) are a type of promotion a brand or retailer may use which offers an incentive for a user to make a purchase using a specific linked credit or debit card. 

Unlike traditional coupons or promo codes that require manual entry or scanning, CLOs are automatic rather than manual, leading to a higher redemption rate and stronger customer engagement. 

CLOs have grown rapidly in popularity in the age of digital shopping and banking, with the global card-linked offers market valued at $9.2 billion in 2025, with cashback offers holding the largest share at 38.4%. 

How card-linked offers work

1. A customer enrolls: A user links their credit or debit card to a brand's app or loyalty program.
2. Offers are activated: The linked card is enrolled in one or more CLO promotions.
3. Customer makes a purchase: When the customer uses that card at a participating merchant, the transaction is identified.
4. The reward is sent automatically: The discount or reward is automatically applied – either at the point of sale or as a post-transaction credit.

Card-linked offers rely on an ecosystem of three main players: 

• Banks and neobanks, who distribute offers via their apps, providing access to anonymized payment data.
• ‍Brands and retailers, who define their goal such as acquire new customers or increase retention, and then design the offer for the customer to engage with define their goals, such as acquiring new customers or increasing retention.
• ‍Technology providers, who work closely with retailers to design, optimize, and measure campaigns.

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Why CLOs matter for publishers and advertisers

• Proven redemption: CLOs consistently drive higher redemption rates than traditional promotions because the friction is removed and customers simply need to use their linked card rather than remember to cut a coupon or remember a code. 
• Precise targeting and purchase data: CLOs offer precise targeting backed by bank data, and create transaction-level insights, giving brands clear visibility into what drove a sale and how much customers spent.
• Financial services alignment: For finance apps and neobanks, CLOs are a natural fit for loyalty programs, making them an effective way to drive merchant partnerships and user engagement