Who Owns Surgecardinfo.com?

The ownership structure of surgecardinfo.com is quite transparently laid out on its homepage. The website itself is a portal for the Surge® Mastercard. The card is issued by Celtic Bank, and the account services, including the management of surgecardinfo.com, are provided by Continental Finance Company, LLC. This means that while Continental Finance likely handles the operational aspects of the website and customer interactions, Celtic Bank is the financial institution that actually extends the credit and issues the Mastercard. Continental Finance acts as a servicer and marketer for credit cards issued by partner banks. This separation of roles is common in the credit card industry, especially for cards aimed at specific market segments like those rebuilding credit.

The Role of Continental Finance Company, LLC

Continental Finance Company plays a central role in the operation and marketing of the Surge® Mastercard, and consequently, surgecardinfo.com.

• Servicer and Marketer: Continental Finance is explicitly stated as one of America’s leading marketers and servicers of credit cards for consumers with less-than-perfect credit.
• Website Operation: It’s responsible for the management and functionality of the surgecardinfo.com website.
• Customer Interaction: Handles customer service and account inquiries, as indicated by the contact numbers provided.
• Credit Bureau Reporting: Continental Finance is responsible for reporting payment activity to the three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Experian, Equifax).
• Established Company: Founded in 2005, giving it a significant history in the financial services sector.
• BBB Rating: Maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, suggesting a commitment to customer satisfaction.

The Role of Celtic Bank

Celtic Bank is the actual issuer of the Surge® Mastercard, meaning they are the financial institution providing the credit.

• Card Issuer: The legal entity that extends the line of credit to the cardholder.
• Banking Regulations: As a bank, Celtic Bank is subject to federal and state banking regulations.
• Partnership Model: Celtic Bank partners with servicers like Continental Finance to reach specific customer segments.
• Identified on Card: The website states the issuing bank will be identified on the back of the Mastercard and in the Cardholder Agreement.
• Financial Backing: Celtic Bank provides the financial backing and regulatory compliance for the credit product.

Relationship Between the Entities

The relationship is a clear partnership where each entity has a defined role in bringing the Surge® Mastercard to market and managing it.

• Issuer-Servicer Model: A common model where a bank issues the credit, and a separate company handles marketing, customer service, and account servicing.
• Shared Responsibility: While roles are distinct, both entities contribute to the overall customer experience.
• Brand Licensing: Celtic Bank issues the card “pursuant to a license from Mastercard International,” indicating adherence to Mastercard’s global network standards.
• Regulatory Oversight: Both Celtic Bank and Continental Finance operate under regulatory frameworks applicable to their respective financial activities.
• Customer Journey: Continental Finance handles the application process and ongoing account management via surgecardinfo.com, while Celtic Bank holds the credit relationship.

Transparency of Ownership Information

The website is commendably transparent about who is behind the Surge® Mastercard.

This level of disclosure is a hallmark of legitimate financial operations. What to Expect from thecarepharmacy.com

• Clear Disclosures: The bottom of the homepage clearly states: “Surge® is issued by Celtic Bank, pursuant to a license from Mastercard International. Continental Finance provides services for your Account, but is not a bank.”
• FAQ Clarification: The FAQ section directly addresses “Who is Continental Finance?” providing further details.
• Legal Documentation: Cardholder agreements further detail the roles and responsibilities of both Celtic Bank and Continental Finance.
• Publicly Verifiable: Information about both Celtic Bank and Continental Finance is readily available through public financial and business registries.
• Contrast with Scams: This transparency is a stark contrast to scam websites which often conceal ownership or use vague, unverifiable aliases.

Ethical Implications of Ownership

While the ownership is transparent and legitimate from a conventional standpoint, the nature of their business model, centered on interest-bearing products, remains the primary ethical concern for Muslim consumers.

• Riba-Based Business: Both entities are involved in a system that relies on interest, which is forbidden in Islam.
• Debt Facilitation: Their business model profits from facilitating debt, including potentially high-interest debt for credit-challenged individuals.
• Alternative Models: Ethical Islamic finance promotes equity, partnership, and interest-free loans as alternatives to conventional banking.
• Avoidance Principle: For a Muslim, knowing who owns and operates an interest-based service reinforces the decision to avoid it.
• No Direct Ethical Alternative: Neither Celtic Bank nor Continental Finance, in the context of this product, offers a Sharia-compliant version of the Surge Mastercard.