Electronic Payments Coalition

Guard Your Card

Problem:

A credit card reform bill was speeding through Congress, pitched as a crackdown on big banks, but few understood it would gut rewards programs and restrict credit access for millions.

Solution:

POOLHOUSE translated the fine print into real-world impact, turning a dense policy fight into a clear, compelling message about what Americans stood to lose.

Outcome:

The campaign shifted the conversation from Wall Street to Main Street and forced the legislation to stall out on Capitol Hill.

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Problem

Credit card reform was gaining momentum in Congress, framed as a blow to big banks. But hidden in the proposal were real consequences for consumers: lost rewards, tighter credit access, and disproportionate harm to lower-income families. The policy was moving fast, and too few people understood the real impact to consumers.

Solution

POOLHOUSE built a campaign that made the stakes simple to understand and deeply personal. We broke down complex policy into clear, relatable terms, showing how the reforms would punish the very people they claimed to protect. By focusing on rewards Americans rely on (and the potential loss of credit access), we helped the issue stand out in one of the most crowded media markets anywhere in the world.

Outcome

The campaign shifted the conversation from Wall Street back to Main Street and made clear that the policy wasn’t about punishing banks, it was about gutting benefits millions of Americans count on. Momentum behind the bill slowed and has stalled on Capitol Hill.