Just in time for Christmas ? Bank of Bermuda customers have collectively got back more than a million on purchases made this year with their EasyLink debit cards.

The bank?s cash back programme has been running since 1996, but reported on Friday that this was the first year that they had topped $1 million.

In total, $1.12 million dollars was given back to more than 11,000 EasyLink cardholders, through a credit to their accounts on 17 December.

Under the programme, consumers can annually get back one percent of what they spend on local Bermuda purchases.

The bank said that no other Island bank offered the same kind of programme to its customers.

Wayne Pimental, head of the bank?s card processing centre said: ?We are delighted to give something back to our EasyLink cardholders and having the Cashback Bonus surpass the one million dollar mark is a significant indication of the acceptance of EasyLink Services by our customers.?

He added that the programme supported the bank?s Buy Bermuda Campaign, as points were only accumulated for EasyLink purchases made in Bermuda.?

The bank said customers could qualify for the cash back programme if they had an EasyLink Card tied to an active checking account, also designated as the account where funds are debited when making purchases.