THE FUTURE OF MONEY Bernard A. Lietaer - library.uniteddiversity ...

Payment systems for complementary currencies at this point tend
to function in parallel with the existing national currency. Although
many transactions involve simultaneous payment by both types of
currency, their execution will typically require two different
interventions. I think that the best route will be the convenience of
simultaneous transactions in both types of currency using the same
media. This would automatically provide the same level of security
for both payments, and cost about the same as setting up automatic
payments in a single currency.
An integrated currency design: Commonweal Inc. of Minneapolis
Joel Hodroff, founder of Commonweal Inc. in Minneapolis,
Minnesota has created what I suspect is the first design formally
integrating the national and the complementary currency systems.
He has also obtained impressive endorsements from the business
community (including presidents of several banks and of the largest
shopping mall in the country), city and labour union leaders, a
county board of commissioners, community activists, technology
experts and other opinion leaders.
The Commonweal Community Herocard system is consciously
designed as a win-win proposition for all participants. Businesses
gain new customers and improve their profitability. Non-profits
attract more volunteers and stretch their dollars at little cost, and earn
referral fees ('cause-related marketing? every time one of their
members makes a purchase with Herocard (the initial system is a
simple debit card, but the design is ideal for dual-currency smart
cards whenever merchants are equipped with smart-card readers).
And, perhaps most importantly, communities have a way to mobilise
otherwise under utilised human and other resources to solve their
local problems.