Holidaymakers on the Money With Thomas Cook's Foreign Exchange Services

PETERBOROUGH, England, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Following significant popularity and take-up of Thomas Cook's recently launched foreign exchange mobile app and website (whatstherate.co.uk), the travel expert who offers foreign money services as well as holidays worldwide, has listened to customer feedback and is already producing an upgraded version.

In just two days, the app hit the number one spot on the iPhone App Store's free finance apps chart and peaked at 58 in the overall chart of all free apps. Since its launch on 9th September, more than 25,000 people have downloaded the free app.

The success of the app follows news that another of Thomas Cook's foreign exchange products, the Cash Passport™ prepaid currency card, has also seen a successful summer with more than 100,000 Cash Passport cards being sold from just May to August. This means that Thomas Cook outsold its nearest travel rival over the summer by nearly three to one, selling nearly three Cash Passport cards every minute of the working day. Exclusive rates for currency loaded on to the Cash Passport are available if pre-ordered through the app.

Melanie Whitehouse, Thomas Cook's Financial Services Director, UK & Ireland, said, "This summer has been a turning point for the way our customers use currency and travel technology and we're absolutely thrilled with the popularity of both our foreign exchange mobile app and our Cash Passport prepaid currency card.

"The take-up of our app has demonstrated that there's clearly a demand for the useful functions on it, which help travellers to make sure they get the best rates on their foreign exchange. By listening to what our customers are telling us about the app, we're improving it to make it even easier to use."

"When it comes to prepaid currency cards, as the world's biggest selling retailer of the Cash Passport, our customers know and trust us to provide them with convenient foreign exchange options that can be used abroad safely and securely."

Thomas Cook's mobile app and website compare Euro and US Dollar rates against the Post Office and M&S, and can be used to reserve currency, Cash Passport MasterCard® prepaid currency cards and travellers cheques at exclusive rates to all travellers going on holidays abroad.

Exchange rate trends for the past 14 days on over 80 currencies can be checked and a RateWatch can be set so users receive an automatic email alert if the exchange rate on the chosen currency hits the upper or lower limit that has been pre-selected.

Thomas Cook's Cash Passport is accepted like other payment cards at shops, restaurants, hotels and millions of ATMs worldwide that display the MasterCard® Acceptance Mark.  It is available in seven currencies (Euros, US, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Dollars, South African Rand and British Pounds) and can be loaded and topped-up with currency in store, via internet banking or by phone.

An Additional Cash Passport card is available, which can be used by couples travelling abroad for added spending flexibility. It is also ideal for teenagers going on school or college trips – they take the Additional Card loaded with spending money on their trip, whilst the parent keeps the main Card at home to top-up if needed. For more information visit www.thomascookmoney.com

About Thomas Cook UK & Ireland:

Thomas Cook UK & Ireland is the second largest leisure travel group in the UK with around 19,000 employees. The company has a network of more than 800 high street stores, leading websites, and some of the world's favourite travel brands providing holiday deals to many destinations including Turkey Holidays.

Thomas Cook UK & Ireland is part of Thomas Cook Group plc. For more information please visit http://www.thomascook.com.

SOURCE Thomas Cook