Procurement Card Program (PRO-Card)
Sponsored by IASA, IASB, IASBO and IPA, the Procurement Card (PRO-Card) Program provides the opportunity for school districts to streamline the purchasing process, reduce (not do away with) the purchasing order paperwork, increase budget control and internal controls, provide better reporting in terms of who/what/when/how much and reduce the cost of payments.
The Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO) created and manages the PRO-Card program. The PRO-Card Program is provided on a state-wide basis to 1) reduce the legal costs of each school district setting up its own program, 2) create rebates at levels a single district could not obtain and 3) create an annual purchasing volume that provides a more favorable contract with the Pro-Card provider (Master Card - Harris Bank/BMO) that a single district could not create on its own. It's simple, it's state-of-the-art, it complies fully with Illinois law and it's NOW.
PRO-Cards provide many advantages and benefits over cash, check, purchase order and credit card purchasing:
- no revolving line of credit
- no annual fees
- control where purchases can be made
- limit the dollar value of each purchase
- individual card limits/parameters can be established
- prevent budget overspending
- requires no special software
- requires only internet access
- fraud protection per transaction
- speeds up obtaining critically needed items
- convenient
- no minimum number of cards
- reduces to one check or e-transfer the payment of many purchases from multiple stores
- no transaction charges
- no implementation fees
- all cards provided free
- superior purchasing reports – management information systems free
If you would like more
information regarding Illinois ASBO's p-Card Program, please
contact Kim Lamansky by phone at 815.753.9083 or by e-mail at lamansky@niu.edu.
