The US-based credit card provider is said to be ending its DM contract with data management provider Acxiom, though it will retain its multimillion-pound print management contract with Williams Lea.

Justin Basini, head of brand marketing at Capital One, confirmed that its DM volumes had "decreased significantly" in response to changing consumer behaviour.

"We are continuing to use a variety of channels to communicate with potential and current customers including traditional and digital communications," he added.

Basini said the company was constantly reviewing its customer communication strategy. "Our reduction in paper-based communications, and greater use of digital communication, also supports our commitment to environmental sustainability."
 
According to Acxiom UK managing director Nick Martin, "Capital One will now only be providing mail to existing customers, but we are looking forward to working with them on various international projects."

Martin said his company would continue to work with Capital One as the credit card company moved toward a "multi-channel model".

Stella Edwards, marketing executive for Williams Lea, told PrintWeek that the company’s relationship with Capital One was still running. "We can tell you that they are still very much a customer of ours," she said.

Williams Lea won the multi-million pound three-year contract in February 2006 to handle the design, print and distribution of Capital One’s transactional mail.

Basini had pledged to cut Capital One's direct mail volumes in 2007 and switch to recycled paper.