Citi has launched an app that lets its customers share points with their friends on Facebook if they too are ThankYou Rewards members, allowing groups of people to pool their points toward a shared purchase or goal.

According to Citi, this is the first Facebook app of its kind, specifically for sharing loyalty points. For the point-sharing app to work, Citi customers have to link the app, which is still in beta, to their Facebook page. Citi customers can start a pool of points for themselves, another person, or a group, and can designate the goal as a donation or an item from the Citi catalog. When setting up a goal, the app lets members make a wish list.

Citi is not the only credit card issuer coming up with ways to incorporate social media into its offerings, and it will definitely not be the last. We can expect to see more companies link up with social and mobile companies. As Bankrate.com points out, others offer discounts or promotions just for customers that are fans of their Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter. And in November, PayPal launched a Facebook app that lets people send money directly to their friends via the social networking site.

Citi lets Facebook friends share points [ZDNet]
Citi offers Facebook app [Bankrate.com]