BALTIMORE -- Myron D. Howie wants to improve the way churches raise funds.

"For over 2,000 years, we've used the offering plate for capturing money for ministry," Howie, an ordained minister and CEO of Howie Capital Management, told the Baltimore Business Journal. "Today we can use technology."

Howie and his brother, Michael B. Howie Jr., have created a new program with Harbor Bank of Maryland that uses debit card technology to steer donations to churches and charities.

"Our goal is not just to raise money, but to fortify these institutions," Myron Howie said.

The brothers created Church Affinity Services Inc., which manages the donation debit card program. Michael Howie is its CEO.

Retailers that sign up for the program agree to discount purchases made with the card. A portion of the discount goes to the cardholder, and another portion goes to the church or charity of the cardholder's choice. Church Affinity Services and Harbor Bank take 10 percent of the discount as an administrative fee.

Howie Capital Management also sets aside 10 percent of the money donated to the church or charity in an endowment fund. It manages the fund along with a subsidiary of Harbor Bank, and they split a 1 percent fee to manage the fund.

Since the program launched this past summer, more than 150 retailers have signed on. The brothers didn't disclose the number of churches participating in the program.