American Express
American Express (AmEx) is the largest diversified American company. It provides services in the sphere of tourism, issues and services card products, and traveler’s checks.
It was founded in 1850 in New York State, USA, and originally operated as a valuable cargo delivery service. In 1891, the company invented and issued the first American Express traveler’s check. The first credit card was issued on October 1, 1958, and its owner was Elvis Presley. In 1959, the company began offering plastic cards to its customers (before that, cardboard cards were used). AmEx was one of the first to create a payment system based on plastic cards, which is considered the third largest in the world after Visa and MasterCard. The system is most widespread in the United States and Canada.
American Express card products are designed first of all for rich people who are keen on traveling. The cards are issued in different categories: American Express Card, American Express Gold Card, and American Express Platinum Card. The most prestigious card is the Centurion. The main difference between them lies in the size of the available credit limit and the list of additional services provided by the company.
American Express is one of the most expensive brands in the world: the company is valued at $14.971 billion (according to Interbrand, 2009). Its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
American Express Cards:
- American Express Card,
- American Express Gold Card,
- American Express Premium Card,
- The Platinum Card,
- American Express Travel Card,
- American Express Design Card (with a personalized card design),
- And others (depending on bonuses and loyalty programs).
There are five types of American Express cards:
- The Green Personal Card (Personal Card)
- The Corporate Card
- The Gold Card
- The Platinum Card
- The Centurion Card
American Express cards can be corporate or personal. The corporate cards include credit cards of Large Corporate type (such business cards are given only to employees of the world’s largest corporations and companies with which American Express headquarters make a special agreement) and small business cards (those based on local programs, which stipulates an agreement between American Express offices and companies acting within the country.
The corporate cards are intended for payment of travel expenses by the employees of the companies and for providing the management with a report on expenses.
There are four types of American Express personal cards “Green”, “Gold”, “Platinum” and “Centurion”. Depending on the type, they vary in cost and services. The package for personal credit cardholders include all sorts of insurance (accident insurance, loss of luggage, etc.), participation in discount programs, Global Assist — round-the-clock customer support (medical and legal advice), the bonus program Membership Rewards (1 $ / Euro = 1 point), etc.
