Reward Yourself
With An American Express Card

An American Express Card offers the perfect options for what you may want in a credit card. They provide cards for business and personal needs. Also, you can get balance transfers and great rewards on a majority of the American Express cards. Here you can read more to learn about the history of American Express and compare the types of cards offered by this extraordinary financial institution.

In 1850, John Butterfield, Henry Wells and William Fargo gave birth to American Express in Buffalo, New York. At this time, American Express was not started as a financial service that offered the American Express card, but instead, an express delivery similar to the postal service. While the USPS only delivered small letters, American Express made it possible for consumers, especially banks, to send larger letters and packages to receivers, which were delivered by American Express employees by horseback or stage coaches.

By 1882, American Express started offering money orders, which assisted Europe in acquiring a product it had never worked with in the past. And, by 1891, American Express’ president decided people needed a better way of carrying money and requested that Marcellus Flemming Berry assist him in creating a new way of carrying money. Thus, the American Express Travelers Cheque was invented.

By October 1, 1958, American Express provided consumers with the first American Express card, called a charge card, with an annual fee of $6. However, it was not until a year later that plastic, embossed cards were issued, which was a first in the card industry. From this initial charge card, American Express brought to life more prestigious cards including the Gold American Express card, Platinum American Express card and later the Centurion American Express card. It was not until 1987 that American Express offered its first American Express card with revolving credit line called the Optima. Since then, American Express has added many new revolving cards ranging from a card with a special computer chip on to a card that donates money to good causes as the consumer charges on the card.