American Express

About American Express

American Express was founded in 1850 in Buffalo, New York. Today, it is headquartered in New York, New York. 

Amex offers solutions and services to both businesses and consumers. 

American Express in Canada

American Express began operating in Ontario, Canada in 1853.

Although the name may seem misleading, American Express is widely used among Canadian consumers and retailers. In fact, it is one of the most popular credit card companies in Canada.

American Express employs over 1,500 Canadians and offers 20 different credit cards in Canada. 

Amex operates under two corporate names in Canada.

1. Amex Canada Inc.
2. Amex Bank of Canada

While American Express is not accepted at every business in Canada, it is accepted at most large retailers, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and travel providers. This includes:

• Walmart
• Staples
• IKEA
• Indigo Chapters
• HomeSense
• 7-Eleven
• Safeway
• Whole Foods Markets
• McDonald’s
• Starbucks
• Shell Canada
• Petro Canada
• Esso
• Air Canada
• WestJet
• Flight Centre, and more

Credit Card Network and Issuer

Credit card issuers in Canada are typically banks or credit unions. They are responsible for paying merchants for purchases made with a credit card. 

However, American Express is both a credit card network and a credit card issuer. This is why Amex cards in Canada are not always affiliated with a bank or credit union. 

This dual status makes Amex unique among other Canadian credit card companies. For instance, Visa and Mastercard only act as networks. As a result, these types of cards are always linked to an issuer (i.e. a bank or credit union). 

There are some Amex cards, however, that use American Express only as a network and a separate financial institution as the issuer. For example, the Scotiabank Gold Amex Card.

Corporate Social Responsibility 

Today, many people strive to align their morals and values with the companies that they support. 

Amex has a strong social responsibility platform that they maintain through community engagement. Therefore, American Express is a company that you can feel good about supporting. 

In Canada, American Express demonstrates its commitment to social responsibility through the American Express Foundation. 

The American Express Foundation provides non-profit funding to support several causes within communities throughout Canada. 

Here are some of the ways that this foundation supports local communities:

• Celebrating cultural heritage 
• Supporting non-profit organizations
• Promoting community involvement and volunteering

Types of American Express Credit Cards

American Express offers various types of credit cards in Canada. These include:

• $0 annual fee credit cards 
• Cash back credit cards
• Rewards cards
• Co-branded cards
• Business cards
• Luxury credit cards, etc.

With so many options available, American Express Canada has something for everyone.

Fun fact: The most prestigious Amex credit card is the American Express Centurion Card. This is an invitation-only card. It is made of anodized titanium and has a whopping $5,000 annual fee plus an introductory fee of $10,000.

Amex Cardholder Rewards

American Express Canada is well known for its vast rewards programs. Amex cardholders can experience rewards including:

• Cash back rewards
• Travel points and perks
• Presale event tickets
• Credit card insurance, and more

In Canada, Amex offers two credit cards that allow cardholders to earn cash back. 

With these cards, you can earn either 1.25% or 2% cash back on purchases. Cash back credit cards are a great choice for those who prefer to pay off part of their statement with earned cash, rather than collecting travel points or rewards. 

American Express has sixteen Canadian travel credit cards. Two of these travel credit cards have no annual fee. However, the remaining fourteen have annual fees that range from $99 to $699. 

These travel credit cards are often linked to additional rewards programs including:

• Aeroplan
• Marriott International
• Air Miles

For example, American Express’s partnership with Air Canada allows cardholders to earn and redeem Aeroplan points. This enables you to save up for your next Air Canada vacation while you make everyday purchases.

American Express is also well known for its partnership with Live Nation. This partnership allows cardholders to benefit from additional perks and rewards. Most notably, American Express’s Front of the Line® program provides cardholders with pre-sale access and reserved seating at Live Nation ticketed events including: 

• Concerts
• Sporting events
• Live theatre
• Art events, etc. 

This is a very attractive benefit for those who love to see live performances but get frustrated by the stress of purchasing tickets online before they sell out. 

Additionally, American Express offers seven different credit cards that provide general membership rewards. With these types of credit cards, cardholders can earn points while making everyday purchases. Then, points can be redeemed for various items and services including:

• Merchandise
• Travel
• Gift cards, and more

Just keep in mind you must redeem a minimum of 1,000 points at a time.