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Please provide an full list and overview of all the brand partnerships American Express has, how they are categorized (e.g. partner card, membership rewards points, partner offers) and the consumer benefits of each in the US.
Hello! Thank you for your question requesting a full list and overview of all the partnerships American Express/Amex has and how they are categorized. The short answer is that there are a variety of potential partnerships-- co-branding cards where American Express is the underwriter, co-brandings where the issuing bank is the underwriter, and brands that have partnered with American Express to offer rewards through the use of an American Express card. My full findings can be found in the attached spreadsheet. Please read on for a brief explanation of my findings and my methodology.
METHODOLOGY
I focused my search on brand partnerships in the US with American Express/AMEX. I searched industry reports, trusted media sites, and company websites to find and compile the appropriate information. I also conducted background research on credit card co-branding and issuing, so as to better present my findings.
EXPLANATION OF FINDINGS
Through my research, I found that there were three types of brand partnerships that AMEX/American Express engaged in. The first, and simplest, was AMEX's membership reward program. AMEX allows its members to earn points with the use of the AMEX credit card. In turn, AMEX has partnered with several businesses to allow members to use their AMEX points towards purchases with these businesses. This type of partnership includes Amazon, AirBnB, Seamless, Grubhub, Uber, etc.
The second type of brand partnership is a co-branded card that is ISSUED by American Express. This means that any user who receives a co-branded credit card issued by American Express's Centurion Bank is subject to AMEX terms and conditions and must be approved by Centurion Bank (also known as underwritten). These types of cards include Delta, Charles Schwab, Plenti, Lowe's, Hilton, etc.
The third type of card is usually issued by banks, and not American Express/Centurion Bank. This means the banks are responsible for the approval or denial of an application, loan collection, etc. These cards have the AMEX brand, which means that they can use the credit card processing systems of AMEX. However, American Express is not ultimately responsible for the underwriting and loan collection of these cards. Often banks will also co-brand themselves with a store card, using the AMEX system. For example, Well's Fargo has partnered with Macy's to offer a co-branded card with a Macy's Rewards program, using the AMEX system.
CONCLUSION
In summary, there are three varieties of partnerships-- co-branding cards where American Express is the underwriter, co-brandings where the issuing bank is the underwriter, and brands that have partnered with American Express to offer rewards through the use of an American Express card. Please consult the attached spreadsheet for a full breakdown of my findings.
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