How To Freeze Your American Express Card

Here's a short but useful clip on how to freeze your American Express card, by the good folks at AmericanExpress.com:

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Where's My Smart Card?

Citi® MasterCar®d with PayPass® Sticker

I was so envious reading about people getting their new smart credit and debit cards from card issuers, and I was starting to wonder why the banks I deal with hadn't sent me new smart cards automatically (smart card, also known as smart chip cards, EMV cards and chip-enabled cards.)

The tiny chips in smart cards work together with smart-card terminals to create a unique and secure transaction at the point of sale, which makes shopping with these cards much safer than cards that only have a swipeable magnetic strip. 

I'm not interested in having a radio-frequency identification (RFID)-enabled chip in my credit and debit cards, because of this, but I am interested in upgrading to smart credit and debit cards without the RFID.

OK, so it seems that banks like +Citi® have figured how to keep wary cardholders like yours truly happy by separating the RFID from the EMV, via a sticker (pictured, top left.)  You can attach the sticker to your smart phone, or to your credit or debit card, or to anything you'd like to use for contactless payments (like your car's key fob.)  This system lets cardholders use contactless payment technology (either RFID or near-field communication [NFC]) if they want to, and opt out very easily if they don't.

I Just Ordered My Citi EMV Card

With my Citi Dividend World MasterCard®, I clicked the Account Management link in the top left navigation bar, which took me to a page where I found a link for Replacement Card/Chip Upgrade.  Alternatively, I could have waited for my current card to expire, at which point Citi would have sent me a new smart card automatically.

I'm looking forward to the arrival of this smart credit card, as it means no more handing over my card to strangers who may do bad things with it while it's away from my eyes.

=======

Note that:

• Even with smart cards that have no RFID technology in them, the system can still be hacked, but it's still much safer than the fading standard of magnetic-strip swiping.

• I've read of people complaining that they can't execute a convenient cash withdrawal on top of a purchase when using their smart debit card.

• Also heard that some merchants are rejecting the old magnetic-strip cards now, because if the transaction turns out to be fraudulent, it's likely that the merchant will have to eat 100% of the cost, whereas before the cost would often be shared between the card issuer and the merchant.

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How To Disable An RFID Chip In A Debit / Credit Card

Having an RFID chip in your credit or debit card can be a security risk, as posted here, so here's a YouTube clip explaining how to disable these chips permanently...

Cards that use RFID chips include Visa® PayWave®, MasterCard® PayPass®, American Express® ExpressPay® and Discover® Zip.

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American Express® Prepaid Card: $25 Gift Card; Limited-Time Offer

For a limited time, American Express will send you a complimentary $25 gift card after you load $200 or more onto a new American Express® Prepaid Card.

If you plan on taking advantage of this deal, please don't procrastinate. This free gift card offer ends on August 31, 2012.

You can find this prepaid debit card at the top of this page.

The American Express Prepaid Card also offers these excellent benefits:

• No fee for direct deposit
  
  
• No overdraft, inactivity, foreign exchange, annual, monthly or purchase fees
  
  
• No fee fraud protection
  
  
• No credit check

We @ www.FedPrimeRate.com are big fans American Express financial products. The company is very well known for providing exceptional value and first-class customer service. Yup.

Enjoy!

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Credit Card Rakings for January 2011

Here are the credit card rankings for January 2011. These rankings are based on the cards we recommend here on www.BalanceTransfer.cc. As always, these rank are based on both the volume of applications, and approvals. Here's the list:

1. The Discover® More No Balance Transfer Fee Card (click here)
   
   
2. Discover More Card - 24 Month Promotional Balance Transfer Card (click here)
   
   
3. The Classic Discover More Card (click here)
   
   
4. Slate from Chase (click here)
   
   
5. The Chase Freedom® MasterCard® with $100 Bonus Cash Back (click here)
   
   
6. The Chase Freedom® Visa® with $100 Bonus Cash Back (click here)
   
   

Not surprisingly, Discover's No Balance Transfer Fee card, and its 24 Month Promotional Balance Transfer card, were extremely popular last month, as these two cards are easily the best 0% credit cards in the United States right now. Here what these two cards are currently offering:

Discover® More No Balance Transfer Fee Card

• 0% Intro APR on transferred balances for 12 months.
• 0% Intro APR on new purchases for 12 months.
• No balance transfer fee
• No Annual Fee
  

Discover More Card - 24 Month Promotional Balance Transfer Card

• 0% Intro APR on transferred balances for 24 months.
• 0% Intro APR on new purchases for 6 months.
• Balance transfer fee: 5% of each transfer made, with a minimum transfer fee of $10.
• No Annual Fee

Moreover, both of the above cards come with Discover's industry leading cashback rewards program.

If you want to take advantage of the best 0% credit cards in the market right now, you have until the end of February to do so. Discover plans to shelve both cards on February 28, 2011.

The Classic Discover More card is still popular, because it's still offering a lot of value:

Classic Discover More Card

• 0% Intro APR on transferred balances for 12 months.
• 0% Intro APR on new purchases for 18 months.
• Balance transfer fee: 4% of each transfer made.
• No Annual Fee

And, of course, excellent cashback rewards.

The Blue from American Express® and Blue Cash® from American Express cards both generated a lot of interest from visitors to this site in January. Unfortunately, however, Amex approved a small fraction of the applications generated here at www.BalanceTransfer.cc. We're hoping Amex approvals improve over time, and they should as the economy continues to heal and the jobs picture gets better. But, for now, it's best to try one of the 3 top Discover cards from our January rankings above. Though American Express offers the best customer service around, Discover's customer service record is also very good. Bottom line: If you're attracted to the Blue from American Express or Blue Cash from American Express cards because they offer 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, you'd probably be better off going with one of the Discover cards discussed above, because your application has a better chance of getting that stamp of approval.

As always, your comments are very welcome.

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Treasury to Sell Citigroup Common Stock

Yesterday, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it plans to sell all 7+ billion shares of Citigroup common stock during the rest of 2010. Here's a clip from the press release:

"...The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced its intention to fully dispose of its approximately 7.7 billion shares of Citigroup, Inc. common stock over the course of 2010 subject to market conditions. Treasury received these shares of common stock pursuant to the June 2009 Exchange Agreement between Treasury and Citigroup, which provided for the exchange into common shares of the preferred stock that Treasury purchased in connection with Citigroup's participation in the Capital Purchase Program. Treasury has engaged Morgan Stanley as its capital markets advisor in connection with its Citigroup position.

Treasury intends to sell its Citigroup common shares into the market through various means in an orderly and measured fashion. Treasury intends to initiate its disposition of the common shares pursuant to a pre-arranged written trading plan. The manner, amount and timing of the sales under the plan is dependent upon a number of factors.

This disposition does not affect Treasury's holdings of Citigroup trust preferred securities or warrants for its common stock..."

This is certainly good news for the American taxpayer, as the government will reap a tidy profit as a result of its emergency investment in the bank.

Treasury is going take its sweet time selling these assets, so it'll be some time before we can know how Citi will fare without the government crutch.

Are we ready to start recommending Citi credit cards as a result of this news? Nah. Once the government has divested itself from Citigroup, we'll be engaging in at least another 12 months of watching before we make a decision on Citi cards.

For now, we are still very keen on the Discover More card, or any card issued by American Express.

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American Express or Discover: Which One is Right for You?

Summary: American Express and Discover have some of the best consumer cards out there now, but choosing which company to go with can be difficult. By gathering information about each company, it will help you make the right choice for you and your family.

Making the decision to get a credit card should not be taken lightly. You need to be sure that you are in a place financially to meet the obligations of the card should you be approved. In addition, you also need to decide the type of borrower you are to determine which card will work best for you. Both American Express (also known as AmEx) and Discover offer rewards cards, but if you are not able to pay your balances in full each month your cash back rewards could be negated. Once you determine the type of borrower you’ll be and what you are looking for in a credit card/company, the fun part begins-applying for the card, (hopefully) being approved, and using it to reap the rewards.

American Express: All in Favor?

American Express is different from most credit card companies in that it actually issues, authorizes, and settles all the accounts themselves. They introduced the plastic credit card in the late 1950’s as a charge card whose balance had to be paid in full each month. It wasn’t until 1987 that AmEx gave their customers the option to pay over time. There are many excellent reasons to choose AmEx:

• Great cash back rewards. On some AmEx cards you can earn up to five percent cash back on your purchases. You should read the fine print of the card(s) you are interested in to be sure of its terms.

• No preset spending limit. As an AmEx cardholder, you will be able to breathe easier knowing your card will not be declined in the event you go over your limit. In addition, your superior credit rating coupled with the length of time you are an AmEx customer will give your account even more flexibility in the future.

• Exceptional customer service and complimentary concierge services. Ranked best in customer service for three years running, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that if a problem does arise it will be taken care of swiftly. Moreover, the added bonus of having a complimentary concierge to help make important arrangements will help make anything you need to plan a breeze.

American Express: All Opposed?

Even with all the great benefits to being an AmEx card holder, there is always another side to the coin. Some factors to consider:

• Higher annual fees. Although it can be said that AmEx has many great cards out there with no annual fees, the fees on the cards that carry them can be substantial. It is important to look at the benefits of each card versus any fees that come with them. That way any potential rewards will not be negated by the annual fee to be paid.
  
  
• Not widely accepted. AmEx, although it has generally been viewed as an exclusive card, is still not as widely accepted as other credit cards. This comes from the higher fee they charge merchants who accept the cards. Having an AmEx card may make you feel good, but you may need to have a back-up card for when AmEx is not accepted.

• Know Your Repayment terms. When looking for an AmEx card, you should take careful note of the repayment plans for the specific cards you are interested in. In the past, AmEx only issued charge cards in which the balances had to be paid in full each month. Nowadays, many of their cards still require the balance to be paid in full monthly, but they do offer cards that allow payments to be spread out over time. Knowing how you plan to use the card before applying will help avoid any surprises after your approval.

Discover Cards: All in Favor?

Discover Financial Services came about from an unsuccessful attempt by Sears to become a player in the financial services industry in the late 1980’s. Growing from a small spin-off company to now being one of the largest credit card issuers in the world, they have since become a force to be reckoned with. Some of the positive attributes of Discover cards are:

• Fantastic cardholder perks. Being a Discover card holder gives you extra leverage when the unforeseen happens. Coming standard with the card are things like zero liability for fraudulent transactions, supplementary auto rental insurance, and travelers insurance. The terms for each of these varies, so be sure to check the fine print.

• ShopDiscover shopping portal. Being a Discover cardholder has its advantages, one of which is the ShopDiscover shopping portal. By shopping through this portal you can earn between 5%-20% cash back on purchases from your favorite stores, racking up your rewards very quickly.

• Lower interest rates. Some of the most popular Discover cards have a 0% APR for the first six months with as low as 11.9% APR thereafter based on your credit report. Most other card companies have a base rate of at least 14.9% which can really add up, especially if you carry a balance. Couple this with no annual fee and your rewards can add up fast.

Discover Cards: All Opposed?

With all these great attributes, it’s hard to believe that there could be any downsides to Discover. Here are a few things to consider:

• Not widely accepted. Like AmEx, Discover cards are still not accepted like Visa or Mastercards are. You should have a back-up card on you in the event Discover is not accepted.

• High cash advance rates. Pretty much all credit card companies charge insanely high rates for cash advances, and Discover is no exception. With a 19.99% fixed rate on all cash advances and a 3% transaction fee with a minimum $5 fee, this is a surefire way to lose money fast.

Knowing the pros and cons for both card issuers is only half the battle. Knowing the type of borrower you’ll be as well as what type of card you are looking for (rewards card, etc) will help you make the right decision. In addition, you should be sure you understand the terms and conditions set for each card to avoid any “surprises.” Recognizing your wants and needs and comparing them to what each company has to offer will help you determine which card is right for you.

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Mourning the Demise of Three American Express Credit Cards

As a credit card bank, we like American Express a lot. Why? Because the company consistently offers excellent customer service, and their cards typically have very consumer-friendly terms and conditions associated with them (this report says it all.)

So we are sorry to report that three popular American Express cards are no longer available. The cards are:

• Blue from American Express®
  
  
• Blue Cash® from American Express
  
  
• Blue Sky from American Express®

These cards were great, because they each offered 0% intro APR on new purchases for 12 months, and each featured a generous rewards program. Introductory balance transfers were not free (2.99% for 12 months) but, on the plus side, you didn't have to pay a balance transfer transaction fee.

These cards may return, but there's no way of knowing if or when.

There are still two Amex cards to which you can transfer a credit card balance and pay no balance transfer fee. These are:

• The TrueEarnings® Credit Card from Costco and American Express, which offers:

• An introductory balance transfer APR of 1.99% for the first 6 months of Cardmembership, as long as the transferred balances post to your account during the first 30 days of Cardmembership and
  
  
• 0% Introductory APR for Purchases for the first 3 months of Cardmembership.
  
  
• Click here
  

• The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express, which offers:

• An introductory balance transfer APR of 2.9% for the first 6 months of Cardmembership, as long as the transferred balances post to your account during the first 30 days of Cardmembership and
  
  
• 2.9% Introductory APR for Purchases for the first 3 months of Cardmembership.
  
  
• Click here

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No Fee Balance Transfer Update

No Balance Transfer Fee

In our last post at this blog, we confirmed that the Bank of America (BofA) Pet Rewards Visa® card was still offering 0% intro APR on transferred balances, with no balance transfer fee. Today's news isn't good: this card was discontinued yesterday. I felt a need to confirm this somber news because sometimes a bank will discontinue a credit product from affiliate sites like www.BalanceTransfer.cc, but the product can still be found on the bank's website. So I searched for this card using my favorite search engine and found that it was still listed on the BofA website. For clarification, I decided to have another online conversation with a BofA representative. The conversation ended a few minutes ago; here's how that conversation went:

Current Transcript of the Chat Session. Thank you for choosing Bank of America. An operator will be with you shortly. You are now chatting with Amanda.

Amanda: Hello, thank you for joining Bank of America online chat. I am here to assist you in selecting new accounts that fit your needs. How can I assist you today?

you: Hello

you: I want to know if the Bank of America PetRewards® Visa® card is still available

Amanda: No I am sorry it is not.

Amanda: It was discontinued yesterday.

you: OK, so Bank of America hasn't had a chance to remove all pages related to this card yet, is that right?

you: I was able to find this card with a Google search

Amanda: That's not our site so they may still have it (?)

Amanda: However if you try to get to the application you will get an error.

you: Ok, well thanks for your time

Amanda: You’re very welcome.

Amanda: Are you looking for a balance transfer card?

you: yes

Amanda: How much are you looking to transfer?

you: I'm looking for 0% intro APR on introductory balance transfers, with no balance transfer fee

you: I'm looking to transfer about $4,000

Amanda: Well we don't have a card with no fee but we do have cards with 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers and then we give you $25.00 back for doing the transfer. So once you get the credit back the fee would only be like $95.00

you: are you referring to the Bank of America Cash Rewards card?

Amanda: That is one of them

you: OK, so I'd like to know the other cards with similar terms and benefits

Amanda: Please click here for information regarding our Visa Signature with WorldPoints.

Amanda: Please click here for information regarding our WorldPoints Platinum Plus MasterCard.

Amanda: Are you still with me? Please respond so I can leave this chat window open to answer any application questions you may have.

you: I have all the information I need. Thanks and have a great day.

Amanda: You’re very welcome.

Right now, the best 0% credit card in the American market is the Discover More Card, which currently offers 0% intro APR on introductory balance transfers for 12 months, with a transfer fee of 3%. Unfortunately, there is no longer a cap on the transfer fee with Discover More, so if, for example, you want to transfer $3,500 or more, the transfer fee would be at least $105.

But you do have options, like the Bank of America Visa® Signature® WorldPoints Rewards credit card, which now offers 0% intro APR on introductory balance transfers for 15 months, with a balance transfer fee of 3%. This is one of the cards the BofA representative recommended during our online conversation (which I posted above.) With this card, there is the added benefit of a $25 statement credit that you can use to reduce the balance transfer fee. So if you were to transfer $4,000 to this card, the real transfer fee would be:

• $4,000.00 X 0.03 (transaction fee) = $120.00
• $120.00 - $25 (statement credit) = $95.00

Am I sure that a balance transfer would qualify for the statement credit? Yes, I am, because I just checked the terms & conditions for this card. Here's a clip:

"...To qualify for this offer, your new account must be used to make any purchase, balance transfer or cash advance transaction totaling $25 excluding any transaction fees, if applicable within 45 days of the account open date. Limit one (1) statement credit per new account...."

We also have confirmation of this from the BofA representative (see transcript above.)

Ok, so I'm guessing that your next question is, "Why would you recommend the Discover More card before recommending the BofA Visa Signature with WorldPoints Rewards card? Seems that the BofA card offers more value with the 15 month holiday from paying interest on transferred balances."

The answer: because with the BofA cards, the balance transfer fee is subject to finance charges. Here is a clip from the term & conditions associated with the BofA Visa Signature with WorldPoints Rewards card:

"...We include Transaction Fees when computing finance charges. Incurring Transaction Fees results in an APR exceeding 0% for the billing statement on which those fees appear. The Daily Periodic Rate (DPR) will remain 0% as disclosed..."

We also like the Discover More card because its cash back rewards package is the most generous in the American consumer credit card market.

Where Did The "No Fee Balance Transfer"
Pulaski Bank Credit Cards Go?

A little FYI to end this blog entry: The two "no fee balance transfer" cards from Pulaski bank are still available here. The reason we removed them from the "No Fee Balance Transfer" page was because these cards are very difficult to get. Approvals are few and far between. However, if you feel that your credit profile is stellar -- and I mean super perfect -- then by all means give one of these cards a try.

The reason these two Pulaski Bank cards are so hard to get?

• 0% intro APR on introductory balance transfers for 6 months
• No balance transfer fee
• For the regular Pulaski Bank MasterCard® or VISA® Card, the APR on purchases and cash advances is 6.50%. For the Pulaski Bank Visa Gold Card, the APR on purchases and cash advances is 8.00% (you will have a hard time finding credit cards on offer from other American banks with APR's that low, especially for cash advances!)

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Free Money from American Express & Costco

Yes, that's right: American Express and Costco have decided to give you $25 for free. So, what's the catch you ask? Here it is: all you have to do is signup for the True Earnings® Card from Costco and American Express and, once your account is established, you will get a statement credit of $25 after you make your first purchase.

This is a pretty exciting offer, especially considering that this credit card is already one of the best rewards cards we've ever encountered. Here are some other great benefits:

• Earn cash back virtually everywhere you go - 3% for gasoline, 3% for restaurants, 2% for travel, 1% everywhere else, including Costco
  
  
• No Annual Fee with your paid Costco Membership
  
  
• The TrueEarnings Card serves as both your American Express Credit Card and your Costco Membership Card
  
  
• No Limit on the Cash Back earned

This card is tied with the Discover Open Road card as the best consumer gas rewards credit card.

This offer special statement credit offer won't last forever, so if you are planning on getting this card, try not to procrastinate.

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So, Which Is The Best Gas Rewards Card Anyway?

If you look at our pages listing the best consumer gas rewards credit card and the best business gas rewards card, you will notice that we list a Chase and an American Express card for business, while on the consumer side we list a Discover card together with an American Express card. We do this because, for each category, these cards are tied for first place.

Reason for the tie on the business card side: American Express is a highly reputable bank which offers truly excellent customer service. The TrueEarnings® Business Card from Costco and American Express offers a generous 5% cash back on automobile gas purchases. However, with the Amex TrueEarnings card, you claim your earned rewards annually, which some cardholders find restrictive. Here's a snippet from the TrueEarnings terms and conditions:

"...Rebate is awarded annually in the form of an in-store coupon redeemable for cash or merchandise at any U.S. Costco Warehouse..."

With the Chase Business Rebate Card, you get 3% cash back on gas purchases, which is great. As a bonus, you can claim your rebate whenever you want. Once you've accumulated enough points, you can log onto Chase's rebate center website and browse their catalog. Among the items you can get with your rebate dollars is a statement credit, and a statement credit is as good as cash.


On the consumer side: The Discover® Open Road Card offers a 5% Cashback Bonus on gas and auto maintenance purchases. But there's a catch. From the terms and conditions:

"...Earn unlimited cash rewards on all purchases. Earn a full 5% Cashback Bonus on your first $100 in combined gas and auto maintenance purchases each billing period - up to $1,200 annually. In addition, earn a full 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus on all other purchases after your total annual purchases exceed $3,000; other purchases that are part of your first $1,500 earn .25% and other purchases that are part of your second $1,500 earn .50%. Combined gas and auto maintenance purchases in excess of $100 each billing period earn Cashback Bonus at the same rate as other purchases..."

We all know how pricey gas is these days. Getting 5% cashback on the first $100 in gas purchases each month is nice, but for folks who do a lot of driving, this may be a significant buzzkill.


With The TrueEarnings® Credit Card from Costco and American Express, which is a "personal" or "consumer" credit card, you get 3% cash back on gasoline purchases. You can also transfer a credit card balance at 1.99% intro APR for 6 months, and pay no balance transfer transaction fee.

With all other credit card categories in this site, there's a clear winner, and that' why we list only one card on these pages. As for the best consumer and business gas rewards credit card, we'll let you decide between the finalists.

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New Business Credit Card from American Express

If you fly with Delta Airlines a lot, then today's news may interest you. American Express recently announced the launch of a new line of business credit cards aimed at consumers and small business owners who fly with Delta Airlines often. The cards are the Delta Reserve Credit Card and the Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card. Here's a notable quote from the April press release:

"...The Delta Reserve Credit Cards are now the most elite Cards offered in the line of American Express and Delta co-branded cards..."

If the above quote has piqued your interest, here's a much bigger clip from the release:

"...American Express and Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) are launching new premium co-branded credit cards for U.S.-based consumers and small businesses called the Delta Reserve Credit Card and the Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card. These new products will offer added value, flexibility and new benefits for Cardmembers who are most loyal to Delta.

The Delta Reserve Credit Cards are designed to cater to the needs of Delta's on-the-go customers and provides Cardmembers with a greatly enhanced travel experience through benefits such as the ability to earn Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) faster, share MQMs with family and friends for the first time ever, access to the dedicated Breezeway priority boarding lane and frequent traveler security line, Delta Crown Room Clubs® access, and 24-7 concierge services. The Delta Reserve Credit Cards are now the most elite Cards offered in the line of American Express and Delta co-branded cards.

'We are delighted to expand our partnership with Delta and to offer these premium co-branded cards that reward our most loyal customers in new and unique ways,' said David Rabkin, vice president, Delta Cobrands, American Express. 'We know that affluent customers want access to distinctive services and experiences, so we continually look for ways to meet these needs. With the launch of the new Delta Reserve Credit Cards, we can deliver on that commitment.'

'The Delta Reserve Credit Card was created to offer premium customers a best-in-class co-brand card that provides them preferential treatment when flying Delta,' said Jeff Robertson, Delta's managing director of SkyMiles. 'Not only does this unique Card offer generous rewards, it will also provide loyal Delta customers an experience that is designed to exceed their expectations.'

The Delta Reserve Credit Cards offer distinct benefits and options that allow Cardmembers to:

• Achieve higher Delta SkyMiles Medallion status faster:

• Earn MQMs as a first purchase bonus;

• Earn 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 bonus miles when eligible spending reaches $30,000 in a calendar year;

• Earn an additional 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 bonus miles when eligible spending reaches $60,000 in the same year.

• Give the MQMs earned from Card spending to colleagues, friends or family – for the first time ever.

Enjoy complimentary access to Delta's Crown Room Clubs with two guests when flying on Delta.

Access to the dedicated Breezeway priority boarding lane and frequent traveler security line.

Utilize American Express' Personal Concierge Service with features such as gift buying and restaurant reservations – 24 hours a day/seven days a week.

Receive one complimentary companion certificate each year on the Cardmember's anniversary, good for either First or Coach Class travel.

Access to Pay with Miles, a new exclusive benefit for Gold and Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Cardmembers -- and now Delta Reserve Credit Cardmembers. Pay with Miles offers added flexibility, allowing Cardmembers to redeem miles for any available Delta seat, any time. Cardmembers can book flights on delta.com and use Delta SkyMiles to pay for all or part of a Delta ticket, with no blackout dates or inventory restrictions.
Terms, conditions, and restrictions apply to these benefits. See www.americanexpress.com/deltareserve for details.

The Cards are available for an annual fee of $450. If a Cardmember is the Basic Cardmember of a domestic American Express consumer Charge Card account or of a domestic American Express small business charge card account that has an annual fee greater than or equal to $55, the annual fee is $395.

Consumers will continue to earn Always Double Miles® (i) on every eligible dollar they spend on Delta purchases, as well as at gas stations, supermarkets, drugstores, home improvement stores, and more.

The new Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card incorporates all the above benefits of the Delta Reserve Credit Card. However, the ability to earn Always Double Miles® (ii) on every eligible dollar spent includes the following business relevant categories: Delta purchases, gas stations, home improvement stores, wireless phone bill payments, and office supplies. In addition, the Business Card offers programs and services tailored specifically to the needs of small business owners. In addition, the Business Card provides expense management reporting, an online spend tracking system and spending limits on additional cards that aid in better managing employee spending..."

Enjoy!

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And Then There Were Four...

0% credit cards

0% credit cards that don't charge a fee for transferring balances are consistently the most popular cards we recommend on this website. It is quite difficult, therefore, to see 3 great "no fee balance transfer" cards disappear from the market.

The American Express IN cards (IN:NYC, IN:Chicago & IN:LA) are no more. These cards offered 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 6 months, with no balance transfer fee. The really sad part is that American Express is one of the best banks out there when it comes to credit cards. Most other banks play "follow the leader" with their terms and conditions. American Express, on the other hand, always plays fair with their customers (based on anecdotal evidence.) Must have something to do with the fact that the company has along history of catering to wealthy, discerning consumers who actually read the terms and conditions before they signup for a card.

So now there are 4 cards left offering 0% intro APR and that don't charge a fee for transferring balances.

Of course, the hunt for the best 0% cards continues. Stay tuned.

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New Card Added: The Clear from American Express Card

American Express Credit Cards

We've recently added a new credit card to the list of American Express credit cards we recommend. It's the Clear from American Express® card, and it offers 0% Intro APR on new credit card purchases for 12 months. The APR for balance transfers is 4.99%, with no balance transfer fee.

Yup, it would be great if you could transfer balances to Amex Clear at 0%, but 4.99% isn't that bad, considering the fact that it's 4.99% for the life of the transferred balance. Right now, the U.S. Prime Rate is 8.25%, so transferring a balance to this card can save a lot of people out there some serious cash (the APR for many credit cards in the American market is the U.S. Prime Rate plus a margin.)

The main selling point of this card is that there are no fees: no over-the-limit fees, no annual fee, no late fees, no balance transfer fees and no cash advance fees. As quoted from the American Express website:

"No fees of any kind."

However, if you are the type of person who pays their bills on time, all the time, then this "no fees" marketing strategy is almost meaningless, since a person like you is very likely to avoid such fees in first place. Of course, if you are the sort who sometimes misses a payment, or you go over your credit limit every once in a while, then you may be very attracted to the fact that the Clear card has no fees.

Though American Express won't charge you any fees for a late payment, they will report any late payments to the credit bureaus. Keep that in mind. Furthermore, if you are late with a payment more than once within a 12 month period, the folks at Amex may raise the APR associated with your account.

Another characteristic about the Clear card that should be noted: every year, you get access to a "user-friendly" credit report and credit score. A great feature -- no doubt -- but I failed to find out which credit score and credit report they're offering: is it TransUnion, Experian or Equifax? Or is it some other proprietary credit score and report? Hmmmmm... Please post a comment if you know that answer. Thanks!

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0% Intro APR Balance Transfer Credit Cards from American Express -- and You Won't Have to Pay A Balance Transfer Fee

American Express Credit Cards

Here at www.FedPrimeRate.com, we are constantly on the lookout for the best 0% credit card deals. We live and breath credit card balance transfers, for the simple reason that 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR) credit cards are, quite easily, the most consumer-friendly financial tools available today.

Allow me to present the anatomy of the perfect 0% intro APR credit card offer -- in my humble opinion, of course. Here are the attributes:

• 0% Intro APR on both transferred balances and new credit card purchases for at least 6 months
  
• No balance transfer fee for the initial balance transfer(s).
  
• No annual membership fee
  
• A competitive "go to" rate (FYI: the go to rate is the credit card's annual percentage rate that kicks in once the interest-free period ends.)
  

Right now, the best 0% credit card is the Discover Platinum card, a card that -- believe it or not -- meets all of the above-listed requirements! Citibank (Citi) also has 2 excellent credit cards that meet all of the above, except that they don't offer a 0% intro APR on new credit card purchases.

American Express® Now Has Three, 0% Credit Cards That Are..."Perfect"

Some exciting news for credit card balance transfer fans all across the country: American Express has a new set of consumer credit cards that qualify as "perfect 0% credit cards" -- perfect by my definition anyway -- and these cards offer rewards to boot. They are the American Express INSIDE Rewards cards. Details below:

• IN:LA Card from American Express
  
  
  • 0% Intro APR on transferred balances AND new credit card purchases for 6 months
    
  • no balance transfer fee for the initial balance transfer(s).
    
  • no annual membership fee
    
  • competitive "go to" rate (factors including your credit rating will determine how low your go to APR will be)
• IN:CHICAGO Card from American Express
  
  
  • same benefits as the IN:LA card above
• IN:NYC Card from American Express
  
  
  • same benefits as the IN:LA card above

Of course, it's always important to remember that the terms, conditions, features and benefits of the credit cards we recommend at this website and blog are not set in stone, and therefore can change at any time. So if you plan on taking advantage of any credit card offer recommended here, try not to procrastinate.

Looks like the competition among the major credit card companies is heating up. Let's hope the trend continues!

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No Need To Work for Your Rewards with The SimplyCash Business Credit Card from American Express

American Express Credit Cards

Don't you just hate it when a bank or credit card company makes you work for your rewards? I know I do.

With one of the consumer credit cards I carry in my wallet, they won't send me a penny unless I login to my account, check how many rewards points I've accrued, then make a formal request for a check if I've accumulated enough points. Bah! Who has time for all that?

I like cash back rewards as much as the next guy, but no one should have to work in order to reap the benefits of any credit card rewards program. That's my opinion, and I'm very confident that I'm not the only one who feels this way.

American Express to The Rescue!

The latest business credit card from the good folks at American Express is the SimplyCash^SM card, which features cash back on just about anything you buy with the card, and the rewards program will automatically (no work!) credit your account each month with any rewards you've earned. Cardholders get 5 percent cash back on wireless charges, office supplies and gas, and 1 percent cash back on just about everything else that's charged to the card.

As an added bonus, the SimplyCash card comes with a 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR) on new, card-in-hand purchases for the first 12 months, with a "go to" rate as low as the U.S. Prime Rate after that.

As usual, the folks at American Express get it.

Lots more details below in the following clip from a recent press release:

"...American Express today announced the launch of the American Express SimplyCash^SM Business Card, which makes cash- back rewards simple for time-pressed small business owners through automatic monthly cash-back rebates(1). The new Business Card gives cash back on virtually all purchases and automatically delivers the rewards each month as a statement credit.

Cash rebates are among the most popular rewards, with 42% of small business owners saying they prefer cash back rewards, according to the OPEN from American Express Small Business Monitor, a semi-annual survey of small business owners.

With the SimplyCash Business Card, cash-back rewards are easy and automatic. All Business Cardmembers have to do is use their SimplyCash Business Card to automatically receive 5% cash back each month on gas, office supplies, and wireless charges, and 1% cash back on nearly all other purchases. There are no spending limits or caps on the cash-back rewards a Business Cardmember may receive, and the Business Card carries no annual fee.

Like all American Express Business Cards, the SimplyCash Business Card gives small business owners additional savings through the OPEN Savings® program. The OPEN Savings(2) program gives Business Cardmembers automatic savings at select travel and service providers, and business suppliers, such as Delta, JetBlue, Fedex Kinko's, and Hyatt. In just two years the OPEN Savings program has already saved small business owners more than $150 million.

'The American Express SimplyCash Business Card's automatic monthly rebates make cash-back rewards easy for small business owners who want to earn immediate cash-back savings on all their purchases, but don't have time for complicated cash-back redemption rules,' said Raymond Joabar, senior vice president and general manager, OPEN from American Express. 'In addition, this easy cash-back program has no cap on the savings that Business Cardmembers can earn, and cash-back savings are combinable with any merchant discount, as well as with the automatic discounts available through the OPEN Savings program.'

The American Express SimplyCash Business Card offers small business owners an introductory Annual Percentage Rate of 0% on purchases for the first 12 months.

American Express SimplyCash Business Card benefits include:

• 5% cash back on gas, office supplies, and wireless charges
  
• 1% cash back on virtually all purchases
  
• Cash-back reward credited automatically on monthly statement
  
• No caps on the amount of cash-back rewards Business Cardmembers can earn
  
• 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for 12 months; after 12 months, as low as Prime + 0%(3).
  
• No annual fee, and fee-free additional Cards
  
• The OPEN Savings program, which offers automatic savings at select travel and service providers, and business suppliers like Delta, JetBlue, Fedex Kinko's, and Hyatt. For more information, visit OpenSavings.com
  
• Retail and travel protections such as Global Assist, Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance(4), Purchase Protection Insurance(5), Travel Accident Insurance(6), American Express Card Baggage Insurance(7), Buyers Assurance Plan(8), Automatic Bill Payment, Express Cash Emergency Card Replacement, Emergency Check Cashing, and 24-hour customer service.

About OPEN from American Express
OPEN is the American Express team dedicated exclusively to the success of small business owners and their companies. The OPEN Team supports business owners with exceptional service. With tailored products and services, the team delivers purchasing power, flexibility, control and rewards to help customers run their business. Specifically, business owner customers can leverage an enhanced set of products, tools, services and savings, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital, robust online account management capabilities and savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners. To obtain more information about OPEN, visit http://www.OPEN.com, or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a Card or loan. Terms and conditions apply.

American Express Company (http://www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

1. Cash Rebate: Your Rebate is awarded monthly on the amount of your purchases (net of credits for purchases) made during the previous billing period, based on the following structure: You will receive a Rebate of 5% for purchases of wireless telephone services, automobile gasoline, and office supplies and equipment, in each case not purchased at warehouse clubs, superstores or supermarkets ("5% Purchase(s)"). You will receive a Rebate of 1% for all other purchases.

Important: You will receive a 5% Rebate only if the merchant submits the Charge for your 5% Purchase under the appropriate merchant code, industry code and required service or product identifier established by us with/for the merchant. For example, if a general merchandise retailer sells office supplies, and the retailer processes your Card transaction as a general merchandise charge instead of an office supply charge, you will receive a Rebate of 1%, not a Rebate of 5%.

You will not receive a Rebate for balances transferred from other accounts, purchases of American Express Travelers Cheques or American Express Gift Cheques, fees, Finance Charges, Cash Advances and similar means of accessing your Card Account. Additional terms and conditions apply.

2. OPEN Savings(R): Payment must be made with an American Express® Business Card at the time of purchase. Savings will be credited to your American Express Business Card billing statement. All savings referenced are in addition to any offers made by participating companies. Participation and offers are subject to change without notice. Terms and conditions apply. For more information, please visit opensavings.com.

3. Annual percentage rate for purchases: 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases made with plastic only. Then, 8.25%, 12.24%, 15.24%, or 18.24%, respectively, as determined by us based on our credit evaluation and a number of factors, including size of the credit line.

Other APRs: Balance Transfer APR: 7.99% fixed for the life of the transferred balance, but only if transfer is made during the first six months as a Cardmember. Then the Standard APR for Purchases will apply.

Cash Advance APR: 23.24% Default APR: 24.24% (30.24% for Cash Advances) for defaulted accounts; 30.24% on all balances for seriously defaulted accounts.

4. Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Underwritten by AMEX Assurance
Company, Administrative Office, Green Bay, WI. Coverage is determined by the terms, conditions, and exclusions of Policy AX0925 and is subject to change with notice. This document does not supplement or replace the Policy.

5. Purchase Protection Plan: Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company, Administrative Office, Green Bay, WI. Coverage is determined by the terms, conditions, and exclusions of Policy AX0951 and is subject to change with notice. This document does not supplement or replace the Policy.

6. Travel Accident Insurance Plan: Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company, Administrative Office, De Pere, WI. Coverage is determined by the terms, conditions, and exclusions of Policy AX0948 and is subject to change with notice. This document does not supplement or replace the Policy.

7. American Express Card Baggage Insurance Plan: Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company, Administrative Office, De Pere, WI. Coverage is determined by the terms, conditions, and exclusions of Policy AX0400 and is subject to change with notice. This document does not supplement or replace the Policy.

8. Buyer's Assurance Plan: Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company, Administrative Office, Green Bay, WI. Coverage is determined by the terms, conditions, and exclusions of Policy AX0953 and is subject to change with notice. This document does not supplement or replace the Policy..."

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A New Business Credit Card from American Express: The Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card

You probably know Starwood by the brands they own:

• Sheraton
• Westin
• Four Points by Sheraton
• W Hotels
• St. Regis
• The Luxury Collection
• Le Méridien
• Aloft

American Express

Yup: some of the finest, world-class luxury hotels and resorts are owned by Starwood.

And now for today's news: Starwood and American Express® are introducing a new business rewards credit card: The Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card.

You'll be impressed with the rewards and bonuses offered by the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Card. You can earn complimentary nights at over 800 Starwood resorts and hotels around the world. And earning reward flights is a snap, because there are over 30 airline brands that have partnered with the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Card rewards program.

And how's this for a great signup bonus: you get 10,000 Starpoints® just for making one purchase with the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Card; 10,000 Starpoints can be traded-in for up to three free nights at a Starwood resort or hotel. Good stuff!

More details from a recent press release below:

"American Express Company and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. today announced the launch of the Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card for small business owners and the enhanced Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card for consumers. Cardmembers can take advantage of greater benefits and richer rewards, making it easier than ever for consumers, and now small business owners, to earn free nights at more than 825 Starwood hotels and resorts around the world and award flights with more than 30 airline partners.

New offerings on the Cards, include:

• 10,000 Starpoints® bonus with first purchase – that's enough for up to three free nights(1)
• Double Starpoints on stays at participating Starwood Hotels & Resorts and purchases at select Starwood retail outlets, such as Bliss Spa and more(2)
• Automatic upgrade to Gold Preferred Guest® membership status by spending $30,000 on the Card in each calendar year
• Access to private sales with select Starwood retail outlets

The new Business Card incorporates all of the improved benefits of the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card, as well as programs and services tailored specifically to the needs of small business owners, including the OPEN Savings(SM) program which was designed specifically for small businesses and gives automatic discounts on purchases at OPEN Savings(3) partners, such as Delta, FedEx Kinko's and JetBlue. In addition, the Business Card provides expense management reporting, an online spend tracking system and spending limits on additional cards that aid in better managing employee spending.

Both Cards showcase a new vibrant design to reflect the American Express brand, as well as Starwood's brands, which include St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W® Hotels, Le Méridien® and the recently announced Aloft(SM) and Element(SM) Hotels.

'We are excited about the expansion of our partnership with American Express and know that our mutual consumer and small business customers will appreciate the enhancements that the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Cards bring to the Starwood Preferred Guest program,' said Robin Korman, vice president, Loyalty Marketing at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. 'The benefits of both cards truly reflect our dedication to the principles that have made Starwood Preferred Guest an award-winning program - to set a benchmark in the industry and deliver the most generous and flexible award earning opportunities available.'

'In listening to our customers, they told us they want help managing rapidly rising travel costs and using rewards to offset travel expenses,' said Raymond Joabar, senior vice president and general manager, OPEN from American Express. 'The Starwood Cards from American Express offer consumer and small business Cardmembers one of the most lucrative rewards program with no blackout dates.'

Additional benefits for both Cards, include:

• One (1) Starpoint for every eligible dollar spent on the Card
• Redeem Starpoints at over 825 participating Starwood hotels and resorts in 95 countries with no black out dates – if there's a standard room it's yours.
• Transfer Starpoints to over 30 frequent flyer programs, most on a one-to-one basis
• Receive 5,000 Starpoint bonus when you transfer 20,000 Starpoints to miles(4)
• First year fee-free, and $30 annual fee thereafter; fee-free additional cards
• Automatic enrollment as a Starwood Preferred Plus member
• Receive a 50% off certificate, good towards a Starwood hotel stay, upon Card approval and annual renewal
• No limit on the amount of Starpoints a Cardmember can earn
• Competitive Introductory purchase Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for six (6) months
• Retail and travel protections such as Global Assist, Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance, Purchase Protection Insurance, Travel Accident Insurance, American Express Card Baggage Insurance, Buyers Assurance Plan, Express Cash Emergency Card Replacement, Emergency Check Cashing, and 24-hour customer service. For these and other benefits visit spg.com/americanexpress, terms and conditions apply.

The new Starwood Preferred Guest Business Card and enhancement to the Consumer Card are an expansion of the existing relationship between Starwood and American Express. The new Cards make it easier than ever for consumers and small business owners to quickly earn exceptional travel rewards through spending on their cards. Starwood and American Express have enjoyed a strong cobranded card partnership since 1996, when American Express first launched the ITT Sheraton ClubMiles Card.

The Starwood Preferred Guest program made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates and no capacity controls, meaning members can redeem free nights anytime, anywhere.
The program also offers members the ability to redeem awards at more resorts, more luxury properties, more European hotels and more golf properties than any other hotel program, which has proven to be a big draw for the world's most frequent travelers, and a significant competitive advantage.


(1) To be eligible to receive 10,000 bonus Starpoints, you must make your first purchase with the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card within one year of Card approval. Bonus Points will appear on your Starwood Preferred Guest statement 8-12 weeks after your first purchase. Bonus Starpoints are for first-time Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Cardmembers only. You may have more than one Starwood Preferred Guest account, however, if you have or had any such account you are not eligible to receive bonus Starpoints you may be offered for any other such account.

(2) You will receive one additional Starpoint for each U.S. dollar of Eligible Spending charged on your Card Account at Starwood branded hotels and resorts then participating in the Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty program, and at stand-along retail establishments and on-line stores that, in each case, are wholly-owned by Starwood Hotels and resorts Worldwide, Inc.

(3) OPEN Savings(SM): Payment must be made with an American Express® Business Card. Savings will be credited to your American Express Business Card billing statement. All savings referenced are in addition to any offers made by participating companies. Participation and offers are subject to change without notice. Terms and conditions apply. For more information and the full OPEN Savings partner terms and conditions, please visit opensavings.com.

(4) A 5,000 Starpoint bonus is based on airlines with a 1 Starpoint to 1 mile conversion rate; equivalent bonus will be awarded in accordance with other airline conversion rates."

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More Ways to Save with American Express Business Cards

American Express

The great thing about the OPEN Savings® rewards program from American Express® is that it's automatic: no coupon-clipping, no program enrollment -- the way it should be! No one likes to be forced to work for a discount; no one I know anyway.

The OPEN Savings rewards program is available to any American Express business card holder: both American Express charge cards and credit cards are included in the OPEN Savings network. And the savings can be significant.

The OPEN Savings program has allowed American Express business card holders to enjoy $100 million in savings since 2004. Not bad, eh?

Yup, the folks at American Express get it.

OK, so here's today's news (great news if you are a frequent flier): both JetBlue Airways and Delta Air Lines are now partners in the OPEN Savings program. More details below in the clip from a recent press release:

"OPEN from American Express^SM today announced a significant expansion of its OPEN Savings® program with the launch of airline partners Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways. OPEN Savings gives small business owners automatic savings virtually every time they use an American Express® Business Card to make purchases at any OPEN Savings partner.

Small business owners using any American Express Business Card can now reduce their travel expenses with an automatic 3% discount on the total cost of Delta and JetBlue flights. In addition, Cardmembers who purchase Delta flights with the Delta SkyMiles® Business Card or SkyPoints Delta Business Card, or who purchase JetBlue flights with the JetBlue Business Card, will receive an additional 2% discount, for a total savings of 5% off the total cost of Delta or JetBlue flights. Available to new and existing Business Cardmembers, these discounts are Card benefits -- not limited-time offers -- and apply to all flights booked directly from Delta or directly through any JetBlue channel.

OPEN Savings has delivered more than $100 million in savings to American Express Business Cardmembers since 2004. OPEN Savings eliminates the need for offer codes, coupons or program enrollment and provides automatic savings from well-known brands. Savings can also be combined with other marketplace offers or volume discount pricing that businesses may
already be receiving from program partners.

'Delta is pleased to expand our relationship with American Express and offer our customers an opportunity to save money for their small business while earning miles at the same time,' said Jeff Robertson, managing director of the SkyMiles Program. 'Our partnership with American Express continues to add to the multiple benefits offered to our SkyMiles members worldwide.'

'By the end of 2006, JetBlue will have introduced new service to 14 new destinations that our customers who travel for business tell us are important,' said Andrea Spiegel, JetBlue's vice president of Sales and Marketing. 'We are pleased to now offer our customers an easy way to save even more money when they fly JetBlue for business, through our exclusive partnership with American Express.'

'With the addition of these new partners, small businesses can effortlessly reduce their airline expenses just by using their American Express Business Card,' said Raymond Joabar, senior vice president and general manager, OPEN from American Express. 'Time-pressed small business travelers who are weary of coupons or special offer codes now have a better and simpler way to save, with OPEN Savings' automatic and combinable discounts. These two new OPEN Savings airline partners can help substantially increase the millions of dollars in savings that we're already delivering to our small business Cardmembers.'

OPEN Savings is a benefit embedded within all American Express Business Cards. American Express Business Cardmembers simply need to use their credit or charge card for purchases with any OPEN Savings partner to take advantage of discounts. The savings will automatically appear on the Cardmember's monthly statement and can be tracked at http://www.opensavings.com. OPEN Savings discounts are calculated on the full transaction amount, including any taxes and surcharges. Terms and conditions apply.

Partners and discounts include:

New Airline Partners

• Delta Air Lines: 3% off flights (plus 2% extra with co-branded Business Cards)
• JetBlue Airways: 3% off flights (plus 2% extra with co-branded Business Cards)

Travel and Dining

• Hyatt Hotels & Resorts: 3% off hotel charges
• Hertz: 5% off car rentals
• Courtyard by Marriott: 5% off hotel charges
• Fairfield Inn by Marriott: 5% off hotel charges
• SpringHill Suites by Marriott: 5% off hotel charges
• Wingate Inn: 5% off hotel charges
• Ruby Tuesday: 5% off dining
• eSkyGuide: 20% off eSkyGuide software

Supplies and Services

• FedEx: 5% off Express and Ground shipping
• FedEx Kinko's: 5% off business services
• AT&T: 5% off local & long distance services
• 1-800-FLOWERS(R): 5% off floral and gift purchases
• American Express: 3% off American Express Gift Cards

Business Building Tools

• BizFilings: 20% off incorporation and registered agent services
• Ceridian: 20% off payroll preparation
• Constant Contact: 15% off e-mail marketing
• ExpensAble: 25% off expense reporting software
• LogoWorks: 15% off logo and graphic design

Terms and conditions apply."

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American Express® Has A New Business Credit Card: The Platinum Business FreedomPass Credit Card from OPEN

American Express® has recently introduced a new business credit card with a great rewards program, no annual fee, 0% intro APR on purchases, travel accident insurance and more. It's the Platinum Business FreedomPass Credit Card from OPEN^SM. Click here for more info.

The Platinum Business FreedomPass Credit Card also offers:

• 5000 point welcome bonus
  
  
• Redeem for savings on any flight, hotel, car rental or cruise
  
  
• No blackout dates and no travel restrictions
  
  
• OPEN Savings including Travel Accident insurance and Purchase Protection Plan
  

Click Here to Apply.

Click here to view other great credit card offers from American Express.

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News Ways To Save By Using Any American Express Business Card

OPEN from American Express announces new ways to save money when you use any American Express business charge card or business credit card. Details from a press release issued today can be found below:

"OPEN from American Express^SM today announced it has launched several new partners in the OPEN Savings^SM program, providing exclusive savings in the U.S. just by using the American Express® Business Card. Courtyard by Marriott®, FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers, Fairfield Inn by Marriott®, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts®, Ruby Tuesday Restaurants, SpringHill Suites by Marriott® and Wingate Inn® hotels join existing industry leading partners, including FedEx, Hertz and AT&T in this unique program.

Unlike most small business credit card savings programs, OPEN Savings eliminates the need for offer codes, coupons or program enrollment and provides automatic savings to business owners from well-known brands. In addition, the savings are combinable with other marketplace offers or volume discount pricing that an individual business may already receive from program
partners.

In just eighteen months, OPEN Savings has delivered more than $75 million in savings to American Express Business Cardmembers.

'For small businesses pressed for time and weary of short-term offers that require coupons or offer codes, OPEN Savings delivers simple, automatic and combinable discounts just by using the Card,' said Ed Vittoria, vice president, OPEN from American Express. 'OPEN is proud to extend our breadth of OPEN Savings partners and deliver millions of dollars of savings to our
small business Cardmembers every month.'

OPEN Savings Partners

OPEN Savings is a benefit embedded within all American Express Business Cards. To earn the savings, American Express Business Cardmembers must simply use their credit or charge card for purchases with any OPEN Savings partner. The savings will automatically appear on the Cardmember's monthly statement and can be tracked at http://www.opensavings.com.

Partners and discounts include:

• Administaff: 25% off enrollment fee for HR Services
• AT&T: 5% off local & long distance services
• Business Filings: 20% off incorporation and registered agent services
• Ceridian: 20% off payroll preparation
• Constant Contact: 15% off e-mail marketing
• Courtyard by Marriott: 5% off hotel charges (new)
• ExpensAble: 25% off expense reporting software
• 1-800-FLOWERS.COM(R): 5% off gifts
• Fairfield Inn by Marriott: 5% off hotel charges (new)
• FedEx: 5% off Express and Ground shipping
• FedEx Kinko's: 5% off business services (new)
• Hertz: 5% off car rentals
• Hyatt Hotels & Resorts: 3% off hotel charges (new)
• Logoworks: 15% off logo and graphic design
• Ruby Tuesday: 5% off dining (new)
• SpringHill Suites by Marriott: 5% off hotel charges (new)
• Wingate Inn: 5% off hotel charges (new)
• UnitedHealth Allies: 40% off health discount program fees

The savings appear as credits on monthly statements or can be tracked online at http://www.opensavings.com. OPEN Savings discounts are calculated on the full transaction amount, including any taxes and surcharges. Terms and conditions apply.

About OPEN from American Express

OPEN is the American Express team dedicated exclusively to the success of small business owners and their companies. The OPEN Team supports business owners with unparalleled service. With tailored products and services, the team delivers purchasing power, flexibility, control and rewards to help customers run their business. Customers can leverage an enhanced set of products, tools, services and savings, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital, robust online account management capabilities and savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners. To obtain more information about OPEN^SM, visit http://www.OPEN.com, or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a card or loan. Terms and conditions apply.

American Express Company (http://www.americanexpress.com) is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, business services and international banking.

1. OPEN Savings^SM: Payment must be made with an American Express® Business Card. Savings will be credited to your American Express Business Card billing statement. All savings referenced are in addition to any offers made by participating companies. Participation and offers are subject to change without notice. Terms and conditions apply. For more information and the full OPEN Savings partner terms and conditions, please visit opensavings.com.

2. Courtyard by Marriott®, Fairfield Inn by Marriott® and SpringHill Suites by Marriott®: Valid at over 950 participating locations within the U.S. For a complete list, visit marriott.com/opensavings. Savings do not apply to charges relating to third party sales
transactions (such as pre-paid travel agent, wholesaler, online travel service or similar transactions) not paid directly at, or through, the hotel. The maximum annual savings available is $1,500 per Account.

3. FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers: Valid at all channels through which FedEx Kinko's accepts the Business Card in the U.S., except http://www.officeproducts.fedexkinkos.com. Payment must be made with Business Card at time of purchase. Maximum annual discount is $1000 per Account.

4. Hyatt Hotels & Resorts®: Valid at all locations within the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Savings do not apply to charges relating to third party sales transactions (such as pre-paid travel agent, wholesaler, online travel service, Internet access or similar transactions) not paid
directly at, or through, the hotel.

5. Ruby Tuesday®: Valid only at U.S. domestic locations, excluding Hawaii.

6. Wingate Inn®: Valid at all locations within the U.S. Savings do not apply to charges relating to third party sales transactions (such as pre-paid travel agent, wholesaler, online travel service or similar transactions) not paid directly at, or through, the hotel."

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