American Express Canada Extends Small Business Push with New AIR MILES Card
Offerings

American Express and AIR MILES Reward Program introduce new Platinum Business Card and unveil new offerings on the Gold Business Card

TORONTO, March 22 /CNW/ - American Express and AIR MILES Reward Program(R) launched today a new American Express AIR MILES Platinum Business Card, designed to offer business owners the most significant AIR MILES earn rate yet from American Express, along with extensive services and built for business coverage. In addition, American Express and AIR MILES have enhanced the American Express AIR MILES Gold Business Card, offering additional benefits and a faster way to earn AIR MILES Reward Miles on the no-fee business Credit Card.

Business owners can earn up to 1,250 Bonus reward miles with the new American Express AIR MILES Platinum Business Card; enough for a round-trip air fare.

The new American Express AIR MILES Platinum Business Card offers Cardmembers the ability to turn their everyday business purchases into AIR MILES reward miles at a faster rate than ever before. The new Platinum Card earns business owners one AIR MILES reward mile for every $10 in purchases charged to the Card at AIR MILES Sponsors and one AIR MILES reward mile for every $15 in purchases charged to the Card everywhere else. Cardmembers who reach $50,000 each year in purchases on their Card will also receive annual bonuses of 1,000 reward miles. With a Welcome Bonus of 250 reward miles on the product, Cardmembers can earn up to 1,250 Bonus reward miles in their first year. Reward miles in Collector Accounts never expire and can be redeemed for a variety of travel, leisure, entertainment, and merchandise options.

The new American Express AIR MILES Platinum Business Card also helps business owners enjoy a greater peace of mind as all Cardmembers are covered by the Disability Plan for Small Business. This coverage offers valuable protection against financial hardships caused by permanent, total disability. With the new Platinum Business Card, Cardmembers will also enjoy American Express' extensive Travel related insurance benefits including: Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance, Travel Accident Insurance, Flight and Baggage Delay Insurance, and Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance.

"We recognize the unique needs of our Small Business Cardmembers, and we're excited about launching the new American Express AIR MILES Platinum Business Card," said Howard Grosfield, Vice President and General Manager of Small Business Services, American Express Canada. "This Card offers an exceptional opportunity for Business Owners to not only earn AIR MILES reward miles at a faster rate, but also to enjoy the benefits included through our extensive Card features."

The new American Express AIR MILES Platinum Business Card offers Small Businesses the wide range of perks and services, including Free Supplementary Cards, access to Online Expense Management Reports to help organize financial and tax statements, Front of the Line(R) preferred ticket access to concerts, theatre and other special events, and access to specially trained Small Business servicing professionals.

The redesigned American Express AIR MILES Gold Business Card provide business owners a faster way to earn AIR MILES reward miles

Concurrently with the launch of the new the American Express AIR MILES Platinum Business Card, American Express and AIR MILES have also enhanced the American Express AIR MILES Gold Business Card. With no annual fee, the American Express AIR MILES Gold Business Card now offers Cardmembers one Reward Mile for every $15 in Card purchases at AIR MILES Sponsors and one reward mile for every $20 in Card purchases everywhere else. In addition to this, Cardmembers will now benefit from automatic inclusion in the Disability Plan for Small Business.

"Small Business Owners can choose either of the two new products that work best for their business and collect AIR MILES reward miles faster than ever before," said Todd March, Senior Vice President, AIR MILES Reward Program. "Each new product offers an opportunity for Cardmembers to earn more reward miles on their everyday business purchases like inventory, supplies, travel and equipment, while also providing them with valuable insurances and benefits that have been created especially for their unique business needs."

Current American Express AIR MILES Gold Business Cardmembers have been automatically upgraded to the new American Express AIR MILES Gold Business Card, and are currently enjoying the new benefits. For new Cardmembers, to apply for an American Express AIR MILES Gold or Platinum Business Card, go to www.americanexpress.ca/business. To see the list of Sponsors, visit www.americanexpress.ca/airmilessponsors.

About American Express in Canada

American Express in Canada operates as Amex Bank of Canada and Amex Canada Inc. Both are wholly owned subsidiaries of the New York based American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., the largest operating unit of the American Express Company. Amex Bank of Canada is the issuer of American Express Cards in Canada. Amex Canada Inc. operates the Corporate Travel, Travel Services Network and Travellers Cheques divisions in Canada. American Express opened its first offices in Toronto and Hamilton in 1853 and now employs 3,700 Canadians coast-to-coast.

About the AIR MILES Reward Program

Founded in 1992, the AIR MILES Reward Program is Canada's premier coalition loyalty program. More than 10 million active Collector accounts, representing approximately two-thirds of all Canadian households, actively participate in the Program. The AIR MILES Reward Program allows Collectors to indulge in leisure, entertainment, merchandise, travel and other lifestyle rewards quickly, simply by doing their everyday shopping for products and services at AIR MILES Sponsors. AIR MILES reward miles can be redeemed for more than 1,200 different rewards, such as movie passes, family attractions, electronic merchandise, sports and recreation, travel and more. More information is available at www.airmiles.ca.

For further information: Jessica Myers, American Express Canada, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]