# American Express (Amex)

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/amex
> research date 2026-05-30 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [American Express — official](https://www.americanexpress.com/)

## Overview

**American Express (Amex)** is **American Express Company (NYSE: AXP)** + **American Express National Bank** + **#1 J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Credit Card Mobile App + Online Satisfaction Studies 5th time since 2018** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [United States report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/US)</sup>. **2025 baseline**: Amex Mobile app monthly active users +8% YoY (record digital engagement); **Amex Mobile #1 J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Credit Card Mobile App Satisfaction Study with 704 out of 1,000 possible points** (5th time since 2018); **60%+ new consumer card acquisitions Millennials + Gen Z 2025** (high-earning professionals $100K+ household income); Sep 18 2025 Amex Mobile app major update; **Sep 15 2025 Amex launches All-in-One Travel App + Digital Tools** distinctive Amex premium travel journey integration.

**Distinctive American Express positioning**:
- **American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) + American Express National Bank** + 130+ country footprint
- **Amex Mobile #1 J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Credit Card Mobile App + Online Satisfaction Studies 5th time since 2018** with 704/1000 points (J.D. Power 2025)
- **+8% YoY Amex Mobile monthly active users growth** (record digital engagement)
- **60%+ new consumer card acquisitions Millennials + Gen Z 2025** (high-earning professionals $100K+ household income)
- **Sep 18 2025 Amex Mobile app major update** + **Sep 15 2025 Amex launches All-in-One Travel App + Digital Tools** distinctive Amex premium travel journey integration
- **1850 American Express founding** in Buffalo, New York by Henry Wells + William G. Fargo + John Butterfield (also founded Wells Fargo + American Express International + Western Union) → distinctive American payment industry heritage
- **1958 Amex first plastic charge card launch** (American Express card distinctive payment industry innovation) + 1991 Optima first revolving credit charge card

## History

**Mar 18 1850 — American Express founded** in Buffalo, New York by Henry Wells + William G. Fargo + John Butterfield (also founded Wells Fargo + American Express International + Western Union) → distinctive American payment industry heritage.

**1882 — American Express Money Order founding** (distinctive American payments innovation).

**1958 — American Express first plastic charge card launch** (distinctive American payments innovation).

**1991 — Optima first revolving credit charge card launch**.

**2010 — Amex Mobile app launches**.

**2025 — Amex Mobile +8% YoY MAU growth + Amex Mobile #1 J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Credit Card Mobile App + Online Satisfaction Studies 5th time since 2018 + 60%+ new consumer card acquisitions Millennials + Gen Z + Sep 18 2025 major Amex Mobile update + Sep 15 2025 All-in-One Travel App launch** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **American Express Company (NYSE: AXP)** + **American Express National Bank**.

**Major shareholders**: **Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett ~21.5% controlling longtime shareholder; one of Berkshire's largest holdings) + Vanguard + BlackRock + State Street + US institutional + US retail public float**.

**Regulators**: **OCC + FDIC + state-level + Federal Reserve**.

## Technical integration

Amex Mobile app (iOS + Android; #1 J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Credit Card Mobile App + Online Satisfaction Studies 5th time since 2018; 704/1000 points; +8% YoY MAU growth) + americanexpress.com online + **Amex All-in-One Travel App (Sep 15 2025 launch)** distinctive Amex premium travel journey integration + American Express cards (Amex network distinctive global card network) + American Express Travel services + Amex Concierge + Amex Membership Rewards + Amex Pay; ACH + Zelle + RTP + Fedwire; American Express Centurion (Amex Black Card distinctive premium card) + American Express Platinum + American Express Gold + American Express Green.

## Users & growth

**2025**: Amex Mobile monthly active users +8% YoY (record digital engagement) + **60%+ new consumer card acquisitions Millennials + Gen Z 2025** (high-earning professionals $100K+ household income).

## Use cases

US + 130+ country retail + private + corporate + SME + investment + Amex Membership Rewards + travel + premium banking via Amex Mobile + americanexpress.com online + **Amex All-in-One Travel App (Sep 15 2025 launch)** + American Express cards + American Express Travel services + Amex Concierge; ACH + Zelle + RTP + Fedwire.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) + American Express National Bank; **Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett ~21.5% controlling longtime shareholder)**.

**Subsidiaries**: **American Express National Bank** + **American Express Travel Related Services** + **American Express Foreign Exchange + International Payments** + **Amex Vacations** + **Amex Membership Rewards**.

**Major US + global credit card competitors**: [Chase Mobile (JPMorgan Chase)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/chase-mobile) (Chase Sapphire + Chase Freedom cards) + [Citi Mobile (Citigroup)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/citi-mobile) (Citi Premier + Citi Strata + Citi Double Cash cards) + [Capital One Mobile](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/capital-one) (Capital One Venture + Capital One Quicksilver + Capital One Spark cards) + [Bank of America](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bank-of-america) (BofA Customized Cash + BofA Premium Rewards + BofA Travel Rewards cards) + [Discover Financial Services](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/discover-financial) (Discover it + Discover Miles cards) + Visa + Mastercard global network competitors (Amex distinctive merchant-acquired network vs Visa/Mastercard issuer-issued).

**Regulators**: OCC + FDIC + state-level + Federal Reserve.

## Fun facts

- **American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) + American Express National Bank** + 130+ country footprint.
- **Amex Mobile #1 J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Credit Card Mobile App + Online Satisfaction Studies 5th time since 2018** with 704/1000 points.
- **+8% YoY Amex Mobile monthly active users growth** (record digital engagement).
- **60%+ new consumer card acquisitions Millennials + Gen Z 2025** (high-earning professionals $100K+ household income).
- **Sep 18 2025 Amex Mobile app major update** + **Sep 15 2025 Amex launches All-in-One Travel App + Digital Tools** distinctive Amex premium travel journey integration.
- **Mar 18 1850 American Express founding** in Buffalo, New York by Henry Wells + William G. Fargo + John Butterfield (also founded Wells Fargo + American Express International + Western Union) → distinctive American payment industry heritage.
- **1958 Amex first plastic charge card launch** + 1991 Optima first revolving credit charge card.
- **Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett ~21.5% controlling longtime shareholder; one of Berkshire's largest holdings)**.

## Comparison

| Feature | American Express (Amex) | [Chase Mobile (JPMorgan Chase)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/chase-mobile) (US #1 by assets rival; Chase Mobile 50M+ active users) | [Citi Mobile (Citigroup)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/citi-mobile) (US Big-4 + 95+ countries global rival) | [Capital One Mobile](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/capital-one) (Major US credit card issuer + Capital One Café + Feb 2024 Discover \$35B acquisition rival) | [Bank of America](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bank-of-america) (US #2 by assets + Erica AI assistant 17M+ active users rival) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) + American Express National Bank** | JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) | Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) | Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) | Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC) |
| Type | **American Express Company + 130+ country footprint + Amex Mobile #1 J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Credit Card Mobile App + Online Satisfaction Studies 5th time since 2018 + 704/1000 points + +8% YoY MAU growth + 60%+ new consumer card acquisitions Millennials + Gen Z + Sep 15 2025 All-in-One Travel App + Sep 18 2025 Mobile app update + Amex network distinctive merchant-acquired + Berkshire Hathaway ~21.5% Buffett shareholder** | US #1 by assets + 80M+ customers + Chase Mobile 50M+ active users | US Big-4 + 1812 City Bank of New York + 95+ countries global | Major US credit card issuer + Capital One Café + Feb 2024 Discover Financial Services \$35B pending acquisition | US #2 by assets + 67M+ Bank of America customers + Erica AI assistant 17M+ active users |
| Country | US + 130+ countries | US + 100+ countries | US + 95+ countries | US | US + 35+ countries |
| Distinctive | **Mar 18 1850 American Express founding in Buffalo, New York by Henry Wells + William G. Fargo + John Butterfield (also founded Wells Fargo + American Express International + Western Union); 1882 American Express Money Order; 1958 first plastic charge card launch; 1991 Optima first revolving credit charge card; 2010 Amex Mobile launch; Sep 15 + Sep 18 2025 Amex All-in-One Travel App + Mobile app major update; American Express Centurion (Amex Black Card distinctive premium card); Berkshire Hathaway ~21.5% Buffett shareholder** | 1799 Bank of the Manhattan Company founding; 2000 Chase Manhattan + J.P. Morgan & Co merger | 1812 City Bank of New York founding; 2008 Citigroup financial crisis bailout | 1988 Capital One founding by Richard Fairbank + Nigel Morris; Feb 2024 Discover Financial Services \$35B pending acquisition | 1904 BankItaly founding by Amadeo Giannini; 1998 NationsBank + BankAmerica merger |

## Status

**Active, American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) + American Express National Bank + Amex Mobile #1 J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Credit Card Mobile App + Online Satisfaction Studies 5th time since 2018** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3]</sup>:
- **American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) + American Express National Bank** since Mar 18 1850 American Express founding in Buffalo, New York by Henry Wells + William G. Fargo + John Butterfield + 1958 first plastic charge card launch + 1991 Optima first revolving credit charge card.
- **Amex Mobile +8% YoY MAU growth + 60%+ new consumer card acquisitions Millennials + Gen Z 2025 + Sep 15 + Sep 18 2025 Amex All-in-One Travel App + Mobile app major update**.
- **Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett ~21.5% controlling longtime shareholder)**.
- **OCC + FDIC + state-level + Federal Reserve regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://upgradedpoints.com/news/amex-mobile-app-updates-2025/ "Amex Mobile App Updates: New Features Are Customer-Friendly — Upgraded Points"
[2]: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250529170859/en/American-Express-Ranks-No.-1-in-the-J.D.-Power-U.S.-Credit-Card-Mobile-App-and-Online-Satisfaction-Studies "American Express Ranks No. 1 in the J.D. Power U.S. Credit Card Mobile App and Online Satisfaction Studies — Business Wire"
[3]: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250915003810/en/American-Express-Launches-All-in-One-Travel-App-and-Digital-Tools-to-Simplify-and-Enhance-the-Premium-Travel-Journey "American Express Launches All-in-One Travel App and Digital Tools — Business Wire"
[us-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/US

- [1] [Amex Mobile App Updates: New Features Are Customer-Friendly — Upgraded Points][1]
- [2] [American Express Ranks No. 1 in the J.D. Power U.S. Credit Card Mobile App and Online Satisfaction Studies — Business Wire][2]
- [3] [American Express Launches All-in-One Travel App and Digital Tools — Business Wire][3]
- <sup>[United States report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/US)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/US-united-states.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [amex.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/amex). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.