Access Bank Launches the first American Express Cards to be issued in Nigeria – the Access Bank American Express Gold Card and the Access Bank American Express Metal Platinum Card.

Access Bank has launched two new consumer credit cards to maintain its position as Nigeria’s most creative bank: the Access Bank American Express Gold Card and the Metal Platinum Card.

These are Nigeria’s and West Africa’s first American Express cards.

By introducing these cards, Access Bank has expanded its total offering to retail and private bank customers, who can now take advantage of the Membership Rewards loyalty program as well as a variety of travel and leisure advantages.

In 2019, Access Bank agreed to begin acquiring merchants with American Express, allowing companies across the country to accept payments from foreign American Express Cards. The bank is now ready to issue West Africa’s first American Express credit cards.

The Gold and Platinum Cards showcase the international American Express card design, featuring the distinctive ‘Centurion’ icon.

Similar products are also issued outside of Nigeria by American Express or third parties licensed by American Express and provide cardmembers with extensive rewards and benefits. Through Access Bank, this credit card experience is now available in Nigeria.

Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director, Access Holdings, said the cards will be available by request and invitation and customers who have signified interest will begin to enjoy the usage from Tuesday, June 13, 2023.

We are a bank of many firsts,” he remarked. We have a large network, and with this cooperation, AMEX will have 60 million clients on board. Working with AMEX in this cooperation is a huge endorsement for us.

“The launch of American Express Cards in Nigeria is another milestone in the continued development of a vibrant and fast-growing payments industry,” said Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank. Customers seek more than just transactions; they seek true value.

We can provide useful card features, powerful loyalty rewards, and a compelling reason to utilize electronic payments instead of cash with American Express. We can connect more people to the SMEs and retail enterprises around the country that we know are the engine of economic growth by diversifying our payment options.”

According to Chizoma Okoli, Deputy Managing Director, Retail South, Access Bank, the launch of the credit cards demonstrates the bank’s leadership role in the country.

“We are always at the forefront of the banking sector here in Nigeria, and this is our latest innovation as we lead others,” she says. These AMEX cards can be found anyplace in Nigeria except here at Access. I know our clients who will benefit from this will be proud of us.”

According to Victor Etiokwu, Deputy Managing Director, Retail North, the collaboration with American Express is not the first and will not be the last.

“In the payment world, variety is important, and as a financial sector supermarket, we have variety of lovely items for the benefit of our customers,” he stated. AMEX is a distinct brand, and we have long want to include them in our portfolio. we are glad this has become a reality. We will continue to collaborate with AMEX.

“By granting Access Bank a license to launch the first-ever American Express Cards in Nigeria, American Express’ presence in Africa is becoming even more vibrant,” said Mohammed Badi, President, Global Network Services at American Express. The Access Bank American Express Gold Card and the gold Platinum Card enhance the credit card experience in Nigeria by providing additional advantages, access, and service to Cardmembers both in Nigeria and abroad.”

In addition to dual-currency capabilities (NGN/USD) and international acceptability, American Express cards offer airport lounge access, car rental advantages, membership rewards, loyalty points, and insurance and protections.

In addition to these benefits, the Platinum Card includes complimentary admission to more than 1,400 airport lounges through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

Hotel bonuses and upgrades are also available through The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels + Resorts, as well as special status access in the Hilton Honours, Radisson Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy reward programs.

Other perks include free access to hotel membership programs with Tablet Plus membership and Mr. & Mrs. Smith Gold status, as well as 24-hour travel and lifestyle concierge services.

At the launch, Briana Wisley, Vice President and General Manager, Network Partnerships EMEA, American Express, stated that only Access Bank ticked all the boxes that AMEX was looking for, and that AMEX is pleased to be doing this with Access Bank.

“Across Nigeria and West Africa, Access Bank has a great track record of expertise and innovation in the payment space,” she said. This is why we are thrilled to have them as the product’s issuing partner in Nigeria and West Africa. So it’s a pretty exciting time for both of us.

We are a globally integrated payments company and one of the world’s largest card issuers. We are happy with Access Bank and we give customers access to products, insights and experiences that make life better and help grow business value. Today, we have more than 135 million cards globally. You can use them in over eight million locations in 198 countries and territories.

“So you can see that we are a global brand and we are glad that Access Bank customers are now going to enjoy all the benefits of having AMEX cards. One of our key objectives is to continue expanding that scale and relevance globally. And we do this in many ways by investing to modernize the AMEX network by launching innovative products and granting licenses to financial institutions like Access Bank, which can issue cards and grant access to our cards to millions of merchants.

“As you can see, we are a global brand, and we are delighted that Access Bank customers will now be able to take advantage of all the benefits of having AMEX cards.” One of our primary goals is to maintain that scale and relevance on a worldwide scale. And we do it in a variety of ways, including investing in the modernization of the AMEX network through the launch of novel products and awarding licenses to financial institutions such as Access Bank, which can issue cards and provide access to our cards to millions of merchants.

In fact, the number of places where you may use your AMEX card has more than tripled since 2017. And it is because to our excellent partners like Access Bank.”

Customers can learn more about the cards by visiting the Access Bank website or contacting an Access Bank account officer or relationship manager.