In
maintaining its leadership status as Nigeria’s most innovative bank,
Access Bank (https://www.AccessBankPlc.com/) has unveiled two new
consumer credit cards: the Access Bank American Express Gold Card and
the Metal Platinum Card.
These are the first American Express cards to be issued in Nigeria and West Africa.
By
launching these cards, Access Bank has improved its overall offering to
its retail and private bank customers, who can now enjoy the Membership
Rewards loyalty programme and a wide range of travel and lifestyle
benefits.
In
2019, Access Bank signed an agreement with American Express to start
acquiring merchants, enabling businesses across the country to accept
payments from international American Express Cards. The bank is now
ready to issue the first American Express credit cards in West Africa.
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, 13 June 2023.
He
said, “We are a bank of many firsts. We do have a wide network and with
this partnership, AMEX will have 60 million customers supporting this
partnership. It is a massive endorsement for us to work with AMEX in
this partnership.
Roosevelt
Ogbonna, Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank said: “The launch of
American Express Cards in Nigeria is another milestone in the continued
development of a vibrant and fast-growing payments industry. Customers
want more than transactions – they want real value.
“With
American Express, we can provide valuable card benefits, strong loyalty
rewards, and a real reason to use electronic payments instead of cash.
By diversifying our services to facilitate payments, we can connect more
consumers to the SMEs and retail businesses across the country who we
know are the engine of economic growth.”
Chizoma
Okoli, Deputy Managing Director, Retail South, Access Bank, said the
unveiling of the credit cards is a testament to the bank’s leadership
role in the country.
Her
words, “We are always at the forefront in the banking sector here in
Nigeria and this is our newest innovation as we lead others. You can see
these AMEX cards anywhere in Nigeria except here at Access. I know our
customers who are going to reap the benefits will be proud of us”.
Victor
Etiokwu, Deputy Managing Director, Retail North, said the partnership
with American Express is not the first and won’t be the last.
He
stated, “In the payment world, it is important to have varieties and as
a financial sector supermarket, we have varieties of lovely items for
the benefit of our customers. AMEX is a unique brand and we have always
wanted to have them on our portfolio and we are glad this has become a
reality. We will continue to collaborate with AMEX.
According
to Mohammed Badi, President, of Global Network Services at American
Express, “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. The Access Bank American Express Gold
Card and the metal Platinum Card enhance the credit card experience in
Nigeria with special benefits, access, and service – for Cardmembers
both in Nigeria and when traveling overseas.”
Alongside
dual-currency functionality (NGN/USD) and international acceptance, the
American Express cards include airport lounge access, car rental perks,
membership rewards, loyalty points, as well as insurance and
protections.
On
top of these features, the Platinum Card also offers expanded airport
lounge benefits, with complimentary access to more than 1,400 lounges
through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.
There
are also Hotel perks and upgrades through The Hotel Collection and Fine
Hotels + Resorts, special status access in the Hilton Honours, Radisson
Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy rewards programmes.
Other
benefits include complimentary access to hotel membership programmes,
with Tablet Plus membership and Mr & Mrs. Smith Gold status, 24/7
travel, and lifestyle concierge services.
At
the launch, Briana Wisley, Vice President and General Manager, Network
Partnerships EMEA, American Express, while commenting on the partnership
between Access Bank and AMEX said it was only Access Bank that ticked
all the boxes they were looking for and AMEX is happy to be doing this
with Access Bank.
She
said, “Across Nigeria and in West Africa, Access Bank has a great
record of expertise and innovations in the payment space. And this is
why we are excited to have them as the issuing partner for this product
in Nigeria and West Africa. So it is very exciting 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.
“In
fact, since 2017, the number of places you can use your AMEX cards
globally has more than tripled. And that is a great part, thanks
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