Global Courant
To maintain its leading status as Nigeria’s most innovative bank, Access Bank 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.
With the launch of these cards, Access Bank has enhanced its offering for its personal and private banking customers, who can now enjoy the Membership Rewards loyalty program and a wide range of travel and lifestyle benefits.
In 2019, Access Bank signed an agreement with American Express to recruit merchants, allowing 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 show the international American Express card design, with the distinctive ‘Centurion’ icon.
Similar products are also issued outside Nigeria by American Express or third parties licensed by American Express and offer cardholders 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 on request and by invitation and that customers who have expressed an interest can enjoy their use from Tuesday 13 June 2023. He said, “We are a bank of many firsts. We have a broad network and with this partnership, AMEX will have 60 million customers supporting this partnership. It is a huge boost for us to partner with AMEX in this partnership.
Media conference
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 with small and medium-sized businesses and retailers across the country that we know are the engines of economic growth.”
Chizoma Okoli, deputy general manager, Retail South, Access Bank, said the disclosure of the credit cards is a testament to the bank’s leading role in the country. Her words: “We are always at the forefront of the banking industry here in Nigeria and this is our latest innovation as we lead others. You can see these AMEX cards everywhere in Nigeria except here at Access. I know that our customers who will 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 will not be the last. He said: “In the payment world it is important to have varieties and as a supermarket in the financial sector we have varieties of beautiful items for the benefit of our customers. AMEX is a unique brand and we have always wanted them in our portfolio and we are happy that this has become a reality. We will continue to work with AMEX.
Gold card Platinum card
Mohammed Badi, President of Global Network Services at American Express, said: “Licensing Access Bank to launch the first-ever American Express cards in Nigeria further enlivens American Express’ presence in Africa. The Access Bank American Express Gold Card and Platinum Metal Card enhance the credit card experience in Nigeria with special benefits, access and service – for cardholders both in Nigeria and when traveling abroad.
In addition to dual currency (NGN/USD) functionality and international acceptance, the American Express cards offer airport lounge access, car rental benefits, membership rewards, loyalty points, as well as insurance and protections. In addition to these features, the Platinum Card also offers extensive airport lounge benefits, with complimentary access to more than 1,400 lounges through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.
There are also hotel benefits and upgrades through The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels + Resorts, special status access in the Hilton Honors, Radisson Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy rewards programs. Other benefits include free access to hotel membership programs, 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 that only Access Bank ticked all the boxes they were looking for and AMEX is pleased to do this with Access Bank.
Media conference
She said: “Throughout Nigeria and in West Africa, Access Bank has a great track record of expertise and innovation in payments. And so we are delighted to have them as an issuance partner for this product in Nigeria and West Africa. So it’s very exciting for both of us.
“We are a global integrated payments company and one of the world’s largest card issuers. We love Access Bank and we give customers access to products, insights and experiences that make life better and help drive business value. Today we have more than 135 million cards worldwide. You can use them in more than eight million locations in 198 countries and territories.
“So you can see that we are a global brand and we are pleased that Access Bank customers are now going to enjoy all the benefits of having AMEX cards. One of our main goals is to continue to expand that scale and relevance globally. And we do this in many ways, investing in modernizing the AMEX network by launching innovative products and licensing financial institutions such as Access Bank, which can issue cards and provide access to our cards to millions of merchants. In fact, since 2017, the number of places where you can use your AMEX cards worldwide has more than tripled. And that’s a big part, thanks to our great partners like Access Bank.”
For more information about the cards, customers can visit the Access Bank website or contact the Access Bank account manager or relationship manager.
