American Express appears to have started sending out gifts to long-term cardmembers, recognizing at them at least at the 50-year milestone. Here’s a customer who hasn’t actually had an American Express card for 50 years, but shows up in Amex’s system that way.
This cardmember’s parents got their first Amex 50 years ago. There used to be two separate “backdating” effects: the Member Since date and the credit bureau account opened date. The bureau backdating has stopped for authorized users. The Member Since behavior is inconsistent and not tied to credit reporting.
- Amex historically reported new accounts using the cardholder’s “Member Since” year rather than the actual account opening year, but stopped for accounts first reported around March 2015. Now, for authorized users, I believe credit bureau reporting uses the authorized user add date, not the primary account’s original date the way that it used to.
- People used to actually ‘sell’ authorized user card slots as part of credit repair, adding someone to their account but not giving them the card. This gave them a long credit history (for account aging purposes). It was also a great way to start your kids off with strong credit once they turned 18.
- Being an authorized user could cause Amex’s Member Since date to reflect the first account on which you appeared. I haven’t paid as much attention to this behavior, since it’s just cosmetic on the card and not tied to credit reporting, but I don’t think this is generally reliable either.
- There are still other banks though that do credit reporting of the full payment history on a card for authorized users.
Last year I closed my Marriott American Express. It was opened as a Starwood Amex 25 years ago. Account longevity is one of the key attributes of American Express. Cards print your ‘member since’ date on the front. American Express Centurion lounges even used member since as their internet password for a long time (and the original Centurion lounge wifi password was ‘member of’).
Here’s my Platinum card:
I’ve always thought that American Express could make more of the long-term relationship aspect of cardmembership. They have customers who date to their first class of (paper) charge cards in 1958.
To any executives reading, consider a big campaign around original members in 2028, who will have been with the company for 70 years. Offer them incredible surprise and delights, have them tell their stories, along with how they’ve used their American Express cards along the way and how American Express has supported them in these journeys.
Six years ago I received an email from American Express that celebrated my 20 years of cardmembership.
Thank you!
Gary, through life’s twists and turns, and every swipe, dip, and tap, we’ve loved being by your side for the last 20 years. We look forward to providing you with outstanding service for years to come.
That email promoted the card’s benefits and seemed perfunctory. Doesn’t 20 years deserve more than an email promoting the value of the card?
Apparently 25 years didn’t even deserve that email. I heard nothing from American Express last year about our quarter century together.
For a 25th anniversary some points might have been nice – even “we’ve deposited 1000 points into your account” would have been a gesture if my business isn’t worth more than that to them.
But then it struck me: why do I expect something from American Express for a 25 year anniversary as a customer? After all, relationships are reciprocal. Why doesn’t American Express deserve something from me for our 25th anniversary?
I wrote about this at the time, imploring Amex to do some customer recognition around anniversaries. Now they have!
American Express was an express mail business founded in 1850 in Buffalo, New York by the merger of three regional freight-forwarding companies run by Henry Wells, William Fargo, and John Butterfield (names you’ll also recognize from Wells Fargo). At the time, “express” meant secure and fast transport of parcels, gold, currency, and other valuables across the growing United States, particularly to the West.
By the late 19th century, Amex had expanded into money orders and traveler’s cheques (first issued in 1891), which became the foundation of its financial services identity. In the 1950s, American Express pivoted from being a shipping/financial instrument company to becoming a payments company – emphasizing prestige, service, and exclusivity.
The “Member Since” date embossed on cards is meant to brand Amex’s emphasis on loyalty, prestige, and continuity of relationship beyond mere card issuance. This became a staple of their cards in the 1960s, positioning the company as more than just a way to pay but as entry into a club of discerning travelers and professionals. (Today, Platinum literally gets you into most of their clubs.)
American Express has a huge opportunity with long-term relationships. I hear from cardmembers all the time who tell me how long they’ve been customers but more than that American Express promotes – and people internalize – cardmembership. Anniversaries are meaningful.
This is my 30th year. I have my water bill charged here every month about $20 just to keep the history since 1996
37 years for me. But I’ll be over 90 when 50 years arrives.
For my upcoming 40th anniversary with American Express, don’t expect much. But for my 50th it would be dope if they could issue luggage tags from retired US commerical aircraft aka airframe metal as AA did for its CK members a few years ago.
Probably limited to its ~20K Centurian (Black) card holders but still could do regular sheet metal as Delta does for its Premium fliers…unique, one-of-kind and seldom replicated (save for the DL Window Seat shop at JFK).
Only question is how many 50 year cardholders are out there (CK was relatively easy with ~10K members.
Member since 1985. Never received anything from them beyond sign up bonuses.
Member since 1994. Never received anything from AMEX beyond their annual fee increases.
Interesting fact. Now I remember that Lucky shared that information because the ‘member since’ in his cards are way before he was born
member since 1972 nada other than a statement. maybe i didnt charge enough
“The “Member Since” date embossed on cards is meant to brand Amex’s emphasis on loyalty, prestige, and continuity of relationship beyond mere card issuance. This became a staple of their cards in the 1960s, positioning the company as more than just a way to pay but as entry into a club of discerning travelers and professionals. (Today, Platinum literally gets you into most of their clubs.)
American Express has a huge opportunity with long-term relationships. I hear from cardmembers all the time who tell me how long they’ve been customers but more than that American Express promotes – and people internalize – cardmembership. Anniversaries are meaningful.”
Not now. Chenault viscerated that specialness you describe in the first paragraph. Nowadays, there is no way in which an AMEX “member” can say that they are better treated by American Express than by Citi, Chase, Capital One, or ‘Joe’s Discount Card Issuings’.
I do get thanked for being a member since 1978 if I call customer service. After all, it is my choice to remain a cardholder and pay the currently exorbitant annual fee for a bunch of services I never use. Bottom line, Amex makes it “right” if I have a problem, and for that, I am thankful. Let’s hope I live long enough to get a 50 year recogniton!
Since 1973, I have seen the gamut of AMEX cards from Green to Black and now back to Platinum. And I was shocked that there was NO recognition in 2023 of my 50th anniversary with them. Zilch. At this point I use the Platinum card for booking flights and little else My wife has a gold that we use for supermarkets and some dining. Looking at hotels in Tokyo in 15 months and Chase travel is so much better the FHS from Amex.
I, too, am a ‘member since’ dating to when my father got his card. When I was 18, dad co-signed for me to get my own card. Years ago I called Amex to try & change that date to reflect the correct one (I would have been a 12 year old Amex cardholder based on the date on my card), but they said they could not change it. Thusly, I also received a 50 year gift last week. It was the same as the Reddit post Gary highlighted, a Sferra cotton throw (retails for $108 on their website). Also came with some vintage style postcards advertising Amex (who sends postcards anymore?)
I must say it’s kinda nice when I need to call Amex and they say ‘thank you for your 50 years of membership’… maybe that’ll get me a little more respect/customer service? A bump up in line when there’s a wait at the Centurion Lounges?… I’m not holding my breath 🙂
I’m looking at my purple and white American Express Credit Card (Member Since 68). Several years ago there was some special recognition and I sent them a copy of my card. Crickets. To be fair though I did close and open other AX accounts over the span of 58 years.
I collect things that don’t necessarily need to be collected, one of my many character faults (deal with that psychologists). A short sample: Shell Oil (1968), Gulf Travel Card (no date but est. 1968), PanAm Take Off Card (74) BankAmericard…and the road goes on forever.
Happy Father’s Day to all you Dads. DaHaaj yighoS! ylyln
Eight more years until my free gift.
50 + years Member here! Received a package from AmEx, and opened it to find a Tiffany Blue Box with 2 crystal champagne flutes. I was surprised and not ungrateful. Have kept the Green Card since 1967, but also have the Gold Delta Card. Don’t need anything higher as I am a Delta Lifetime Member, and really grateful for that! If I’m still kicking at the soon to be 60 year mark, I’ll let you know if they acknowledge that with a gift. Since it’s Father’s Day, thanks Dad for cosigning my AmEx card application way back then.
I am at 56 yrs! It says on card member since 1980. Usually 9f I call in and discussing something. I usually say I have had the card longer than you have been alive
*Jay, I think your math is off by 10 years…. don’t you mean 46 years of card membership?
*SDRon, I would have loved the Tiffany champagne flutes vs. this blanket I’m gonna re-gift!
@L3 — Tell us more about the “Joe’s Discount Card”… decent SUB? LOL.
Mine says ’96’ but I got my first Amex when my employer gave me one in 1983.
Dad was a member since 1965 when he tried to charge $85k for some jewelry to his platinum card for his wife. AMEX rejected the charge.
Dad cancelled the card, was told by the merchant he knew to just mail him a check. Dad cancelled the card.
They must have gotten a deal on blankets as I received an ugly one
I will give it away
I’ve cut my business 90% with them as they suck compared to decades ago
Massive spending on Citi Strata elite and CHASE s reserve both cards that fit my lifestyle and more trustworthy