American Express' “Gifting Solutions for Business” website, www.americanexpress.com/corpalliances, provides valuable information about American Express Gift Cards, and gives companies a convenient way to buy a large number of American Express Gift Cards – as much as $15,000 or 600 cards, up from previous limits of $5,000 or 50 cards*. Companies interested in purchasing American Express Gift Cards in excess of these thresholds can do so by contacting American Express Incentive Services (AEIS). AEIS offers a range of business-to-business reward solutions including prepaid cards and American Express® Gift Cheques.

The Gifting Solutions for Business website also offers guidance on how corporate clients can best use American Express Gift Cards and other prepaid products as holiday gifts, end-of-year employee rewards, business gifts, sales incentives, service and safety awards, special prizes, and for consumer promotions. Corporate clients can purchase special occasion American Express Gift Cards through the website, and custom American Express Rewards Cards and other prepaid cards are available through AEIS.

“Our corporate and small business customers tell us that convenience is an important factor when making bulk gift card purchases, and we know corporate buyers want to make these purchases online,” said Alpesh Chokshi, Senior Vice President and General Manager, North America, American Express Travelers Cheques and Prepaid Services. “Whether to reward employees or promote products and services, companies are increasingly offering gift cards because of their popularity among recipients, flexible redemption options, and ease of administration.”

The overall market for gift cards is projected to grow to nearly $88 billion in 2008, with the fastest growth occurring in corporate purchases of gift cards for employees and customers, and in "open" gift cards -- like the American Express Gift Card that can be redeemed at multiple merchants, according to The Mercator Advisory Group, an independent research and advisory services firm exclusively focused on the payments industry. Corporate purchases will rise 72% from 2005 to 2008, growing from $9 billion to $15.5 billion. Open gift card sales are expected to almost quadruple from 2005 to 2008, growing from $1.3 billion to $5 billion, according to Mercator.

American Express Gift Cards are accepted at millions of U.S. retailers and merchants that welcome the American Express Card**, and corporations and small businesses can purchase them at tens of thousands of locations, including banks, shopping centers, supermarket and drug store chains, American Express Travel Service offices, and online. Other benefits of American Express Gift Cards include funds that never expire, and the ability to replace funds if the card is lost or stolen. For more information, visit http://www.americanexpress.com/gift.

To encourage corporations and small businesses to use the “Gifting Solutions for Business” website, American Express is offering a promotional purchase price of $2.95 per card through December 3, 2006, to online customers using the promotional code 98AB3O3X at the time of purchase. Standard shipping charges apply.

About American Express
American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

American Express is a leader in consumer prepaid products. In addition to the 115-year old American Express Travelers Cheque - the preeminent brand welcomed worldwide - the Company issues other prepaid products including the Travelers Cheque Card, Cheques for Two, Gift Cards, Gift Cheques, and a range of corporate incentive prepaid products through American Express Incentive Services.

About AEIS
AEIS, headquartered in Fenton, Mo., provides business-to-business reward solutions including prepaid cards, American Express® Gift Cheques and a Web-based reward management tool. Its products address a broad array of applications such as employee reward and recognition, sales incentives and consumer promotions while helping clients drive consumer and employee behaviors, build loyalty and increase brand awareness. For more information, please contact Bridget Westhoff, PR Manager, at (636) 226-2039, or bridget.westhoff@aeis.com.

* Subject to corporate and purchaser information required at the time of purchase.
** Terms and conditions apply to gift cards. Not for use at car rental, cruise lines, casinos or ATMs.