“With Changing times and technology, we have to ensure that our customers are protected and our mantra is speed,service and security” With these words Chizoma Okoli, Deputy Managing Director, Retail South, Access Bank set the tone for the launching of the Access Bank American Express Card newest innovation in the financial services industry. Hosting journalists recently in a press conference at their Oniru Victoria island Head office in Lagos, she spoke further “The impact that this would have on the lives of Nigerians cannot be overemphasized. We believe that the innovation will go a long way in enhancing the lifestyle of our various customers in Nigeria and Access Bank will always be perceived as the bank that looks forward to enhancing its customers experiences”.
Taking us back in time Victor Etuokwu Deputy Managing Director,Retail North reinforced Access Banks influence for innovating by assessing customers needs for financial solutions “In 2007 we were the first to bring you another partnership from the card industry, In the payment world it is important to have varieties.Today we are announcing our partnership with AMEX and we are launching the first AMEX Card in Nigeria.Am not sure any bank in West Africa issues AMEX, we are going to be the first one to do that in Nigeria. AMEX is a unique brand. Sometime in 2020 we met with the AMEX guys in our Polo Tournament in UK and we said can you guys begin to consider meeting with senior AMEX executives in London, so what we are doing today is a product of 3 years of hardwork and active engagements. We have something of value for the Country, its only for those who are qualified for it. When you have it, it gives you great benefits,it’s a card that gives you access to live life for it says “Don’t live life without it” ”The card has another unique feature of earning you points as you spend a certain amount with it. As you build up your points, they are redeemable anywhere in the world locally or globally. I will just end by saying that again we have brought something of value to the Nigerian consumers”.
L-R: Jonathan Curtis, Business Development Leader, West Africa, American Express; Chozoma Okoli, Deputy Managing Director, Retail, South, Access Bank plc; Victor Etuokwu, Deputy Managing Director, Retail, North, Access Bank plc; Briana Wilsey, Vice president and General Manager, Network partnerships, EMEA, American Express, at the press conference to announce the launch of Access Bank American Express Cards, in Lagos.
Access Bank launched the
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. By launching these Cards, Access Bank improves 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.
Briana Wilsey, VP&GM Network Partnerships EMEA American
Express gave insights as to why the partnership came into being “Access
Bank is known across Nigeria for its records and innovations in the financial space and this
is why we decided to partner with them. AMEX is
a globally innovative bank, we give customers access to insights,
products and experiences of value. Today we have over 135 million cards globally,you
can use them in about 8 million locations in 198 Countries and territories.AMEX
grants licenses to financial institutions like Access Bank who can issue cards
and grant access to AMEX cards for millions of customers”
Corroborating these views Jonathan Curtis,Business Development
Leader, West Africa,American Express added “We,ve actually been working
with Access Bank since 2019. We’ve been present in Africa for a number of
decades and we have always tried to find ways to enrich customers lives in both
big and small ways and that standard of excellence continues to guide us today,
our mission is to become essential to customers
by providing different shapes of products and services that can achieve
those aspirations.Nigerians are highly aspirational people. Here in Nigeria
Access Bank has great focus on customer delivery services”
In further attesting to these benefits Nnenna Achife
Group Head Channels Access Bank says they’ve been cooking these for a
while and she is greatly excited about the strong confidence American Express
has for Nigeria’s economic potentials. “AMEX has interest in Nigeria’s economic
potentials.The opportunities comes with responsibilities as we embrace all the
features of AMEX,we also have to use the products
wisely,ethically,professionally in line with regulations and transparency” she
said.
Speaking further on the outstanding attributes of the AMEX
Cards Victor Etuokwu further elucidates
“AMEX has some outstanding peculiarities. The onboarding process is better, the
experience is better, the benefits across markets is also better and we are
partnering with them to build strong benefits so the card holders can access
these anywhere they are in the country or outside the country. It’s a brand
that is extremely popular among the SME’s. We are bank that is very suitable
and valuable for the SME sector.We are a financial supermarket with 60 million
customers, in 4 years we would be about
a 100 million customers strong in Nigeria and 125 million in Africa. So we need
to provide a broad range of service. If you need a payment tool, a payment
instrument for international travels, for global purchases, online purchases,
offline purchases across all terminals, this is the card that you are asking
for, if you qualify by criteria, you can get the card”.
Mohammed Badi, President, Global Network Services , American Express and Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group managing Director Access Bank plc at the launch of American Express Card in the United Kingdom recently.
Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank,
at the launch event 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.”
Mohammed Badi, President, Global Network Services at American Express, said: “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 travelling overseas.”
Expanded airport lounge benefits, with complimentary access
to more than 1,400 lounges through the American Express Global Lounge
Collection®.
Hotel perks and upgrades through The Hotel Collection and
Fine Hotels + Resorts.
Special status access in the Hilton Honours, Radisson
Rewards, and Marriott BonvoyTM rewards programmes.
Complimentary access to hotel membership programmes, with
Tablet Plus membership and Mr & Mrs. Smith Gold status.
24/7 travel and lifestyle concierge services.
For more information on the Cards, please visit the Access
Bank website or contact your Access Bank account officer or relationship
manager.
About Access Bank
About American Express
American Express
is a globally integrated payments company providing customers with access to
products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business
success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.
Key links to products, services and corporate sustainability information: personal cards, business cards and services, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, Kabbage, Resy, corporate card, business travel, diversity and inclusion, corporate sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance reports.
American Express products have been in Africa for 60 years,
and its presence in the region continues to expand. American Express consumer
Cards and corporate Cards/solutions are issued in more than 40 countries across
the region through its joint venture American Express Middle East (AEME), its
licensees (such as local banks), and direct issuance of Global Dollar Cards.
Through its licensees and AEME, American Express is committed to expanding
the number of places where local Cardmembers, international
travelers, and local and international businesses can use their
American Express Cards for daily spending, business, or tourism in the
region.
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