American Express

Intro and history: American Express, often referred to as Amex, was founded in 1850 by Henry Wells, William Fargo, and John Warren Butterfield. Initially, it was an express mail business in Buffalo, New York. Over the years, it evolved into one of the most recognizable financial services corporations, known for its credit card, charge card, and traveler's cheque businesses. Industry: Financial services Product, Services and Operations: American Express offers a range of products and services including credit cards, charge cards, corporate cards, prepaid cards, rewards programs, travel services, expense management tools, business travel, and international banking services. Funding Details: As a publicly-traded company, American Express raises funds through the issuance of stocks and bonds. As of 2020, its market capitalization is approximately $81.58 billion. Acquisitions: Notable acquisitions include the purchase of Revolution Money in 2009, Accertify Inc. in 2010, and Kabbage in 2020. Awards and Achievements: American Express has received numerous awards and recognitions, including being ranked the 23rd most valuable brand in the world by Forbes in 2017 and being named one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune magazine for multiple years.