Amex is short for American Express. American Express is a payment scheme, just like Mastercard, Visa, or TROY.
The history of American Express
American Express was founded in the early 1850s to carry cash and important financial documents by "Express." Over many years, the company pioneered numerous innovations in financial services, while also driving major developments in the travel services industry. American Express entered the card market in 1958 with its first payment card, the "American Express Card." After deciding in the 1960s to target high-income customers, the company launched the "American Express Gold Card" in 1965, and in the mid-1980s released its first "Platinum Card" aimed at the highest-income customers. Having added credit cards to its product portfolio in the 1990s, American Express launched the world's first credit card with a transparent design, "Blue from American Express," in 1999. In the early 2000s, it released the "Centurion Card," which became famous under the name "Black Card" — the world's most prestigious card, offering superior and unique services.
Can every bank in Turkey issue an Amex card?
No. In Turkey, the American Express credit card is currently issued by Garanti Bankasi. Before that, the naming rights in Turkey belonged to Akbank.
Features that set Amex cards apart from other cards
- Unlike other credit cards, American Express cards have 15-digit numbers instead of 16.
- The CVV2, i.e. the security code, on American Express cards is 4 digits instead of 3, unlike other credit cards, and it is located on the front of the card.
- American Express cards also have a 3-digit CVV2 on the back, just like other credit cards. Because customers are used to using the 3-digit security code out of habit, transactions made with the 3-digit CVV2 on the back are also approved.
- American Express credit cards support the 3D Secure verification structure. As with other cards, transactions on this card can also be included in the 3D Secure flow, enabling secure shopping.
Can an Amex card be used on every website?
Websites generally design their interfaces, during the design stage, to accept a 16-digit card number and a 3-digit CVV2 entry.
For a website to support smooth shopping with Amex cards, it should:
- Adjust the card information entry screens to also accept a 15-digit card number.
- Adjust the security code (CVV2) entry screens to also accept 4-digit codes.
- Also take into account that Amex cardholders may enter the 3-digit code found on the back of the card.