What are some of the benefits to businesses of accepting the American Express card?

Discuss the following – NOT in question and answer format! Each student is responsible for participating with one initial post and one response post. All initial posts are due by Thursday of the discussion week and all other posts are due by Sunday, when the discussion board closes. American Express launched The Travelers Cheque in 1891. Since that time, the company significantly expanded its range of products. Go to http://www.americanexpress.com/ to find the information needed to answer the following questions.

1. What are some of the benefits to businesses of accepting the American Express card? (Click on Accept Cards at your business)

2. Is Card Member Receivables of American Express increasing or decreasing? (Click on About Us, then Investor Relations, then Annual Reports and Proxy Statements to access the latest annual report.)

3. What was the amount of the Reserve for Card Member Receivables for the two most current years? What does this represent?

4. Is the Bad Debt Expense of American Express increasing or decreasing?