Photo: Courtesy of American Express
The American Express Green Card – one of our most recognizable cards - turns 54 this month.
Back in 1969, an icon was born when we redesigned our charge card, changing it from the original purple hue that debuted a decade earlier to “money green”, a color that remains in wallets today.
Photo: Courtesy of American Express
It was one of our first card refreshes, reflecting a shift in consumer behavior as Card Members in the 1960s began using the cards in their wallets more frequently, as if it were cash. Charge volume grew from $75 million in 1959 to more than $1.5 billion by 1969, and the number of Amex Card Members increased to 3.2 million from 700,000 over the same period.
A 1969 print ad highlighted the product’s evolution from a novel form of payment used occasionally to a “new kind of money for world travel and entertainment.” The ad likened the new look to “a compact form of money”.
Photo: Courtesy of American Express
We continued to refine the Green Card’s look over the years. The shade of green, the size and appearance of the Centurion, the introduction of the magnetic stripe in 1972, and the increase in card numbers from 13 to 15 in 1976 – are all part of the Green Card’s evolution.
Today, the Green Card lives up to its name in a new way – it’s made from 70% reclaimed plastic collected from beaches and coastal communities.
1969
Photo: Courtesy of American Express
1990
Photo: Courtesy of American Express
2019-PRESENT
Photo: Courtesy of American Express