Card Briefs: American Express Expands Rewards

eight-year-old Membership Rewards program.

Membership Rewards Plus and Membership Rewards Options are targeting high and low spenders, respectively, with annual fees of $75 and $15. Cardmembers in each program earn one point for each dollar they spend using an Amex card, but Options is meant for people who want to redeem their points primarily for goods at 50 participating merchants such as Foot Locker and Champs Sports. Rewards Plus is geared toward frequent travelers interested in airline tickets or high-end merchandise like computer software.

"We know that American Express cardmembers have different needs, spend at different paces, and prefer different types of rewards," said Emily Chien, vice president of rewards marketing. "These two new program levels offer our cardmembers greater flexibility."

The original Membership Rewards program, costing $40, remains unchanged.