American Express began in 1850 as an express delivery company, carrying packages, valuables, and other goods—not issuing credit cards. Its first payment card arrived more than a century later, in 1958. The familiar financial brand grew out of a business built around getting important things safely from one place to another.
Founded on March 18, 1850, American Express brought together three existing delivery businesses. Its founders were Henry Wells, William G. Fargo, and John Butterfield. According to the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum, delivering packages and valuables was its core business. By 1862, the company had 890 offices, more than 1,500 employees, and routes spanning nearly 10,000 miles of railway and express lines. That was already a substantial operation, decades before payment cards entered the picture.
The move toward money services was gradual. Transporting valuable possessions had helped American Express establish a reputation for trust. In 1891, it introduced its Travelers Cheque, helping international travelers feel more secure with their money. Travel services followed in 1915, bringing the business closer to the travel and payments identity it would later become known for.
Then came the card. On October 1, 1958, American Express launched its first charge card in the United States and Canada. As HISTORY’s account of the launch explains, it was made from purple paperboard, not plastic. Importantly, customers had to pay their balances in full each month. It was therefore a charge card, rather than a revolving credit card that allowed balances to carry over.
Perhaps the neatest twist is that American Express had left its original express delivery business in 1918—40 years before launching that first card. For readers who enjoy surprising business facts, this is a memorable reminder: a company’s beginnings can look very different from the product that eventually makes its name famous.