American Express Offers Fee-Free Card

NEW YORK – With consumers overall becoming steadily less able to differentiate between cards of all types, the big card issuers are taking whatever steps they can to make their cards stand out. Recently, Bank of America announced a plan through which the bank rounds up any debit card transaction to the nearest dollar and then deposits that extra amount in a savings account the cardholder has. Now American Express has begun offering the Clear Card, a clear plastic credit card which carries no annual fees, late fees, over limit fees or balance transfer fees. However, any cardholder who posts more than two late payments in any 12-month period will face the card issuer’s highest interest rate of prime plus 21.99%. The clear card also automatically provides an American Express branded shopping card worth $25 for every $2,500 spent on the card and provides one free credit report per year, the card brand said.