Amex, David Jones card partnership ends

David Jones loyalists who signed up to the department store’s co-branded American Express credit cards will soon need to find an alternate provider, with the long-running partnership – a savvy choice among Qantas Frequent Flyers – officially coming to an end.

Card holders were informed of the change via email earlier today, with more information to follow in the coming months.

Among the cards’ benefits were a rewards bonus of 7,500 Qantas or 15,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points, in addition to store-centric benefits such as complimentary gift-wrapping and insurance on purchases.

The decision to end the partnership comes after the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) launched proceedings against American Express in December 2022, with the corporate regulator claiming many customers mistook it for a loyalty card.

First introduced in 2008, the David Jones American Express credit card offered a lucrative earn rate on spend at David Jones, while also being among the highest Qantas Points earners for supermarket and fuel spend. It was later joined by a Platinum version in 2012.

Both cards were issued until July 2022, following mounting pressure from ASIC.

A joint statement from David Jones and American Express says the duo have “mutually agreed to end their joint card program in July 2023 as both companies pursue different priorities”, while adding that AMEX will remain one of store’s key payment partners.

David Jones confirms it will announce a new financial services partner in the coming weeks.