The company said Thursday (May 20) that it is partnering with Fanatics to launch a co-branded credit card, add sports-focused rewards options and deepen its presence across Fanatics’ commerce and events ecosystem.
The move comes as card issuers compete for spending volume and customer loyalty by pairing payments with experiences and tailored rewards. The partnership will make American Express the official payments partner across select Fanatics online and retail channels worldwide.
“By combining the scale of the American Express Network with Fanatics’ ecosystem of more than 100 million fans, we’re delivering the new Fanatics American Express Card and experiences that make fandom more rewarding, from everyday purchases to once-in-a-lifetime moments,” Elizabeth Rutledge, chief marketing officer at American Express, said in a statement.
The companies also plan to introduce the Fanatics American Express Card later this year. The card will run on the Amex network and will be issued by First Electronic Bank and managed by Imprint.
Cardholders will earn FanCash, Fanatics’ digital rewards currency, which can be redeemed across Fanatics businesses for merchandise, collectibles, tickets and experiences. The card will also provide benefits tied to Fanatics ONE, the company’s loyalty platform launched in 2025.
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The companies said Fanatics will also become American Express’ first sports-focused Membership Rewards transfer partner within the next year. Eligible cardholders will be able to convert Membership Rewards points into FanCash for use across Fanatics properties.
The partnership comes as American Express sees consumers spending more on experiences. In its most recent earnings report, the firm noted an uptick in the travel and entertainment categories.
The collaboration also builds on Fanatics’ ongoing push to deepen customer loyalty across its sports commerce ecosystem. In 2025, the company launched Fanatics ONE, a loyalty program that unified rewards across businesses including apparel, collectibles, sports betting and live events. FanCash became the connective layer across those offerings, giving fans more ways to earn and redeem rewards.
The new American Express partnership extends that strategy by adding payments into the mix, creating another channel for Fanatics to drive engagement and encourage repeat activity across its platform.
Indeed, rewards can go a long way toward driving spending. Recent PYMNTS Intelligence research finds that 22% of cardholders say rewards are a key factor influencing them to use credit cards, and four in 10 credit card app users report that identifying or redeeming rewards encouraged them to spend more on the card.
