PUBLICATIONS Inside Illinois Vol. 20, No. 11, Dec. 7, 2000

UI negotiating new contract with American Express

UI employees who have a corporate American Express card may be affected by changes that the university and the credit card company are renegotiating.

Employees who travel on university business – including emeritus faculty members – will continue to be eligible for the UI’s corporate American Express program.
However, those current cardholders who have not used their cards for 12 months will have their cards terminated. Letters have been sent to them by the university to notify them of this action. Those employees with future travel needs will have the option of having their card reactivated in the future.

The cards of all former employees, including retirees, likewise will be terminated. They have been sent letters as well. Cardholders in good standing will have the option of transferring their cards to a private account.

The current corporate credit card program was established at the UI in the mid-1980s so that employees who travel on university-related business do not have to pay for travel-related expenses out of their own pockets and then wait for reimbursement. The card is issued in the employee’s name and the employee is then responsible for paying the bill. Employees are able to charge their expenses while away, submit their travel-related expenses upon their return and usually be reimbursed before the bill comes from American Express.

American Express reports that nearly 4,800 cards are currently issued on behalf of the UI’s three campuses with at least one-third of the cards inactive during the past 12 months. To keep the program viable, the UI plans to streamline it so that fewer cards are issued and only to those employees with travel-related needs. Anyone with questions or concerns about the American Express corporate credit card program, should call Maxine Sandretto, assistant director of business affairs, 333-6797.