American Express refreshed its consumer and business Platinum Cards, complete with $895 annual fees and an enhanced slate of travel, dining, entertainment, and shopping credits. Amex’s annual fee is creeping closer to $1,000, and the issuer is arguing its fleet of perks—on paper worth over $3,500—more than pays for the price hike. The updated rewards slate also reflects millennial and Gen Z sensibilities—and adding more experiential perks through Resy helps round out the cash rewards with exclusive in-person events. However, cardholders will need to enroll to access many of Amex’s latest offerings, a snag that’s likely to reduce members actual use rate of their perks—eroding Platinum’s value and potentially pushing away the premium consumers Amex is trying to court.
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Become a ClientUSAA has topped Investor’s Business Daily’s 2025 “30 Most Trusted Financial Companies” ranking. The financial institution (FI) scored exceptionally well across nearly all trust attributes. This ranking reinforces the importance of not only financial soundness, which respondents ranked consistently as their most important factor influencing trust, but also of developing a deep understanding of your customers. And the work doesn’t stop there—it’s what FIs do with that understanding that matters.
The Trump administration announced on September 15 that a TikTok sale deal has finally been reached with China after months of uncertainty, allowing TikTok to remain operational in the US. That means TikTok’s future in the US isn’t as uncertain as it recently was. FIs that set aside plans to build up their TikTok following or reach target customers via campaigns or finfluencer relationships should now move full steam ahead on TikTok. This is the moment to restart those efforts with a renewed focus on authenticity and education. FIs should create specific content that speaks to Gen Z’s financial realities.
UBS has issued a warning that there is a 93% chance of a US recession this year, per Moneywise. The prediction is based on data such as personal incomes, consumption, industrial production, and employment rates. When consumers feel stressed, they’re more likely to turn to advice that promises to fix their problems quickly. But much advice like this on social media is misleading—or downright dangerous financially. FIs are well positioned to combat misinformation and share more trustworthy advice via social media on navigating economic challenges. Advice could center around specific products.
JPMorgan Chase and Plaid have renewed their data access agreement, resolving a dispute that arose when the bank started charging fintechs for access to customer data, per PYMNTS. The new deal includes a pricing structure but reportedly won't result in new fees for Plaid customers. It’s noteworthy that JPMorgan and Plaid reached an agreement while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is still collecting public comments on a new iteration of its open banking rule. The agreement may influence the rule’s final outcome and encourage other financial institutions who are considering similar moves.
Nvidia is putting $5 billion into Intel, buying common stock at $23.28 per share for a 4%–5% stake. The two companies plan to co-develop custom PC and data center chips that blend Nvidia’s GPUs with Intel’s x86 CPUs and manufacturing muscle, per ABC News. For Intel, it’s a last chance to remain relevant in advanced computing. For Nvidia, it’s a strategic hedge—ensuring supply resilience and expanding influence over x86 chip design. The partnership will reshape the semiconductor industry and strengthen US tech leadership.
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As AI fundamentally changes how consumers find products and services, experts continue to explore what marketers must do to adapt. "The most surprising thing, the most pressing thing about AI adoption isn't just that people are starting to use it. It's that they're trusting it, it's that they're using it within their shopping journeys," said EMARKETER analyst Nate Elliott during last week's Future of Digital Summit.