American Express Small Business Services Launches "Voices From Main Street".

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 2000

Year-Long Initiative To Shine Spotlight on Issues Affecting Small

Business America, Critical Engine of Nation's Economy

American Express Small Business Services today launches a multi-million dollar communications campaign to engage small business owners in a national dialogue about the issues that matter to them most and shine a spotlight on those concerns throughout the year.

The year-long "Voices From Main Street" program, which begins tonight with the airing of a 30-second television advertisement introducing the program, will include:

- employ half of the country's private work force;

- provide virtually all of the nation's net new jobs;

- account for half of the country's private sector output.

Steve Alesio, President, American Express Small Business Services, said "we hope this initiative will both focus attention on the issues of greatest concern to business owners, and remind the general public of the enormous impact small firms have on the U.S. economy." According to government and private research(a) small firms:

- employ half of the country's private work force;

- provide virtually all of the nation's net new jobs;

- account for half of the country's private sector output.

"Small business is a key growth engine in the US economy, and American Express wants to ensure their issues are front and center," Alesio said. "This far reaching program will provide small business owners the opportunity to speak up and be heard and we encourage them to do so, beginning today."

Later this week, American Express Small Business Services will be unveiling the first of several polls of entrepreneurs, asking them to identify the most critical issues they face.

American Express Small Business Services is a unit of American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. solely dedicated to serving companies with fewer than 100 employees. Small Business Services provides a broad range of credit and capital products, including charge and credit cards, equipment financing and lines of credit. Visit the small business Web site at www.americanexpress.com/smallbusiness.

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.

(a) Bureau of the Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Internal Revenue Service, Cognetics, Inc., U.S. Dept. of Labor, Dun and Bradstreet Corporation, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy.