American Express Releases Nostalgic TV Ad For Apple Pay - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

American Express Releases Nostalgic TV Ad For Apple Pay

American Express over the weekend released a new advertisement called "Retrospective" that promotes how its timeless safety and security are now available through Apple Pay. The 30-second spot takes a trip down memory lane as it recounts the brand's historic past, starring a number of famous cardholders such as Jerry Seinfeld and Tina Fey in both the past and present.

applepaytouchid
The advertisement first aired during the mid-season premiere of The Walking Dead on Sunday night and will also be featured during the NBA All-Star Game later this week. American Express does not provide an exact number of Apple Pay signups, but Ad Age reports that the credit company has received "encouraging feedback" from early iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus adopters.


Apple Pay makes up two of every three contactless payments on Visa, MasterCard and American Express, while an additional 750 banks and credit unions have signed on to support the iPhone-based service. Apple Pay is currently limited to the United States, although an international rollout could start with Canada in March.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay

Popular Stories

apple pay feature dynamic island

UK Proposes New Ways to Help Apple Pay Rivals

Tuesday October 20, 2026 9:57 pm PDT by
The UK's competition regulator has proposed changes to make it easier and cheaper for companies to offer alternatives to Apple Pay on the iPhone (via Reuters). The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) says Apple's fees and restrictions make it too difficult for rivals to launch contactless payment apps. Its proposals would give developers more ways to access the iPhone's NFC technology,...
iPhone Duo Display Cracking

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue

Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue. If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....
iPad mini OLED feature 1

Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display

Thursday October 29, 2026 1:47 pm PDT by
While the new iPad mini has an OLED display, the device does not support ProMotion, meaning the display's refresh rate is limited to 60Hz instead of 120Hz. ProMotion support would have allowed for the iPad mini's refresh rate to automatically adjust from 10Hz to 120Hz depending on the content being displayed, but evidently Apple has kept the feature exclusive to the iPad Pro among iPad...

Top Rated Comments

153 months ago
Another feature of Amex/Apple Pay

Ever since I registered my Amex card with Apple Pay, I now receive instant notifications of all purchases on that card. This not only occurs for purchases using the NFC feature of the phone, but the notifications also appear when the card is swiped in the old way. One example: when a restaurant server takes my card away and swipes it, the charge notification instantly appears on my phone - before the server returns to the table with the card and charge slip. The phone was not used to make the charge -- the card was swiped in an old magnetic-swipe device. This notification is awesome, and is a great security feature.

Interestingly, this instant notification feature (for non-iPhone transactions) does not appear for two other cards that are registered on Apple Pay - only the Amex card has this feature.

This feature is so useful that It surprises me that Amex does not advertise it. Frankly, all cards should work this way. Wouldn't everyone want to know instantly whenever your credit card us used for a transaction?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
153 months ago
Not true!

You guys keep saying that apple pay makes up two of every three contactless payments, but this is not true. That is not what the original quote says. He says that apple pay accounts for $2 of every $3 of contactless payments. These are not the same thing. If every apple pay sale is for $1,000 and every other contactless payment is for $1 then the difference could be significant. Please stop asserting this.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Anonymous Freak Avatar
153 months ago
Interestingly, this instant notification feature (for non-iPhone transactions) does not appear for two other cards that are registered on Apple Pay - only the Amex card has this feature.

This is based on the card issuer, not the card network. There are Visa and Mastercard issuers (aka: banks,) that do this also. It's not even ApplePay specific, it's just that ApplePay is what got you to enable it on your Amex.

Many banks provide this through their existing mobile app, and have for years. (I had one bank that if I swiped my card while buying groceries, I would get the alert on my phone before the receipt had even finished printing. And this was long before ApplePay.)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
153 months ago
I use Apple Pay wherever I can. But in places that don't yet accept Apple Pay (iPhone payment), I use my AmEx and I absolutely LOVE how I instantly get notified (on my iPhone 6) when a purchase is made with AmEx. Even if I order something on the web, the instant my card is charged I get a notification on my iPhone telling me about the charge.

If my AmEx number is ever compromised/stolen, I'll know about it at the same instant the thief is still standing at the register trying to use my card.

Love it!

It's my understanding that most other credit card companies are not as quick with the notifications as AmEx. Therefore, AmEx is the ONLY card I use with Passbook/Apple Pay. If I can't use Apple Pay or AmEx to pay, I pay cash!

Mark
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mdridwan47 Avatar
153 months ago
This is way better than the ad Apple released today.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
153 months ago
Ever since I registered my Amex card with Apple Pay, I now receive instant notifications of all purchases on that card. This not only occurs for purchases using the NFC feature of the phone, but the notifications also appear when the card is swiped in the old way. One example: when a restaurant server takes my card away and swipes it, the charge notification instantly appears on my phone - before the server returns to the table with the card and charge slip. The phone was not used to make the charge -- the card was swiped in an old magnetic-swipe device. This notification is awesome, and is a great security feature.

Interestingly, this instant notification feature (for non-iPhone transactions) does not appear for two other cards that are registered on Apple Pay - only the Amex card has this feature.

This feature is so useful that It surprises me that Amex does not advertise it. Frankly, all cards should work this way. Wouldn't everyone want to know instantly whenever your credit card us used for a transaction?
It's a great feature--but far from "new". Probably why it isn't advertised. I get these notifications for all my cards. They used to be just emails, now they are push alerts (better IMO).

And this ad is great. I forgot about Seinfeld hocking the Amex cards.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
16 hours ago
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
17 hours ago
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
17 hours ago
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
18 hours ago
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
19 hours ago
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
1 day ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
1 day ago
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
1 day ago
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
1 day ago
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
1 day ago
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
1 day ago
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
2 days ago
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
2 days ago
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
2 days ago
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
2 days ago
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
2 days ago
MacBook Pro With Touch Display: 15 More Details Revealed
MacBook Pro With Touch Display: 15 More Details Revealed
2 days ago
Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry
Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry
2 days ago
Halloween Weekend Brings Discounts on Apple Accessories and Pre-Orders
Halloween Weekend Brings Discounts on Apple Accessories and Pre-Orders
2 days ago
Apple Has Released More Than 25 New Products in the Past Two Months
Apple Has Released More Than 25 New Products in the Past Two Months
2 days ago
Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac
Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac
2 days ago
Apple Acquires Ascend.io
Apple Acquires Ascend.io
2 days ago
HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features
HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features
2 days ago
AirTag 2 4-Pack Drops to New Low Price of $69.99
AirTag 2 4-Pack Drops to New Low Price of $69.99
2 days ago
Rian Johnson's iPhone Camera App Goes Viral
Rian Johnson's iPhone Camera App Goes Viral
2 days ago
Where Did All the iPhone Duos Go? Mostly to Apple's Stores
Where Did All the iPhone Duos Go? Mostly to Apple's Stores
2 days ago
Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Ship 1.5M Units in 2027
Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Ship 1.5M Units in 2027
2 days ago
New Apple TV 4K and iPad Mini: RAM Amounts Revealed
New Apple TV 4K and iPad Mini: RAM Amounts Revealed
2 days ago
Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display
Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display
3 days ago
Here's a Hands-On Look at HomePod Mini 2's New Two-Tone Colors
Here's a Hands-On Look at HomePod Mini 2's New Two-Tone Colors
3 days ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors