WHY AMERICAN EXPRESS NEEDS TO ITS FRANCHISE September 13, 2004 Business Week 1 BarChart ...because it needs to get more cards out... U.S. CREDIT CARDS IN CIRCULATION, 2003 MILLIONS true 0 true true 100 true true 200 true true 300 true Visa 3 false 1 3.8 2.5 false 285 false false Mastercard 3 false 1 3.65 1.9 false 273.75 false false Discover 3 false 1 0.7 1.3 false 52.5 false false American Express 3 false 2 0.5 0.8 false 37.5 true false Diner's Club 3 false 1 0.05 0.3 false 3.75 false false