General Electric Co.'s GE Money unit and American Express Co. have started a partnership with Universal Studios and are collaborating to issue a cobranded credit card, the three companies said Monday.
General Electric owns 80% of NBC Universal, the Los Angeles studio's parent.
The Universal American Express Card will be issued by GE Money, and will allow cardholders to earn points toward rewards such as movie premieres, private screenings, studio tours, and theme park tickets.
Qualified applicants will be able to receive cards on the spot when they apply in person at GE Money Access Centers at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Universal first offered such instantly issued cobranded cards through an agreement with JPMorgan Chase & Co. in 2004, after signing a marketing deal; those cards were issued on the MasterCard network.
The new agreement, which the companies called an "exclusive, long-term marketing and financial services partnership," also includes product-placement components.
The companies said Amex will be given the "first opportunity to participate in product placement and co-promotion on upcoming Universal Pictures and Focus Features' films in the payment services category."
Amex purchased GE Money's corporate payment services unit for $1.1 billion in March. The Stamford, Conn., consumer finance arm of General Electric is still seeking a buyer for its private-label portfolio.
Keith S. Sherin, GE's chief financial officer, said in a conference call last month that the company was "on track" to make a deal for that portfolio.
