Indian Medical Association, India's apex body for medical doctors, has firmed up plans to launch a co-brand credit card with American Express, the world's largest card issuer and travel related services company. The new globally valid card, called IMA American Express Credit Card, is the second such credit card being introduced in the country for the doctors and the first one to be co-branded. To recall, the country's premier bank, State Bank of Indiia had launched a credit card for doctors a few months ago.

The co-branded offers host of best value features including annual fee waiver and a range of financial services like preferential personal and car loans as well as free mutual fund advisory services.Dr.T.N. Mehrotra President, IMA, launched the new IMA American Express Credit Card at the 76th Annual Conference of Indian Medical Association in Calcutta, attended by over 3000 doctors from across the country.

Announcing the tie-up Dr Mehrotra, President, IMA, said "We are delighted to offer the prestigious American Express Credit Card to our member doctors. The new Credit Card program with American Express has been designed to meet the needs and expectations of doctors. It offers a competitive credit card, high quality services and a wide range of product benefits. We look forward to a growing and mutually rewarding relationship with American Express."

The IMA American Express Credit Card offers doctors all the benefits of a globally valid American Express Credit Card. Key benefits of the card include preferential interest rates, fast track approvals on personal & car loans, professional indemnity insurance and free mutual fund investment advisory services,coupled with an introductory offer for IMA members of a first year fee waiver on application .The IMA American Express Credit Card Cardmembers can also empower themselves with practice management solutions offered by HP & save upto Rs. 25,000. Another exclusive offer from Indian Doctors Network includes savings on medical equipment to free subscription of the Medizine journal. Additionally, the card members can avail of free professional indemnity insurance of Rs. 2 lakhs on application received before February 28, 2001.

Announcing the alliance with Indian Medical Association, Mr. Sanjay Rishi, Vice President and Country Manager, American Express Travel Related Services (TRS), said: "The new IMA American Express Credit Card is an important part of our global growth strategy of establishing partnerships and alliances with professional groups. It has been our endeavor to build into this product a range of value added benefits and services that cater to the specific needs of India's medical community.

American Express has introduced several highly acclaimed co-brand cards with leading partners. The launch of the IMA American Express Credit Card is the latest in the series. In India, American Express has already announced co-brand alliances with MTNL, Indian Airlines, ICWAI and J&K Bank.

Indian Medical Association has an active membership base of 150,000. IMA is spread over 26 states of the country and has 1600 local branches. The association runs community health programs sponsored by Government of India UNICEF & WHO.

American Express is the world's largest travel related services company with 49 million cards worldwide and more than US$ 22 billion in annualized travel sales from its owned offices. The company has a network of more than 1700 travel service offices (owned and representative) in more than 130 countries.