American Express vs Discover Financial
On overall TruNorth grade, Discover Financial scores higher (American Express: C, Discover Financial: C). Both graded from public records across nine values categories.
Political donations
FEC: $34K PAC donations; 66% to Republican, 34% to Democratic committees.
FEC: $8K PAC donations; 75% to Republican, 25% to Democratic committees.
Environment
CDP Climate Change: A- (2024) — leadership-band environmental disclosure with validated targets.
No public record found.
Labor
36 federal penalties totaling $675.1M since 2000 (Violation Tracker).
Community Reinvestment Act rating: Outstanding (2023 exam) — exceeds expectations for serving low- and moderate-income communities.
DEI
HRC Corporate Equality Index: 100/100 — Equality 100 Leader (2025). Top-rated LGBTQ+ workplace policies, benefits, and culture. JUST Capital JUST 100 — ranked #91 of Russell 1000 (2025) for treatment of workers, customers, communities, environment. Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index member (2024) — transparent on female leadership, equal pay, inclusive culture. HRC Corporate Equality Index 100/100 (2025) — top-tier LGBTQ+ workplace equality rating.
No public record found.
Charity
$45M reported corporate giving in 2024 (~0.07% of revenue) via American Express Foundation. JUST Capital JUST 100 — ranked #91 of Russell 1000 (2025) for treatment of workers, customers, communities, environment. Fortune World's Most Admired Companies — ranked #12 (2024). Operates the American Express Foundation: $25.7M in charitable contributions, gifts & grants paid (FY2023, IRS Form 990-PF).
$18M reported corporate giving in 2024 (~0.11% of revenue) via Discover Foundation.
Animal testing
No public record found.
No public record found.
Firearms
No public record found.
No public record found.
Privacy
CFPB consumer complaints: 56770 on record (100 in past 12mo); 100% timely response rate.
CFPB consumer complaints: 44655 on record (100 in past 12mo); 100% timely response rate.
Executive pay
Federal banking regulator action (DOJ): $230M settlement — deceptive marketing of credit-card and wire-transfer products to small-business customers between 2014-2021.
Federal banking regulator action (FDIC): $1.2B consent order — overcharged merchant fees on Discover-network transactions for 16 years; refunds plus $33M penalty.
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