← TruNorth

American Express vs Visa

On overall TruNorth grade, Visa scores higher (American Express: C, Visa: C). Both graded from public records across nine values categories.

C
American Express
46/100
C
Visa
52.3/100

Political donations

American Express

FEC: $34K PAC donations; 66% to Republican, 34% to Democratic committees.

Visa

FEC: $69K PAC donations; 44% to Republican, 56% to Democratic committees.

Environment

American Express

CDP Climate Change: A- (2024) — leadership-band environmental disclosure with validated targets.

Visa

air pollution violation: $8K in federal penalties (Violation Tracker).

Labor

American Express

36 federal penalties totaling $675.1M since 2000 (Violation Tracker).

Visa

8 federal penalties totaling $6.4B since 2000 (Violation Tracker).

DEI

American Express

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.

Visa

HRC Corporate Equality Index: 100/100 — Equality 100 Leader (2025). Top-rated LGBTQ+ workplace policies, benefits, and culture. JUST Capital JUST 100 — ranked #42 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.

Charity

American Express

$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).

Visa

$60M reported corporate giving in 2024 (~0.17% of revenue) via Visa Foundation. JUST Capital JUST 100 — ranked #42 of Russell 1000 (2025) for treatment of workers, customers, communities, environment. Drucker Institute Management Top 250 — ranked #19 (2024) on customer satisfaction, employee engagement, innovation, social responsibility, and financial strength. Fortune World's Most Admired Companies — ranked #34 (2024). Newsweek Most Trustworthy Companies in America — ranked #11 (2024). Operates the Visa Foundation: $35.1M in charitable contributions, gifts & grants paid (FY2023, IRS Form 990-PF).

Animal testing

American Express

No public record found.

Visa

No public record found.

Firearms

American Express

No public record found.

Visa

No public record found.

Privacy

American Express

CFPB consumer complaints: 56770 on record (100 in past 12mo); 100% timely response rate.

Visa

No public record found.

Executive pay

American Express

Federal banking regulator action (DOJ): $230M settlement — deceptive marketing of credit-card and wire-transfer products to small-business customers between 2014-2021.

Visa

CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio 204:1 (median employee pay $154,909) — SEC proxy statement (DEF 14A, 2025).

Compare any two brands on the values you care about — personalized to your 30-second quiz.

Open TruNorth →