Letter to All Employees

February 16, 1998

To: All Federal Government Employees

We have received a number of inquiries relative to the Privacy Notice on the back of the Amex ITC Application and have determined that an explanation of this Privacy Notice is important to communicate.

A number of industries have produced privacy codes for the protection of consumers. The Canadian Bankers Association ("CBA") has produced a model privacy code for all its members to follow, based upon the Canadian Standards Association Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information. Individual banks in the CBA, including Amex Bank of Canada, have developed their own Privacy Notice announcements based on the Canadian Bankers Association guidelines. Amex Bank of Canada is now including Privacy Notices on all new card applications, as suggested in the CBA guidelines.

What does this mean to Federal Government Employees applying for an American Express Government Travel Card?

American Express shall not undertake, or have undertaken on its behalf, credit checks on card applicants or cardholders prior to or subsequently issuing a card.

The Privacy Notice explains how and why American Express will be using the limited personal information they are requesting. It also lets you know of your rights to obtain, at any time, a copy of the personal information held by American Express. Specifically this is what it covers:

Use of Personal Information:

American Express requires the following information to set up, manage your account purchases and send you a monthly bill.

1. Name
2. Home address
3. Home telephone number
4. Mother's maiden name or other password chosen by you (to verify they are speaking to the right person regarding account details)

The Use of Personal Information section also states that American Express will not give out your name and/or address to any other company or organization for any purpose. You can also request from American Express a copy of the information they have on file.

Credit Reports

This section explains that American Express will not be doing any credit checks with credit bureaus when setting up your Government Travel Card account. It also says that American Express will not be releasing any of your Government Travel Card account history to any credit bureau while you remain a Government of Canada employee or contractor. Only if you leave the employ of the Federal Government of Canada, and you have an unpaid outstanding amount on your Government Travel Account when you leave, may American Express contact a third party credit bureau. American Express will receive credit information only, as no information will be given out unless the cardholder has authorized them in writing, separately, to do so.

Any other personal charge or credit cards you may hold with American Express will be managed completely separate from your Government Travel Card Account.

Please refer to the Treasury Board Circular dated December 2, 1997, or access /fm-gf/index-eng.asp for further information on the American Express Government Travel Card program.

_____________________ ________________________

Gail Culhane Gilles Vézina

Vice President Project Manager

Multinational & Government Accounts Financial Contract & Asset Management Sector

Amex Canada Inc. Financial Management Policy Division

Treasury Board