American Express is opening a technology hub in Silicon Valley that will house a team building up the card giant's capabilities in big data, cloud computing and mobile.
The new Palo Alto hub will be headed up by chief technology officer Nik Sathe, who joined AmEx a year ago after a stint leading the product and engineering efforts for Google Wallet.
AmEx plans to build up its workforce at the site to around 200 employees, tapping into the area's pool of talent at tech firms, startups and universities.
The hub is also housing the company's ventures team, which invests in early stage start-ups working in areas like digital commerce, financial inclusion and analytics.
Says Sathe: "“The Silicon Valley is rich in technology talent who will be instrumental in building the platforms that enable the delivery of products and services that continue to enhance our customers’ experience and address their ever-evolving needs."