*By Michael Teich* Amazon inked a new partnership with American Express, but don't expect the financial industry to be the next area the tech giant jumps into. "The thing that people misunderstand is that tech companies don't want to manufacture financial products," said Lex Sokolin, Global Director of Fintech Strategy at Autonomous Research. "It's about making the ecosystem and the platform more powerful, and finance is just a feature inside of that." American Express announced Tuesday it will launch a co-branded Amazon credit card for small businesses. The move accelerates Amazon's foray into financial products and strengthens its position as a lender. The goal, Sokolin said, is to enable small businesses to finance their activities, getting more products on Amazon's platform, and ultimately driving more commerce. Plus, the opportunity costs of devoting itself to the financial industry are too high. "Amazon has tremendous high-growth, super interesting, blue oceans to explore,” he said. "They could be investing in building a mortgage business, or they can build artificial intelligence business." For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/amazon-bolsters-financial-prowess-with-new-credit-card)

Share:
More In Business
What You Need to Know About VA Loans
With interest rates high, housing inventory low and Veterans Day just around the corner, Cheddar News took a look at how the current market is impacting those who served and continue to serve our country. Patton Gade, national director of military lending with UMortgage, explains how a VA loan works, its benefits and what's involved in the process of purchasing a home.
Stretching Your Dollar: Making the Most of Your Reward Credit Cards
Credit card usage is sure to tick up ahead of the holiday season. With cashback, airline miles and points to be earned, reward credit cards could give you a bonus. Grant Gallagher, associate vice president and head of financial well-being with Affinity Federal Credit Union, spoke with Cheddar News about why it's important to take advance of those rewards.
Load More