Mercantile, American Express and ASID Introduce a Purpose-Built Business Credit Card for Interior Designers

BOSTON — Mercantile has announced a new partnership with American Express and the American Society of Interior Designers to launch the ASID American Express® Business Card, a small business credit card created specifically for interior designers, independent design professionals and small design firms.

The new card is designed to support a profession where cash flow often depends on project timelines, vendor payments, material purchases and client billing schedules. According to the announcement, the card will be issued by Celtic Bank and operate on the American Express Network, giving eligible ASID members and partners access to selected Amex benefits, offers and protections.

A Credit Card Built Around the Design Business Model

Interior design businesses often handle large project expenses before receiving full client payments. Designers may need to pay for furniture, finishes, materials, contractor deposits, travel, samples, software and vendor services while waiting for client invoices to clear. This creates a financial gap that traditional credit products may not always address well.

The ASID American Express® Business Card aims to help close that gap by giving design professionals a tool built for project-based work. Mercantile said the program is intended for independent designers and small firms that face seasonal revenue patterns and uneven payment cycles.

Key Features of the ASID American Express® Business Card

The card includes several features aimed at helping design businesses manage spending and build stronger financial profiles over time.

Flexible Approval Pathways

One major feature is the availability of approval pathways that may help qualified businesses with lower credit profiles access business credit. The program also includes weekly autopay options, which may support more responsible repayment and help businesses manage balances more predictably.

Credit LimitShield Feature

The card also includes Mercantile’s Credit LimitShield℠ feature. This allows cardholders to choose a spending threshold that triggers an automatic payment. The goal is to help keep available credit open so designers can continue making important purchases without interruption during active projects.

Business Credit Building

The program is also designed to help cardholders build a stronger business credit profile. For many small business owners, this can reduce reliance on personal credit and create clearer separation between business and personal finances.

American Express Network Benefits

Because the card runs on the American Express Network, eligible cardholders may gain access to Amex Offers, travel, lifestyle and retail benefits, along with selected insurance protections. Mercantile also plans to offer competitive rewards on everyday business spending.

Why This Matters for Interior Designers

The launch highlights a growing need for financial products tailored to specific professions. Interior designers do not always operate like standard retail businesses, agencies or contractors. Their work often combines creativity, logistics, procurement, client service and project management.

A designer may need to secure furniture, lighting, textiles and custom items long before a project is complete. At the same time, client payments may arrive in stages. This makes liquidity and available credit important parts of running a stable design practice.

ASID President and CEO Khoi Vo said interior designers operate sophisticated businesses with complex timelines, vendor relationships and changing cash flow needs. He noted that financial tools built around how designers actually work can help them grow more sustainably and stay focused on creating spaces that improve people’s lives.

Mercantile’s Role in the Partnership

Mercantile is a financial services platform and division of Onboard Partners. The company focuses on expanding responsible credit access for small and professional service businesses. Through this partnership, Mercantile is helping ASID offer a credit solution aligned with the realities of modern design practices.

Scott Shaw, CEO and President of Onboard Partners, said the card is designed to help interior designers manage vendors, materials, project timelines and client billing. He added that the partnership with ASID and American Express reflects Mercantile’s strategy of working with trusted professional associations to create credit programs for specific industries.

American Express Expands Professional Card Programs

American Express also emphasized the importance of supporting interior designers as business owners. Will Stredwick, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Global Network Services for North America at American Express, said designers balance creativity and commerce and need financial tools that match the dynamic nature of their work.

The cobrand program is built on the American Express Agile Partner Platform, which helps fintech companies and program managers create customized payment products in partnership with American Express.

A Broader Push Into Professional Verticals

The ASID program is part of Mercantile’s growing list of association partnerships. The company said this launch marks the beginning of a broader Mercantile American Express card program that is expected to expand across other professional verticals.

That strategy suggests a shift toward industry-specific financial products. Instead of offering one general card for all small businesses, financial platforms are increasingly designing products around the real spending habits, risks and growth needs of different professions.

About ASID

The American Society of Interior Designers was founded in 1975 and is one of the leading professional organizations for interior designers. ASID supports the design profession through education, advocacy, professional programs and community building.

The organization has more than 19,500 members and 48 chapters across the United States and Canada. Its mission is centered on the belief that design can positively affect people’s lives.

About Mercantile

Mercantile works with organizations to design and operate responsible credit card programs for small and professional service businesses. Its programs focus on growth, transparency and long-term financial health, and may operate on major payment networks, including American Express.

About American Express

American Express is a global payments and premium lifestyle company headquartered in New York. Founded in 1850, the company serves consumers, small businesses, medium-sized companies and large corporations through payment products, merchant relationships and business services.

Industry Outlook

The launch of the ASID American Express® Business Card shows how financial services are becoming more specialized. For interior designers, a credit card built around project expenses, vendor payments and cash flow timing may offer more practical support than a generic business card.

As more professional groups seek tailored financial solutions, partnerships between fintech platforms, payment networks and trade associations may become more common. For ASID members, this new program gives design professionals another tool to manage business growth while staying focused on client work, creative planning and project delivery.

Source: Information is based on Mercantile’s announcement distributed by PR Newswire on May 26, 2026.

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