AmEx first-quarter profit falls five percent

(Reuters) - Credit card issuer American Express Co said on Thursday its quarterly profit fell 5 percent, as it spent more on its rewards program.

The company said net income fell to $1.55 billion (£1.19 billion), or $1.80 per share, in the first quarter ended March 31, from $1.63 billion, or $1.86 per share, a year earlier. (https://reut.rs/2VQDifq)

Total revenue, excluding interest expense, rose 7 percent to $10.36 billion.

(Reporting by Bharath Manjesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)