Payback loyalty program

Payback is a leading international multipartner loyalty program and marketing platform. Founded in 1998 by Alexander Rittweger in Munich, Germany, it officially launched its bonus card system in March 2000. The concept was inspired by Rittweger's previous consultancy work for Lufthansa's 'Miles & More' program, aiming to create a cross-industry loyalty system where customers could collect points across various retail and service sectors using a single card.

Today, Payback is owned by the American Express Group, which acquired the parent company, Loyalty Partner GmbH, in 2011. While the brand is famously associated with the German market—where it is used daily by millions—it has expanded its presence to countries such as Poland, Italy, and Austria. The digital infrastructure and management services are primarily operated from its headquarters in Munich, Germany, making it a German-born product of the global financial services industry.