American Express updated the look and feel of its iPhone and iPad apps last Friday. The updated apps surface more account information and gather offers, rewards, and member benefits in one place.

The iPhone app is now on version 4.0.0. and the iPad version is 4.0. The Android app is on version 3.0 and was last updated in November 2012. A new Android version is coming soon, according to American Express.

Below at left is the initial Accounts screen, to the right is the rewards/offers/benefits page. The offers page uses location to find nearby offers. Below them both is the iPad accounts screen, which, of course, allows for much more information to be seen on a single screen.

All of a user’s American Express cards can be accessed by swiping at the top of the screen. Six months of account history is also available.

The updated apps are very elegant and manage to compress a great deal of information in an attractive layout. The apps also welcome the user with a “Good morning,” or “Good afternoon,” or “Good evening” greeting when the app is opened — a simple thing to do, and a nice touch.

Even the cranks in the comments section on the iTunes App Store seem won over by the app updates, and that’s saying something.