How do I send money using American Express?

Expert Answer

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That's an interesting question, and honestly, it's a common misconception. American Express, while a major financial institution known for credit cards, charge cards, and travel services, doesn't actually offer a direct, standalone international remittance service in the same way that a dedicated provider like Wise or Remitly does.

However, since this answer was last updated, American Express has introduced and refined specific ways to move money. Here is the current landscape as of late 2024:

1. Using American Express with PayPal/Venmo (Send & Split)

The most direct way to "send money" using your Amex card without traditional cash advance fees is through the Amex Send & Split feature.

How it works: You link your Amex Credit Card to the Amex Send account within the American Express App. You can then add funds to your "Send" account and send them to any US PayPal or Venmo user.

The Benefit: Unlike a standard credit card payment on these apps, Amex does not charge a cash advance fee or a credit card processing fee for this specific feature. You also won't pay interest on the balance if you pay it off by the statement due date.

The Catch: You do not earn rewards (points or cashback) on the money you send.

2. Using Amex Cards via Third-Party Services

You can still use an American Express card as a funding source for services like Remitly, Western Union, or WorldRemit.

Warning on Fees: If you use your card directly through these platforms (outside of the Send & Split feature), American Express will likely code the transaction as a Cash Advance.

Costs: This usually triggers a fee of $10 or 5% of the amount (whichever is greater) and an APR that is often significantly higher than your standard purchase APR (frequently 29.99%), which begins accruing interest immediately.

3. Using an American Express Checking Account

If you have an Amex Rewards Checking account, you can move money using standard banking protocols:

ACH Transfers: Domestic transfers to other US banks are free and typically take 1–3 business days.

Domestic Wires: Amex currently does not charge a fee for incoming domestic wires, but they generally do not offer a robust outgoing international wire service for personal checking accounts compared to "Big Four" banks.

Zelle: American Express now integrates with Zelle, allowing for near-instant domestic transfers directly from your Amex checking account to other US bank accounts.

4. International Options (Amex Business & FX)

For business clients, American Express offers Amex Global Pay. This allows US businesses to send international payments in foreign currencies directly from their linked business bank accounts.

Rates: They offer competitive exchange rates, and while they may charge a transaction fee ($0 to $10 depending on the amount), the main cost is the "spread" on the currency exchange.

Note: This is strictly for business-to-business (B2B) payments and is not available for personal remittances to family or friends.

Summary of Best Approaches

For sending to friends in the US: Use Amex Send & Split via the Amex App + Venmo/PayPal. It’s free and avoids cash advance interest.

For fast domestic transfers: Use Zelle through your Amex Rewards Checking account.

• For international transfers: Avoid using your Amex credit card directly due to high cash advance fees. Instead, use a service like Wise or Remitly funded by a bank account to get the best exchange rates and lowest fees.

If you are sending a significant amount internationally, always check the current mid-market rate on Reuters or Google and compare it to the rate offered by the service to see the hidden "markup" cost.