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Amex Acceptance Surges: 190M+ Global Locations
28 Sep
Summary
- American Express cards are now accepted at over 190 million merchant locations globally.
- Merchant locations outside the U.S. have more than doubled in the past four years.
- The company is strategically expanding acceptance in priority cities and key spending categories.
American Express has achieved a major milestone, announcing its cards are now accepted at over 190 million merchant locations globally. This represents an increase of approximately 20 million locations within the past year, with merchant acceptance outside the U.S. more than doubling over the last four years.
The company's global acceptance strategy is gaining momentum through key partnerships, targeted expansion in high-traffic areas, and innovative payment solutions. These efforts aim to connect merchants with American Express's high-spending card members.
Partnerships with global payment platforms, fintech companies, and local acquirers are crucial to this expansion. Examples include collaborations with Adyen, Mercado Pago in Mexico and Argentina, Dojo in the UK, and Alipay in China.
American Express is also building strong acceptance in priority cities worldwide, including travel destinations like Barcelona, Hong Kong, and Paris. Significant gains have been observed across Europe, Canada, Japan, Mexico, and Singapore since 2021.
Acceptance is growing in key spending categories like restaurants, airlines, and hotels. Furthermore, American Express cards are now accepted at an estimated 800 or more transit authorities globally, including major networks in Beijing, London, and New York.
This expanding network benefits merchants by offering access to a premium customer base, as U.S. American Express cardholders spend three times more annually than those using other networks. For card members, it means greater convenience and more opportunities to use their cards both domestically and internationally.
