American Express payment basics
You can pay your American Express bill online through your account, by phone, by mail, or through automatic payments. American Express does not call this feature "Create Payment" — that term appears in their online portal as the button you click to set up a one-time payment. The process takes a few minutes and the payment typically posts within one business day if you pay from a U.S. bank account.
American Express accepts payments from checking or savings accounts, and also allows you to pay using another American Express card (though this incurs a cash advance fee). You can pay the full statement balance, the minimum payment, or any amount in between. The payment due date appears on your statement and in your online account; paying by that date avoids a late fee.
Key Takeaways
- The "Create Payment" button in your American Express online account lets you make a one-time payment from a bank account in minutes, with the payment posting within one business day.
- You can pay your full balance, minimum payment, or any amount between them, and you can schedule the payment for a future date if you choose.
- Automatic payments can be set up to pay a fixed amount or your full statement balance each month, reducing the risk of a missed due date.
- Payments made by phone or mail take longer to post and may incur fees if you use a third-party payment service.
Paying online through your American Express account
Log into your American Express account on their website or mobile app, then look for "Make a Payment" or "Pay Now" (the exact wording varies by card type). Click the button labeled "Create Payment" or similar. You will be asked to enter the amount you want to pay and the bank account you want to pay from. American Express will ask for your bank's routing number and your account number; you can find both on a check or by logging into your bank's website.
After you enter your bank details, American Express will verify the account by depositing two small amounts (usually under $1 each) into that account within one to two business days. You then log back into your American Express account and confirm those amounts to prove you own the account. Once verified, you can use that bank account for future payments without re-entering the details.
If you want the payment to go out on a specific date rather than when ready, most American Express accounts let you schedule it. The payment will post to your account within one business day of the date you choose, though American Express recommends scheduling at least two business days before your due date to be safe.
Setting up automatic monthly payments
Automatic payments remove the risk of forgetting a due date. In your American Express account, look for "Automatic Payments" or "Recurring Payments" and select "Set Up" or "Add." You will choose which bank account to pay from, then decide what amount to pay each month: your full statement balance, a fixed dollar amount, or your minimum payment.
If you choose to pay your full statement balance automatically, American Express will charge your bank account a few days after your statement closes each month. The exact timing depends on your card and billing cycle. If you choose a fixed amount, that amount will be charged on the same day each month. You can change or cancel automatic payments at any time through your account.
Automatic payments are useful if you want to avoid late fees, but they do not reduce the amount you owe if you carry a balance — they straightforward move money from your bank to American Express on a schedule you set. Interest will still accrue on any balance you do not pay off in full.
Paying by phone or mail
You can call American Express directly to make a payment over the phone. The customer service number is on the back of your card and on your statement. A representative will ask for the amount you want to pay and will process it when ready. Payments made by phone typically post within one to three business days.
To pay by mail, write a check or money order payable to American Express, include your account number on the check, and mail it to the address shown on your statement. Mail payments take seven to ten business days to post, so send your payment at least two weeks before your due date if you want to avoid a late fee. Do not send cash through the mail.
Some third-party payment services (such as bill-pay services offered by your bank) can send a check to American Express on your behalf. These services may charge a fee, and the payment will take the same amount of time as mailing a check yourself. American Express does not charge a fee for payments made by mail or phone.
Payment timing and posting
The date a payment posts to your account is different from the date you make it. Online payments from a verified bank account typically post within one business day. Payments made by phone post within one to three business days. Payments made by mail or through a third-party service take seven to ten business days.
Your payment due date is the date by which American Express must receive your payment to avoid a late fee. If you pay online and your payment posts after the due date, you may be charged a late fee even though you initiated the payment on time. For this reason, American Express recommends making online payments at least two business days before your due date, and mailing payments at least two weeks in advance.
If you miss your due date, American Express will report the late payment to credit bureaus if it is 30 days or more past due. A single late payment can lower your credit score and may trigger a higher interest rate on your card.
What to do if your payment fails
A payment can fail if your bank account does not have enough funds, if the account number or routing number is incorrect, or if your bank blocks the transaction for fraud prevention. If a payment fails, American Express will send you a notification (usually by email or through your account) explaining why.
If the failure was due to insufficient funds, you can try again once you have deposited money into your account. If the failure was due to an incorrect account number, update your bank account information in your American Express account and try again. If your bank blocked the transaction, contact your bank to ask why and to authorize American Express as a payee, then attempt the payment again.
If a payment fails and your due date has passed, you may be charged a late fee. Contact American Express customer service to explain the situation; they may be able to reverse a late fee if the failure was due to a system error on their end rather than your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my American Express bill with a credit card?
Yes, you can pay with another American Express card or a card from another issuer, but American Express charges a cash advance fee (usually 3 to 5 percent of the payment amount). This fee makes paying with a credit card more expensive than paying from a bank account, so it is best used only in emergencies.
What is the difference between my statement balance and my current balance?
Your statement balance is the total amount you owed on the date your statement closed. Your current balance includes any charges you have made since the statement closed, plus any interest or fees that have accrued. If you pay only your statement balance, you will still owe the current balance.
Will paying more than the minimum payment lower my interest charges?
Yes. Interest is calculated on your remaining balance, so paying more than the minimum reduces the amount of interest you owe. Paying your full statement balance by the due date avoids interest entirely, as long as you do not carry a balance from a previous month.
How do I know if my payment went through?
After you submit a payment online, American Express will show you a confirmation number on the screen. You can also log into your account and check your payment history, which shows all payments made in the past 90 days and their status (pending, posted, or failed). American Express will also send you a confirmation email.
Can I cancel a payment after I have submitted it?
If the payment is still pending (has not yet posted), you can usually cancel it through your American Express account. Once a payment has posted, it cannot be cancelled, but you can contact American Express to request a reversal if there was an error. Reversals can take several business days to process.