Send money with American Express: full guide

Got an American Express® card and looking for ways to send a payment to someone? Maybe you need to transfer money to a friend, or make an international payment in a foreign currency?

So, can you send money with American Express, and if so how? This guide walks through your options, and also looks at some alternatives which might help you save money, such as Wise.

Can you send money with American Express?

Yes. You can send money with American Express in a couple of different ways, including American Express Send & Split which lets you send payments via Venmo® or PayPal® from the Amex app.

If you have an American Express Serve card you may also be able to send payments to other Serve card holders, or via Amex’s partnership with Ria®.

It’s worth noting that while lots of other third party services also allow credit card payments, Amex network cards are often not supported. Visa® and Mastercard® credit cards are the more common options.

We’ll walk through a few alternatives to sending money with American Express later so you can weigh up your options.

Sending money with American Express: pros and cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
No Amex fee to send with American Express Send & Split Serve card holders can transfer free to other card holders Serve card holders can send for cash collection in the US via Ria	Some services do incur a fee, including Ria transfers  International payments only available through American Express Send & Split and PayPal, fees apply Not all Amex cards are eligible for all services

Send and receive international payments with Wise

You’re a bit limited if you want to send an international payment with American Express — instead, consider sending your transfer with Wise.

Wise international transfers can be sent to bank accounts around the world, quickly and with low, transparent fees.

Just pay in your preferred currency by card (Visa or Mastercard), ACH or wire, and your funds are converted with the mid-market rate, and deposited to your recipient’s account with low fees from 0.41%¹.

Here’s what you can expect from Wise:
Send payments to 80+ countries Hold and exchange 50+ currencies Mid-market exchange rates apply Receive payments fee free in 10 currencies Fast or instant² overseas transfers with fees from 0.41%

If you send payments overseas often, or need to get paid in foreign currencies yourself, you can also check out the multi-currency Wise Account which lets you hold and exchange 50+ currencies, and get paid from 30+ countries.

Get started with Wise

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Amex Send & Split: what it is and how it works

If you have a US basic American Express card you can enroll in Amex Send & Split®³ in the Amex app.

Once you have signed up, you’ll be able to link your PayPal and Venmo accounts, to use Amex Send to make payments to other Venmo or PayPal accounts.

You can also use Amex Split to have others send you money to be added as account statement credit⁴.

How much does it cost to send money with Amex Send & Split?

There’s no Amex fee to send money to Venmo or PayPal accounts. PayPal will assess a fee on your transfer if you’re sending to a PayPal account that’s based overseas.

PayPal’s international fees can be pretty steep, and include both transfer fees and currency conversion charges, so you’ll want to double check the details and compare your options before you confirm your transfer.

If you’re using the Amex Split feature, there’s no extra fee to pay, but any normal Amex fees such as interest or late payment penalties will still apply.

How to send money with American Express Serve

American Express Serve®⁵ offers reloadable prepaid debit cards which you can use to send money to other Serve cardholders.

You can also use the service to withdraw money to your own linked bank account⁶, and send payments to be collected in cash in the US via Ria⁷.

To send money with American Express Serve, you need to have an active Serve account and sufficient funds in your account⁸.

You can send money online or through the mobile app, and when sending payments to other Serve cards, the recipient will receive the funds instantly.

If you send a payment to someone who doesn’t already have an active Serve account they’ll be notified as asked to set up a Serve account to receive their money.

How much does it cost to send money with Amex Serve?

There’s not usually an Amex fee for sending to another Amex Serve card. However, if you’re using the Ria cash collection option, fees are applied as follows⁹:

• Sending up to 50 USD — fee of 4.99 USD
• Sending 50.01 USD to 1,000 USD — fee of 8.99 USD
• Sending 1,000.01 USD to 2,500 USD — fee of 16.99 USD

Alternatives to paying for transfers with your American Express card

Using Amex to send your payment isn’t your only option. You might find an alternative service where you can pay with your Visa or Mastercard, by bank transfer or even with cash suits you better. Let’s look at a few alternatives to consider.

Wise

Payment options: Options include ACH, wire, Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card
Fees: Low fixed fees for local USD transfers which vary by transfer method, international transfer fees from 0.41%

Wise local and international transfers are arranged online or in-app, and deposited right into your recipient’s bank account for convenience.

For domestic transfers to the US there’s a low fixed fee depending on how you pay. Wise international transfers can be sent to 80+ countries with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.41%.

Send money with Wise

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Quick and convenient service Low, transparent fees	No cash payment option Fees vary based on the details of your transfer

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Venmo

Payment options: Options include bank transfer, Visa, Mastercard or Amex credit card, debit cards
Fees: 3% fee when using Visa or Mastercard credit card, no Venmo fees for other payment methods¹¹

Venmo®¹⁰ transfers can be made in USD, and funded through credit or debit card, including American Express.

You’ll be able to use the American Express Send service as we’ve already explored, or pick an alternative payment method and use Venmo through the Venmo app. Amex Send allows you to avoid the usual Venmo credit card fee.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Good selection of payment methods Fee free transfer options	USD payments only 3% credit card fee

Zelle

Payment options: Options include Visa or Mastercard debit cards¹³
Fees: No Zelle fees — your bank may impose their own charges

Zelle®¹² allows transfers from any US bank account to another US based bank account, often through your own bank or credit union’s online or mobile banking service.

If your bank doesn’t support Zelle you can also download the Zelle app to access the service directly.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
No Zelle fees Many banks offer Zelle directly through their own banking services	US based payments only Banks might impose their own Zelle charges, although this is not common

Western Union¹⁴

Payment options: Options include bank transfer, Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards, and cash¹⁵
Fees: Variable fees based on transfer type and destination

Western Union® transfers can be arranged online, in the Western Union app, or by visiting an agent location.

Send money locally or internationally, to be deposited to a bank account or collected in cash at an agent location close to your recipient.

Fees and available exchange rates vary depending on how you set up your transfer.

✅ Pros	❌Cons
Large agent network, plus online and app services Good selection of ways to set up and pay for your transfer	Fees apply which vary based on the way you arrange your payment Exchange rate markups can be used when sending overseas

MoneyGram

Payment options: Options include bank transfer, Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards, and cash¹⁷
Fees: Variable fees based on the transfer type

MoneyGram®¹⁶ payments can be sent from the US to 50 countries, with variable fees based on destination.

You can set up your transfer online or through the MoneyGram app — or visit an agent to pay in cash if you’d prefer.

Delivery methods vary and can include collecting the payment in cash from an agent, as well as bank deposits.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Well known, easy to use service Fast delivery times in some destinations	Fees apply When sending overseas, exchange rate markups may be used

Not sure what's the best provider for your international money needs? Check out the comparison table below:

Common questions about sending money with Amex

Still not sure if sending money with American Express is right for you? Here are another few common questions and answers.

Can you send money through Western Union with American Express?

You can't usually use an Amex card to send a payment through Western Union. Western Union payments can usually be funded by options which include bank transfer, Visa, Discover® and Mastercard credit and debit cards, and cash.

Can you send money abroad with American Express?

You can send money with American Express Send to a PayPal account located overseas.

You may also be able to send an international Amex payment through a third party money transfer service, although many do not accept American Express cards as a payment method.

Check with your preferred provider to see if an Amex transfer is offered.

Is it safe to send money with American Express?

Sending money with Amex is safe as long as you use a reputable and trusted service, including Amex Serve or Amex Send.

How long does it take to send money with American Express?

Payments sent through American Express Send, or from one American Express Serve card to another are usually fast or instant.

Can you send money to someone without an Amex card?

Yes. You don’t need an Amex card to send money. You can send money to someone using a Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card, bank transfer or even by paying in cash.

Different money transfer services such as Wise and Western Union offer different payment methods, so you can shop around to find the one that suits you.

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American Express has a couple of handy options for sending payments quickly. Most options to send money electronically in the US have no extra fees, but if you’re sending funds overseas you’ll find charges are applied.

For international transfers, you might get a better deal if you shop around and look at a few alternative services like Wise. Use this guide to start your research and find the best option for your specific payment.

Learn more about Wise

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Sources:

1. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
2. The speed of transaction claim depends on funds availability, approval by Wise's proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners' banking system, and may not be available for all transactions
3. Amex Send & Split
4. Amex Send & Split FAQ
5. American Express Serve
6. Amex Serve Help
7. Amex Serve Help — send with Ria
8. Amex Serve Help — send to Serve
9. Serve fees
10. Venmo
11. Venmo fees
12. Zelle
13. Zelle payment methods
14. Western Union
15. Western Union payment methods
16. MoneyGram
17. MoneyGram payment methods

Sources checked on 04.27.2023