American Express processing
Cardflo offers dedicated American Express processing for merchants seeking to expand their payment options. Our platform facilitates seamless transaction flows, ensuring high approval rates and secure handling of Amex payments.
We provide direct connections and tailored solutions to meet specific business needs.
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The overview
American Express operates as a closed-loop network, meaning it typically acts as both the card issuer and the acquirer. This unique structure requires specific technical configurations at the gateway level to manage authorisation requests and settlement files correctly.
For merchants, integrating American Express involves navigating distinct Merchant Category Code restrictions and fee structures that differ from the bilateral models used by Visa and Mastercard.
Standard processing involves routing the transaction through a Payment Service Provider that maintains a technical integration with the American Express global network. This setup ensures that data elements such as the Card Verification Value and detailed billing address information are transmitted for validation.
Effective processing also requires support for specialised industry segments, including travel, entertainment, and corporate procurement, where extra data fields like Level 2 and Level 3 data are often required to qualify for specific pricing tiers or to satisfy corporate card requirements.
How it works
Authorisation request initiation
When a cardholder enters their credentials at checkout, the gateway captures the 15 digit card number and security code. A request is then transmitted to the American Express authorisation system.
This message includes the Transaction ID and Merchant ID to verify the merchant is authorised to accept payments on the network.
Fraud and risk screening
The network performs real time checks against its proprietary cardmember database. Elements such as the billing postcode and security digits are analysed.
If the transaction passes initial risk hurdles and meets the available credit balance, an authorisation code is returned to the acquirer or Payment Service Provider for the merchant.
Data capture and batching
After successful authorisation, the transaction details are stored for capture. The merchant typically batches these transactions at the end of the business day.
For corporate or business cards, the system may attach enhanced data, such as tax amounts or line item details, to the settlement file to lower costs.
Clearing and funds settlement
American Express processes the clearing file and calculates the net amount due to the merchant after deducting the discount rate.
Because the network often handles the settlement directly, funds are transferred to the merchant bank account according to the agreed cycle, which can vary from daily to weekly.
Why it matters
Access to high value demographics
American Express cardholders often represent a segment with higher average transaction values and greater annual spend compared to other network users. Supporting this method allows merchants to cater to corporate travellers and affluent consumers who prioritise rewards programmes.
By processing these transactions natively, businesses avoid the risk of losing sales at the final stage of the checkout process.
Enhanced data for corporate clients
Processing on this network allows for the transmission of Level 2 and Level 3 data. This capability is critical for B2B merchants who sell to large enterprises or government entities.
Correct data transmission reduces the administrative burden for the buyer by populating detailed expense reports automatically, which often leads to stronger long term procurement relationships and lower dispute rates.
Use cases
High end retail and luxury
Retailers with high average order values utilise this processing to accommodate customers who utilise premium credit products for significant purchases. This ensures that high ticket authorisations are handled through a direct and stable network connection.
B2B and SaaS procurement
Software companies use American Express processing to facilitate recurring billing for corporate accounts. The support for business cards allows for efficient reconciliation and often higher credit limits for larger infrastructure or subscription costs.
Travel and hospitality services
Airlines and hotels rely on the network for pre-authorisations and final captures. The processing framework supports the specific lodging and transport data fields required for detailed customer billing and reduced retrieval requests.
By the numbers
Industry data suggests American Express cards often command higher spend per transaction compared to standard debit or credit cards in similar retail categories.
Typical response times for an American Express authorisation request through a modern gateway, including the time taken for SafeKey 3DS checks.
Standard industry averages for high quality retail traffic, though figures vary based on MCC, merchant risk profile, and geographic region of the cardholder.
Related terms
Talk to our team about a live rollout on your acquiring stack.
What you get with American Express processing
- Native support for 15 digit American Express card number formats through the payment gateway.
- Ability to process American Express SafeKey for SCA compliance across the United Kingdom and Europe.
- Support for Level 2 and Level 3 data transmission to optimise corporate card processing.
- Integrated handling of American Express dispute procedures including initial retrieval requests and formal responses.
- Direct settlement options that help align cash flow cycles with network specific payout schedules.
- Compatibility with American Express Token Service to enhance security and reduce PCI DSS scope.
- Detailed reporting that separates American Express volume from Visa and Mastercard for easier reconciliation.
- Support for recurring billing and Merchant Initiated Transactions using stored American Express credentials.
- Cross border processing capability for international American Express cards issued in different geographic regions.
- Configurable descriptors to ensure cardholders recognise transactions and to minimise potential friendly fraud cases.
A short scoping call, then a written plan for your MIDs.
Questions about American Express processing
How does American Express processing differ from Visa or Mastercard technical flows?
The primary technical difference lies in the network architecture. Visa and Mastercard operate through an open loop system where the merchant acquirer and the card issuer are different entities.
American Express frequently operates a closed loop system, acting as both. This means the authorisation path is more direct.
For the merchant, this often results in different data requirements for the message payload, such as specific fields for American Express SafeKey when performing 3DS authentication, and different clearing cycles since the network handles the settlement itself rather than through an external settlement bank.
What is American Express SafeKey and is it required for all transactions?
SafeKey is the brand specific implementation of the 3-D Secure protocol. Under PSD2 and SCA regulations in the European Economic Area and the UK, SafeKey is generally required for most electronic transactions to verify the cardholder's identity.
Exceptions exist for low value payments, trusted beneficiaries, or transactions deemed low risk by the issuer's RBA. Failing to support SafeKey can lead to high soft decline rates as issuers enforce mandatory authentication for regulated regions.
Can Level 3 data be sent during American Express authorisation or settlement?
Level 3 data is typically submitted during the clearing and settlement phase. It includes granular information such as item descriptions, quantities, unit prices, and vat details.
While not required for standard consumer transactions, providing this data for American Express corporate and purchasing cards can be a requirement for certain B2B contracts and may influence the merchant discount rate provided by the network,
as it reduces the risk profile and assists the corporate cardholder with tax and spend reconciliation.
Why am I seeing higher decline rates on American Express compared to other cards?
Higher decline rates can stem from various factors including stricter fraud filters or specific cardmember limits. Additionally, if a merchant is not correctly configured for American Express on their MID, transactions may fail at the gateway.
Another common cause is the lack of support for 4 digit CVV codes or incorrect handling of 15 digit card numbers in the frontend UI.
Ensuring that the risk engine is tuned specifically for the American Express response codes can help identify if declines are due to insufficient funds, card blocks, or technical mismatches.
What is the typical settlement timeframe for American Express transactions?
Settlement timeframes depend on the specific agreement between the merchant and the network or the Payment Service Provider. While Visa and Mastercard often settle in T+1 or T+2 days, American Express historically had longer cycles.
However, modern processing integrations often allow for accelerated settlement. It is important to analyse the merchant agreement to understand if funds are settled net of fees or if the gross amount is deposited with fees billed separately at the end of the month.
How are chargebacks handled differently on the American Express network?
The dispute process often begins with a 'retrieval request' or 'inquiry' where the network asks the merchant for more information before a formal chargeback is initiated. This stage is a critical opportunity for the merchant to provide proof of delivery or a refund receipt.
If the inquiry is not resolved, it progresses to a formal chargeback. The timeframes for responding to these requests are often shorter than those used by other schemes, making automated reporting and efficient back office management essential.
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