Amex Expands Merchant Acceptance Outside U.S.

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 29, 2026

American Express has expanded its credit card acceptance to over 190 million merchants globally, more than doubling its presence outside the United States over the past four years. This growth narrows the gap with Visa and Mastercard and targets increased card use in key travel destinations and everyday spending venues to boost transaction volume and revenue.

American Express announced on Monday that its credit cards are now accepted at more than 190 million merchant locations worldwide, marking a significant expansion in its global acceptance footprint. Over the past four years, the company reported that merchant acceptance outside the United States has more than doubled, narrowing the gap with rival card networks such as Visa and Mastercard, which have traditionally maintained broader international reach.

The expansion effort has focused on increasing acceptance in key locations frequented by American Express cardholders, particularly popular travel destinations including Barcelona, Hong Kong, and Paris. The company has also worked to enhance acceptance in sectors like restaurants to encourage more frequent everyday use.

By broadening the range of merchants that accept its cards, American Express aims to increase transaction volume generated by cardholders, boosting revenue and encouraging consistent use for both routine purchases and travel-related expenses. This strategy reflects the company’s response to longstanding challenges in competing with other card networks that have historically held stronger merchant relationships outside the U.S.

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