American Express is a Card Issuer, Merchant Acquirer and Payment Card Network, which is a unique operating model in Canada that offers choice to merchants on how they accept our Cards. All merchants have the option to work directly with American Express to accept our Cards and, depending on eligibility, merchants also have the option to accept our Cards through an OptBlue Participant or Payment Facilitator.
How a merchant accepts American Express Cards will determine their pricing for Card acceptance, either set by American Express directly or by their OptBlue Participant or Payment Facilitator. In all cases American Express’ pricing models are consistent across credit and charge cards, and are designed to be clear, transparent and not misleading.
How to accept American Express in Canada
Directly
Merchants that choose to accept American Express cards directly with American Express receive services and settlements from American Express.
Merchants pay a single Discount Rate (a percentage of the purchase price) for all American Express credit and charge cards. Other rates and fees may apply based on whether a merchant is processing a card-not-present transaction, if the purchase is being made by a visiting international Cardmember, among others.
If you are receiving your statement directly from American Express and want to learn more, contact us:
Contact your dedicated Client Manager
Call us at 1-800-268-9877
American Express OptBlue Participant and Payment Facilitator Wholesale Discount Rates & Network Assessment Fees
These programs are designed to provide a simplified option to accept American Express Cards through an OptBlue Participant or a Payment Facilitator.
Click here: American Express OptBlue Participant & Payment Facilitator Wholesale Discount Rates and Network Assessment Fees, for Wholesale Pricing with the existing OptBlue Participants and the following Payment Facilitators:
- Ayden
- Chase Paymentech
- Elavon
- Fiserv
- Global Payments
- Moneris Solutions
- PayPal
- Stripe
- Square
- TD Merchant Services
- WorldPay
In these programs, the OptBlue Participant or Payment Facilitator sets the total pricing (rate and fees) that the merchant will pay for accepting American Express Cards. Depending on the pricing plan, this may include a Wholesale Discount Rate, as well as Network Assessment Fees that American Express charges the OptBlue Participant or Payment Facilitator for participating in these programs.
For all other Payment Facilitators, click here: American Express Payment Facilitator Wholesale Discount Rate and Network Assessment Fees.
If you are accepting or would like to accept American Express through an OptBlue Participant or Payment Facilitator, please contact them for more information regarding merchant pricing and eligibility criteria.
American Express is fully committed to and supports the Code of Conduct for the Payment Card Industry in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are a merchant that obtains merchant services through an OptBlue Participant or a Payment Facilitator, please contact the entity with whom you have signed your Merchant Agreement for information about their services and pricing.
Please see American Express OptBlue Participant & Payment Facilitator Wholesale Discount Rate and Network Assessment Fees and American Express Payment Facilitator Wholesale Discount Rate and Network Assessment Fees for details. Please note, American Express does not charge Wholesale Discount Rates and fees directly to merchants.
If you are interested in accepting American Express Cards through a participating program and to find out more about eligibility, please contact one of the following OptBlue Participants or Payment Facilitators:
Eligible merchants who choose to accept through an OptBlue Participant or Payment Facilitator benefit from an all-in-one solution and will have the convenience of the following:
- One single source for statements
- One settlement process
- One contact for servicing for all major card brands the merchant chooses to accept