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American Express®

Contactless Card

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How does contactless work?

If your American Express Card is marked with the contactless symbol, you can pay quickly and securely for your purchases by simply tapping your Card wherever you see the universal contactless symbol.
You can use your contactless Card at any retailer that display the American Express® contactless symbol.
Complete a contactless purchase with your American Express Card of up to 50 € without using your PIN.
Transaction limit for a contactless payment varies between each country.
Contactless is just as secure as Chip and PIN, and you're covered by the same fraud protection and guarantees.

How to pay contactless - step by step

Step 1

Check that your card has the contactless symbol

Step 2

Check that the card reader displays the contactless symbol

Step 3

Tap your card against the card reader. Done! You have completed a contactless payment.

Frequently asked questions about contactless

Contactless works through a short-range wireless technology. The card machine picks up a signal from your card when it’s very close to it. Normally, you can complete payments up to 50 € without entering your PIN-code, but as part of a security measure you might be asked to enter your PIN-code to verify your purchase.

If you already have an American Express Corporate Card, your next renewal card will be contactless enabled.

To check if your card is contactless-enabled, look for the contactless symbol on its back or front.

Yes, our contactless cards use the same encryption technology as our chip and PIN cards.

We don’t recommend tapping your wallet or purse on the reader if you have more than one contactless card in it. Take out your chosen card, tap that to the reader instead and wait for the confirmation beep.

Your contactless card is also a chip and PIN card. You choose how you use your card!

Not all merchants accept contactless payments. Check that the card reader is enabled for American Express contactless payments by looking for the contactless symbol.

If it is but your card isn’t working, contact Customer Service and request a new card. You can still use your card with your PIN in the meantime.

You can use your contactless card abroad in most places provided they’re displaying the contactless symbol and American Express logos. The transaction limit for American Express contactless payments varies in each country, so sometimes you may be asked to enter your PIN for transactions over 50 €. If contactless doesn’t work abroad, you can still use your card’s chip and PIN.

All payments, including contactless payments, can take up to 48 hours to be processed and appear on your statement.

All merchants should offer you a receipt as usual.

When completing purchases over the contactless transaction limit of 50 €, you will be asked to enter your PIN. As part of a security measure to restrict unauthorised use of your card, you will occasionally be asked to enter your PIN to verify that you are still in the possession of the card.

American Express handles fraudulent transactions on your card according to the same fraud protection and guarantees as for chip and PIN purchases. Read more in our Cardmember Terms and Conditions.