Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Information about the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
If you’re a small business owner with select American Express cards, you may have heard of Pay Over Time, which lets you decide whether you want to pay eligible purchases in full each month-or pay over time with interest.
This benefit is meant to provide more payment flexibility, and soon new and existing American Express® Business Green, American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Platinum card members will be auto-enrolled for the feature. Auto-enrollment will take place at the start of November billing cycles.
While Amex is traditionally known for its pay-in-full charge card model, the company is making adjustments to its card lineup to accommodate the changing needs of business owners.
"We’ve long heard from our card members who are small business owners that increased payment flexibility is important to them. This is especially critical during these times of uncertainty,” Brett Sussman, vice president of global commercial card lending at American Express, said in a press release.
American Express has seen 55% of existing business card members choose to enroll in Pay Over Time, predominately to increase inventory for busy seasons, buy in bulk for a discount or help with cash flow.
How Pay Over Time works
Pay Over Time is a buy now, pay later feature that applies to eligible purchases. Amex states that annual fees, cash advances, including cash and other cash equivalents, certain insurance premiums and any other fees owed to American Express are not eligible for Pay Over Time.
Purchases that are added to Pay Over Time incur interest beginning on the date you make the transaction. (Refer to your card member agreement or online account for the APR.) However, you can avoid interest by paying your Total New Balance in full by your payment due date.
While your card has no preset spending limit, there is a Pay Over Time limit that acts like a traditional credit limit. (You'll find your limit in your card member agreement or online account.) You won’t be able to carry any balances exceeding your Pay Over Time limit.
New and existing card members will be auto-enrolled in Pay Over Time starting in November, but you can turn the feature on and off as needed.
Bottom line
If you're a small business owner with a Green, Gold or Platinum Amex business card and occasionally carry a balance from month-to-month, Pay Over Time can be a helpful way to receive more flexibility with your payments. However, if you regularly carry a balance, you should consider using a business card that offers a promotional 0% APR.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express both provide an introductory 0% APR for the first 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening (then 18.49% - 26.49% variable APR, APRs will not exceed 29.99%; see Blue Business Cash rates and fees and Blue Business Plus rates and fees). Either of these cards are a great way to finance business expenses over your first year as a card member without incurring interest.
Amex business cards typically require an excellent credit score to qualify. When applying, you may need to enter your employer identification number (EIN) and/or social security number (SSN).
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express
Rewards
2X Membership Rewards® points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases at amextravel.com and 1X Membership Rewards® for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases
Welcome bonus
15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
Intro APR
Not applicable
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
Credit needed
Excellent
See rates and fees, terms apply.
American Express® Business Gold Card
Rewards
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap. 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.
Welcome bonus
Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership
Annual fee
$375
Intro APR
Not applicable
Regular APR
19.49% - 28.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent
See rates and fees, terms apply.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Rewards
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Also, earn 1.5X points (that's an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchases at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Welcome bonus
Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Annual fee
$695
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.49% - 28.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Don’t miss:
- Amex Business Gold card raises welcome bonus to 70,000 points for a limited-time—here's how you can earn it
- Amex launches Stand for Small coalition to support small business affected by coronavirus
- 5 credit card perks every small business owner should take advantage of
- How to check your business credit report for free
For rates and fees of the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.
Correction: Annual fee charges are ineligible for Pay Over Time for business cards. An earlier version stated that Pay Over Time applies to your business card's annual fee.
