Contactless Payments

Overview

The contactless feature on American Express® Cards is designed for speedy, on-the-go transactions at the point of sale.

Contactless chip payments use radio frequency technology to perform transactions, and with a simple tap, the Card and reader exchange secure payment information. Contactless-enabled chips have been utilized in various form factors including cards, key fobs, watches and stickers.

Benefits

Contactless payments provide card Issuers and Merchants with the following benefits:

Grow revenue:

Help grow your business by offering an expanded suite of products to Card Members and Merchants.
Help gain incremental revenue by promoting a technology that encourages Card spending over cash.

Drive top-of-wallet preference:

Enable consumer-preferred forms of payment.
Help ensure a secure and protected shopping experience to gain Card Member trust and confidence.
Understand customer purchasing behavior for Card Members who opt-in to share their information in order to provide relevant follow-up offers and ensure customer loyalty beyond the point of sale.

How It Works

Step 1

Customers look for the contactless indicator on the back of their Card and the contactless symbol at the point of sale to recognize contactless enablement.

Contactless Symbol at Point of Sale:Contactless Indicator¹:

¹ Universal Contactless Symbol and Indicator are owned by EMVCo, LLC., the standards body for contact and contactless specifications which is jointly owned by American Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, UnionPay and Visa.

Step 2

Customers tap their American Express contactless device in front of the reader, which uses secure radio frequency technology to transfer transaction data.

Step 3

The terminal sends data for authorization processing. Then the customers collect their purchases and go. If customers want a receipt, they can simply ask.

American Express Contactless Payments

Overview

Benefits

How It Works

Resources

Next Steps