American Express Reaches Over 190 Million Merchant Acceptance Points Globally

American Express has announced that as of July 31, 2026, its cards are now accepted at over 190 million merchant locations worldwide, marking a significant milestone in its global merchant and network services expansion. This includes an increase of approximately 20 million locations year to date, highlighting sustained network growth. Acceptance outside the United States has more than doubled over the past four years, underscoring strong international momentum.

This development was confirmed in a company press release distributed via Business Wire on September 28, 2026, where Anna Marrs, Group President of Global Merchant & Network Services at American Express, commented that the milestone reflects “decades of investment in expanding our global network so we can serve more Merchants around the world and connect them with our high‑spending Card Members.” The figures are based on data through the end of July 2026.

Meanwhile, in American Express’s Q2 2026 financial results released on July 24, 2026, the Global Merchant & Network Services (GMNS) segment—a key driver in the company’s global acceptance growth—showed strong financial performance. Revenues (net of interest expense) for GMNS rose 10% year‑over‑year to $2.004 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. Pretax segment income increased 13%, while total network volumes grew 11% to $486.3 billion. Non‑interest revenues and net interest income both contributed to this growth, with total expenses up 7%. The figures illustrate sustained operational strength that supports continued merchant expansion.

The dual momentum of robust GMNS financials and a growing global footprint underlines American Express’s strategic commitment to expanding merchant acceptance worldwide. For investors tracking AXP—currently priced at $302.78 as of October 2, 2026—increased merchant availability can enhance transaction volumes, reinforce competitive positioning in the payments ecosystem, and potentially support longer‑term revenue growth.

Looking ahead, continued expansion of merchant acceptance—especially outside the U.S.—remains a key lever for American Express’s commercial strategy. Investors should monitor future network growth announcements, regional expansion trends, and subsequent GMNS segment reporting to assess how this broadening merchant base may translate into sustained financial performance.