American Express Widens Global Merchant Network to Over 190 Million Locations

American Express announced on September 28 that its cards are now accepted at more than 190 million merchant locations globally—a gain of approximately 20 million in the past year. Notably, acceptance of American Express outside the United States has more than doubled over the last four years, marking a significant stride in expanding its payment network.

The growth is driven by a strategic focus on partnerships and technology, combining its own acquiring capabilities with alliances involving major global platforms like Adyen, and regional players such as Mercado Pago in Latin America and Dojo in the U.K. Digital payment options are also being enhanced through integrations like Alipay in China, broadening access across key markets and merchant categories.

Anna Marrs, Group President of Global Merchant & Network Services, highlighted that this expansion is “very deliberate,” targeting major cities and merchant types where American Express cardholders are most likely to spend. The initiative reflects a long-term investment in scaling the acceptance network to meet the needs of both merchants and high-spending customers.

This latest expansion supports American Express’s premium, closed-loop network model, which links issuance, merchant acceptance, and transaction processing. The added scale reinforces its competitive positioning across consumer and commercial segments, enabling richer data insights and tailored offerings.

Looking ahead, by increasing merchant coverage in high-traffic global markets, American Express aims to enhance cardholder utility while reinforcing its value proposition for merchant partners—potentially fostering greater transaction volume and customer loyalty.

This development has particular relevance for investors monitoring the Global Merchant & Network Services segment, aligning with the company’s broader strategy to extend its global footprint and deepen engagement across key merchant ecosystems.