As an American Express cardmember you have the responsibility of paying your bill on time each month. While American Express offers various digital payment options for convenience some customers prefer handling billing the old-fashioned way – with cash. Even in today’s digital world, paying your American Express bill with physical currency is still possible.
Overview of Paying American Express Bills
American Express gives out credit cards, charge cards, and other products that let people buy things and earn rewards. Every month, as a cardholder, you get a statement that lists your charges, payments, fees, interest, and current balance.
The total minimum payment due and the due date are clearly indicated on your statement. American Express expects customers to pay on time to remain in good standing. Late or missed payments can negatively impact your credit and lead to penalty fees or canceled cards.
You have flexibility in how you pay your bill – online, phone, mail, bank transfer etc. American Express also offers tools like autopay and text alerts to help avoid forgetting a payment. But sometimes sticking to cash just feels right.
Can I Pay My American Express Bill With Cash?
The short answer is yes, American Express does allow paying your statement balance with physical cash. This is likely the slowest option, but can provide peace of mind to some customers who prefer cash transactions or don’t have bank accounts. There are just a few things to keep in mind
Unlike a local utility or municipality American Express does not have public offices or kiosks for making cash payments in person. You will need to mail in any cash payment to their processing center.
Be sure to include your remittance coupon to credit the proper card account. For safety and tracking reasons, it’s best to send cash through registered mail with delivery confirmation. Mail takes longer to deliver across the country, and cash takes longer to process than electronic payments.
Sending Large Cash Payments
If paying a larger balance, think twice before mailing stacks of bills. In the mail, American Express may only take a certain amount of cash. If the amount is very large, a cashier’s check from your bank might be safer. Or consider other payment methods like bank transfers or money orders.
If you must mail cash, take prudent measures – disguise it between cardboard, wrap in paper, use registered mail or parcel services. Notify American Express when to expect your delivery. Balance security with mailing cash far in advance of your due date.
Steps to Mail In a Cash Payment to American Express
Mailing a cash payment to pay your American Express bill takes a bit more effort than digital methods. But it can be done with some planning. Follow these steps for ensuring proper cash payment processing:
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Obtain Cash in Desired Denominations
Withdraw or procure the cash needed to fully pay your balance due. Large bills over $20 are recommended as they take up less space when mailed. Organize cash neatly with bands or paper wraps.
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Fill Out Your Remittance Coupon
The payment stub from your printed statement must be included to direct your cash to the right account. Fill out your name, account number, amount enclosed and any other required fields.
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Conceal & Contain the Cash
Fold your cash tightly in paper to make a compact bundle. Wrap again in an opaque envelope to disguise contents. Slide this cash envelope and your remittance coupon into a larger mailer envelope.
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Mail Using Registered or Certified Services
For tracking and security, use the postal service’s Registered Mail which requires a recipient signature. Or opt for delivery confirmation requiring a signature. This also provides documentation the payment was received.
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Note Your Mailing Date & Confirm Delivery
Record the mailing date and delivery confirmation number. Contact American Express in 5-7 days to ensure your cash payment was received and applied as expected to your account.
Tips for Safely Mailing Cash to American Express
Take some extra precautions when sending paper money through the mail to keep your cash secure in transit:
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Use a thick opaque envelope to conceal contents. Write only address details, no notes about money enclosed.
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Tape envelope edges securely. Prevent any cash visibility from the exterior.
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Consider wrapping interior cash envelope in paper or cardboard to add protective buffering.
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For extra security, seal the back flap of the exterior envelope using clear tape.
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Drop off your cash payment mailing at the post office vs. residential boxes prone to theft.
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Opt for delivery services requiring a recipient signature like Registered Mail or certified mail.
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Note your tracking number from the mailing receipt to monitor delivery status.
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Notify American Express when your payment was sent and follow up to confirm receipt.
Alternatives to Mailing Cash for American Express Payments
While American Express does allow cash payments by mail, it should be considered a last resort due to the hazards involved. Here are some faster and more secure options to consider:
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Online Bill Pay – Setup one-time or recurring payments through your online account. American Express also offers an app and text alerts to remind you of approaching due dates.
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Money Orders – Purchase a money order with cash from your bank or post office. Mail the signed money order to American Express with your remittance coupon.
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Bank Transfers – Authorize a payment to American Express directly from your checking or savings account. Can be done routinely or scheduled as needed.
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PayPal – Use PayPal to send a payment to American Express. Link your PayPal wallet to a bank account or debit card to fund the transfer.
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Cashier’s Check – For very large cash payments, converting to a cashier’s check may be safer than mailing raw cash. Deposit the funds at your bank and mail the insured check.
Avoid Late Fees With Proper Payment Planning
However you choose to pay your bill, the key is ensuring American Express receives and processes your payment by the monthly due date. Late fees apply to any past due balance.
Mailing a cash payment introduces delays compared to digital transactions. Allow 7-10 days for the post office to deliver your payment across the country. Then another few days for American Express to receive, verify, process and apply the cash to your account.
Building in this extra time buffer is crucial to avoiding late penalties. Track your mailed payment and follow up with American Express to confirm everything is credited properly before the due date.
Can I Pay at an American Express Location?
Unlike your electric company or other local services, American Express does not operate local offices for in-person bill payment. As a global financial company, they conduct primarily digital transactions and centralized mail processing.
For cardmembers preferring in-person interactions, some limited options do exist:
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Visit a Western Union location which can process American Express payments with cash or debit cards. Fees may apply.
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Drop by a UPS store location and pay your American Express bill along with other bills in their system.
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Ask your bank if they can provide an American Express payment service. Some will allow you to pay any bill there with cash.
However, these third-party avenues likely involve paying their own service fees. Mailing cash directly to American Express is still the most straightforward no-fee option.
Notify American Express Before Mailing Cash
Because cash payments require special handling and accounting, it’s wise to proactively contact American Express before dropping your envelope in the mailbox. This serves a couple helpful purposes:
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American Express can note your account to expect the incoming cash payment for proper processing and application when received.
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You have documentation of providing advance notice in case the mailed payment encounters any issues.
You can contact American Express via the number on the back of your card, through your online account messaging, or their mobile app chat. Provide your name, account number, mailing date and registered tracking number. Make sure to follow up a week later to confirm they received the cash.
Consider Safer Payment Methods
Mailing cash for American Express bills is allowed but has inherent risks of loss, theft and delays. For valuable peace of mind, choose one of their many reliable electronic payment methods.
Online account access lets you setup one-time or auto-pay bank transfers. Their mobile app offers easy digital payments on the go. Opt for text or email reminders to avoid forgetting to pay. If you prefer to handle bills in person, third-party retail locations can process American Express payments with cash for a small service fee.
While cash may seem simpler, mailing paper money across the country has too much uncertainty. Prioritize convenience and security. Stick to modern digital payment processing through American Express’s own tools. But if cash is truly king for you, take all prudent precautions to successfully get those paper bills delivered.
Avoid missed payments with AutoPay
AutoPay lets you schedule payments that will automatically debit from your bank account each month. That means AutoPay enrollment may help you avoid missing your Payment Due Date and incurring late fees*. You can easily enroll in AutoPay online. Keep in mind, only the Primary Card Member can enroll in AutoPay.
To enroll in AutoPay, simply open your Amex® App. If you dont have the Amex® App, you can easily download it in the app store. You can also enroll in AutoPay online. Log into your account with your username and password, navigate to the “Payment” section, and select “Start AutoPay.”.
*Card Members who enrolled in Autopay prior to 10/23/2020, and opted to pay a specific dollar amount, may still incur a late fee if such specified dollar amount is less than the Minimum Payment Due and the difference is not paid by the Payment Due Date.
Decide which type of scheduled payment is right for you
You can customize your AutoPay amount to fit your needs. You’ll need to pay at least the Minimum Payment Due each month.
Minimum Payment Due The amount you need to pay each month to keep your account in good standing.
Total New Balance Your Statement Balance, including payments made and credits received.
Adjusted Balance Your Total Balance, including Plan It or Pay Over Time payments.
Other Amount AutoPay will debit a fixed amount of your choice each month.
If this Other Amount is less than the minimum amount that is due in any billing period, American Express will increase the debited amount to the minimum amount due for that billing period.
How to use AmEx points to pay bills
FAQ
Can I make Amex payment with cash?
Can I pay my credit card bill in cash?
How can I pay my American Express bill?
Does American Express have a physical office?
How do I make an American Express payment?
Select “Make a Payment”. Use the bank account on file to pay – you can add a bank if you’ve not yet linked one. Choose the amount you’d like to pay, your payment date, and confirm your one-time payment – you’re all set. Browse our Amex Bill Payment Guide to Find How to Make an American Express Payment.
Can I pay my American Express bill online?
You can only pay an American Express card’s bill in person if the card is on the American Express network, but issued by another bank or credit union. That’s because Amex does not have any physical locations. If your Amex card was issued by American Express, your only options are to pay online, with the app, over the phone, or by mailing a check.
How does American Express Pay It work?
Here’s a closer look at how both payment features work. Pay It is an option to reduce your balance by making small payments throughout the month. The option will show up under the dollar amount when looking at the specific charges for your eligible card in your American Express app.
What is American Express Pay It plan it?
Pay It Plan It are two payment features available for eligible American Express cardmembers. The features provide an alternative to traditional card payment methods. Pay It allows cardmembers to make smaller payments throughout the month on specific transactions. Plan It splits larger purchases into a monthly payment plan with a fixed monthly fee.