Adding money to Venmo using an American Express card is primarily done through the Amex Send & Split feature. This is a special program designed by American Express that allows eligible cardholders to send money to Venmo or PayPal users, and even split purchases, directly from the Amex app. It offers a convenient way to use your American Express card for peer-to-peer payments without incurring the typical Venmo credit card fee.
Step 1: Get Ready! Confirm Eligibility and Download the Apps
Before you can start adding money, you'll need to make sure you have the right tools and that your American Express card is eligible.
Do you have an American Express card? This might seem obvious, but only U.S.-issued Basic Consumer American Express Cards are eligible for the Amex Send & Split feature. Business cards, corporate cards, prepaid cards, or cards issued outside the U.S. generally don't qualify. So, first things first, confirm your card type!
Download the Amex App and Venmo App: Ensure you have both the official American Express App and the Venmo App installed on your smartphone. You'll be switching between them for this process.
Step 2: Enroll in Amex Send & Split
This is the crucial first step within the American Express ecosystem. You need to enable the "Send & Split" feature to link your Venmo account.
Open the Amex App: Launch the American Express App on your mobile device.
Navigate to "Account" Tab: At the bottom of the app, you'll typically find a navigation bar. Tap on the "Account" tab.
Find "Send & Split": Scroll down within the Account section. You should see an option labeled "Send & Split" or "Send Money & Split Purchases: Venmo and PayPal." Tap on this.
Enroll and Agree to Terms: If it's your first time, you'll be prompted to enroll in the feature. Read through the "How it Works" content and then tap "Agree and Enroll" to proceed.
Link Your Venmo Account: You'll then be guided to link your Venmo account. This usually involves signing into your Venmo account through the Amex app's secure portal. Follow the on-screen prompts carefully to authorize the connection between your Amex and Venmo accounts.
Step 3: Add Money to Your Amex Send Account
The Amex Send & Split feature operates through an intermediate Amex Send Account. You'll first add money from your American Express card to this Send Account, and then you can use that balance to send money to Venmo users.
Sub-heading: Funding Your Amex Send Account from the Amex App
Go to "Send & Split" Again: Back in the Amex App, navigate to the "Account" tab and select "Send & Split."
Select "Add Money": Within the "Send" tab of the Send & Split section, you should see an option like "Manage Balance" or directly "Add Money." Tap on this.
Choose Your Amex Card: Select the eligible American Express card you wish to use to add funds. You'll see the amount available to add from your card, which is determined by American Express based on your card's limits.
Enter the Amount: Input the specific amount of money you want to add to your Amex Send Account.
Confirm the Transaction: Review the details and confirm the transaction. The money will instantly be added to your Amex Send Account balance, and this transaction will appear as a purchase on your American Express card statement. Important Note: While this is treated as a purchase, it typically does not earn rewards points.
Step 4: Send Money to Venmo Using Your Amex Send Account
Once your Amex Send Account is funded, you have two primary ways to send money to Venmo users: directly from the Venmo app or from the Amex app.
Sub-heading: Option A: Sending from the Venmo App (Recommended for most uses)
This is generally the more straightforward method for making payments to Venmo users.
Open the Venmo App: Launch the Venmo App.
Initiate a Payment: Tap the "Pay & Request" button (usually a pencil and paper icon or similar) to start a new payment.
Select Recipient and Amount: Choose the Venmo user you want to pay and enter the amount.
Choose Amex Send Account as Payment Method: This is the key step. When selecting your payment method, you will now see your "Amex Send Account" listed as an option alongside your bank accounts and other cards. Select it.
Complete the Payment: Add a note for the payment if desired and then tap "Pay." The funds will be debited from your Amex Send Account and sent to the recipient.
Sub-heading: Option B: Sending from the Amex App
You can also initiate a send directly from the Amex app.
Open the Amex App: Launch the American Express App.
Go to "Send & Split": Navigate to the "Account" tab and select "Send & Split."
Tap "Send": Within the "Send" tab, you'll see options to send money.
Select Recipient: Choose the Venmo or PayPal contact you wish to send money to. You might need to allow Amex to access your phone's contacts or manually enter the recipient's Venmo username, phone number, or email.
Enter Amount and Review: Enter the amount you want to send and review the transaction details.
Confirm Send: Confirm the send. The money will be transferred from your Amex Send Account to the recipient's Venmo balance.
Step 5: Understanding Limitations and Fees
While the Amex Send & Split feature is incredibly useful, it's essential to be aware of certain aspects:
No Standard Venmo Credit Card Fee: One of the biggest advantages is that using your Amex Send Account to pay friends on Venmo avoids the typical 3% credit card fee that Venmo usually charges for credit card transactions.
No Rewards Earnings: Purchases made to fund your Amex Send Account do not earn Membership Rewards points or other card-specific rewards. This is a crucial point for rewards enthusiasts.
Transaction Limits: Both American Express and Venmo have their own transaction limits. Amex will display your "Available to Add" limit in the app, and Venmo also has limits on sending and receiving. These limits can be per transaction, per day, or per rolling 30-day period. For example, some Amex cards may allow up to $2,000 to be added to the Amex Send account in a rolling 30-day period, while Platinum Card holders might have higher limits.
Not a Cash Advance: Adding money to your Amex Send Account is treated as a purchase, not a cash advance. This means it's subject to your card's purchase APR, not cash advance APR (which is often higher).
Irreversible Once Sent: Once you send money from your Amex Send Account to a Venmo user, the transaction is generally irreversible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to check my Amex Send Account balance?
You can check your Amex Send Account balance within the American Express App. Go to the "Account" tab, then select "Send & Split," and you'll see your current balance there.
How to transfer money from Amex Send Account back to my American Express card?
To transfer funds back to your Amex card, go to the "Account" tab in the Amex App, select "Send & Split," then within the "Send" tab, tap "Manage Balance," and choose "Transfer to Card." Enter the amount and select the card.
How to link a new American Express card to Amex Send & Split?
If you have multiple eligible Amex cards, you can typically choose which card to fund your Amex Send Account from when you initiate an "Add Money" transaction within the Amex App's Send & Split section.
How to resolve a declined transaction when adding money to Amex Send Account?
If your transaction is declined, it could be due to exceeding Amex's internal limits, an issue with your card, or security flags. Check the available limit shown in the Amex app or contact American Express customer service for assistance.
How to avoid Venmo fees when using American Express?
By using the Amex Send & Split feature and funding your Venmo payments through your Amex Send Account, you can avoid the standard 3% credit card fee that Venmo usually charges.
How to split a purchase made with my American Express card with Venmo users?
Within the Amex App, navigate to a pending or posted purchase on your statement, tap "Split It," and then select the Venmo users you want to split the cost with. Amex will send them a payment request, and when they pay you back, you can choose to receive the funds as a statement credit to your Amex card or to your linked Venmo account.
How to earn rewards points when sending money via Amex Send & Split?
Unfortunately, transactions made to add money to your Amex Send Account typically do not earn rewards points. However, if you use the "Split" feature, you do earn rewards on the original purchase made with your Amex card, even if you later split the cost.
How to unlink my Venmo account from Amex Send & Split?
You can usually manage your linked accounts within the "Send & Split" settings in the Amex App. Look for an option to "Manage Linked Accounts" or similar, which should allow you to unlink Venmo.
How to send money to a PayPal user using my American Express card via Amex Send?
The process is identical to sending to Venmo users. You link your PayPal account in Step 2, fund your Amex Send Account in Step 3, and then select your PayPal contact or choose your Amex Send Account as the payment method in the PayPal app in Step 4.
How to check my Amex Send & Split transaction history?
Your Amex Send & Split transactions will appear in your Amex App within the "Send & Split" section, and also as charges on your regular American Express card statement.
