Hey there! Ever found yourself needing to send money to a friend or split a bill, and thought, "Can I use my American Express card for this, and avoid those pesky fees?" If so, you're in the right place! Venmo and American Express have teamed up to make financial interactions even smoother, especially if you're an Amex Card Member.
This isn't just about linking your card; it's about unlocking a whole new level of flexibility and convenience. We're talking about Amex Send & Split, a fantastic feature that allows you to manage payments and splits directly through the Amex App and Venmo. So, are you ready to dive in and learn exactly how this powerful combination works? Let's get started!
How Does Venmo Work with American Express? A Comprehensive Guide
For eligible American Express Card Members, the integration with Venmo isn't just a simple card link. It's a robust feature called Amex Send & Split. This allows you to send money to Venmo (or PayPal) users directly from your Amex Send Account without the typical credit card fees, and also to split purchases made on your Amex Card, receiving repayments as statement credits.
Let's break down the process step-by-step.
Step 1: Getting Started - Eligibility and Enrollment
Before you can enjoy the benefits, you need to ensure you're eligible and then enroll in the Amex Send & Split program.
Sub-heading: Checking Your Eligibility
Are you a U.S. Basic Consumer Card Member with an eligible American Express Card? This is the primary requirement.
Eligible Cards: Most U.S.-issued Basic Consumer Cards from American Express National Bank are eligible.
Not Eligible: Prepaid Cards, American Express Corporate Cards, American Express Small Business Cards, and Amex-branded cards issued by other financial institutions generally do not qualify.
Sub-heading: Enrolling in Amex Send & Split
Open the Amex App: Make sure you have the latest version installed on your mobile device.
Navigate to "Send & Split":
Log in to the Amex App.
Go to the Account tab.
Look for and tap on "Send & Split: Venmo/PayPal."
Review and Agree: You'll see a "How it Works" section. Read through it carefully to understand the terms and conditions.
**Tap "Agree and Enroll": This confirms your enrollment in the program.
Link Your Venmo Account:
After enrollment, you'll be prompted to link your Venmo account (or PayPal, if you prefer).
Follow the on-screen instructions to sign into your Venmo account and authorize the connection.
If you don't have a Venmo account, you'll be guided to create one.
Once successfully linked, you'll have access to the Amex Send Account within your Venmo wallet, and the ability to initiate Split purchases from your Amex App.
Step 2: Sending Money with Your Amex Send Account
This is where the magic happens – sending money to Venmo users without incurring the standard Venmo credit card fee! This is done through your Amex Send Account, which acts as a stored balance account.
Sub-heading: Adding Money to Your Amex Send Account
You can't directly pay from your credit card within Venmo without a fee. Instead, you "add money" from your Amex Card to your Amex Send Account first.
Open the Amex App: Again, the Amex App is your primary hub for this.
Access "Send & Split": Go to the Account tab and select "Send & Split."
Tap "Add Money": Within the "Send" tab, you'll see an option to "Add Money."
Choose Amount and Card: Select the American Express Card you wish to use to fund your Send Account and enter the amount you want to add.
Confirm the Transfer: Review the details and confirm. The money will then be reflected in your Amex Send Account balance. Note: The charge on your Amex Card for an "Add Money" transaction typically does not earn rewards and is subject to your Card's purchase APR.
Sub-heading: Sending Money from the Amex App
Open the Amex App:
Access "Send & Split": From the Home tab, you can tap the "List of Accounts" button or swipe through your accounts to find "Send & Split."
Tap "Send Money":
Select Recipient: Choose a contact from your device or manually enter their Venmo (or PayPal) email or phone number.
Enter Amount and Complete: Input the amount you wish to send. If your Amex Send Account balance is insufficient, you'll be prompted to add more money from your eligible Amex Card.
The money is sent immediately and becomes available to the recipient in their Venmo account. Once sent, you generally cannot cancel the transaction.
Sub-heading: Sending Money from the Venmo App (Using Amex Send Account)
Ensure Funds in Amex Send Account: Before you open Venmo, make sure you've added sufficient money to your Amex Send Account via the Amex App (as described above).
Open the Venmo App:
Initiate a Payment: Proceed to send money as you normally would – select a recipient, enter the amount, and add a note.
Change Payment Method to "Amex Send Account": This is the crucial step to avoid the credit card fee.
Before completing the payment, tap on the current payment method icon (usually a bank or debit card).
Select "Amex Send Account" from the list of available payment options.
Complete the Payment: Confirm the transaction.
Step 3: Splitting Purchases with Amex Send & Split
This feature allows you to split the cost of a purchase made on your American Express Card with friends or family, and get paid back directly to your Amex Card as a statement credit.
Sub-heading: Initiating a Split Request
Open the Amex App:
Select a Purchase: Tap on any pending or posted charge that appears within your current or most recent billing cycle.
Tap "Split It": You'll see this option on the transaction details screen.
Choose Contacts: Select up to 20 Venmo (or PayPal) users you want to split the purchase with. You can pick from your phone's contacts or manually enter their details.
Adjust Amounts (Optional): By default, Amex will divide the purchase amount evenly among the selected contacts. However, you can customize each person's share if needed, and the app will automatically adjust the remaining amounts.
Send the Request: Review the split details and send the request. Your friends will receive a notification via Venmo.
Sub-heading: Receiving Repayments
When your friends accept your split request and pay their share through Venmo, you have two options for receiving the funds:
As a Statement Credit to Your Amex Card: This is often the default and preferred option for many, as it directly offsets the original purchase on your card. American Express will apply the credit to your Card account, typically within 24-36 hours of the payment being accepted. Remember, you are still responsible for paying the full purchase amount charged to your Card, regardless of whether you receive the split repayment.
To Your Linked Venmo Account: You can also choose to receive the money directly into your Venmo balance. Venmo will notify you when the payment is received.
Fees, Limits, and Important Considerations
It's crucial to understand the financial implications and limitations when using Amex Send & Split.
Sub-heading: Understanding Fees
No Standard Venmo Credit Card Fee: This is the biggest advantage of using your Amex Send Account. When you send money through your Amex Send Account, neither American Express nor Venmo charges the typical 3% credit card fee for person-to-person payments.
Fees for "Add Money": While sending money from the Amex Send Account is fee-free, the act of adding money to your Amex Send Account from your Amex Card does not incur an additional fee beyond the standard transaction (e.g., it's not a cash advance fee). However, as mentioned, these "Add Money" transactions typically do not earn rewards and are subject to your card's purchase APR.
Sub-heading: Transaction Limits
Both American Express and Venmo have their own set of transaction limits, and the lower of the two will apply.
Amex Send Limits: American Express generally has a limit of up to $10,000 per transaction for sending money. There are also rolling 30-day limits.
Venmo Limits: Venmo has its own weekly and per-transaction limits. For verified users, you can generally send up to $60,000 per week in person-to-person payments, with a $5,000 limit per individual transaction. Your payment may be declined for reasons other than your limits. Unverified Venmo users have significantly lower limits.
Combined Limits: Always be mindful that the more restrictive limit will govern your transaction.
Sub-heading: Rewards and Interest
Rewards: As noted, adding money to your Amex Send Account from your Amex Card usually does not earn rewards points. However, you do earn rewards for the original purchase when you use the "Split" feature, in the same way you earn rewards for other purchases.
Interest: While there are no fees for sending via Amex Send Account, remember that if you're adding money from a credit card and don't pay your statement balance in full, interest will accrue on that amount as per your card's terms.
Benefits of Using Amex Send & Split
Avoid Credit Card Fees on Venmo: This is the primary and most significant benefit. Sending money from a linked Amex Card directly on Venmo usually incurs a 3% fee. Using the Amex Send Account bypasses this.
Convenience: Seamlessly send money and split purchases directly from the familiar Amex App, making financial management even easier.
Flexibility in Repayments: Choose to get paid back directly to your Amex Card as a statement credit, which can help offset your spending, or to your Venmo balance.
Centralized Management: Manage your Amex Card spending and peer-to-peer payments within the same ecosystem.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions, starting with "How to," along with their quick answers:
How to Link American Express to Venmo?
You link your Amex account to Venmo through the Amex App by enrolling in the "Send & Split" feature and then following the prompts to connect your Venmo profile.
How to Send Money on Venmo Using an American Express Card Without Fees?
First, add money to your "Amex Send Account" via the Amex App. Then, within the Venmo app, when sending money, select your "Amex Send Account" as the payment method.
How to Split a Purchase Made on My American Express Card?
Open the Amex App, select the specific purchase you want to split from your transaction history, tap "Split It," choose your Venmo contacts, and send the request.
How to Receive Money from a Split Purchase to My Amex Card?
When your friends accept your split request and pay you back, you'll receive a statement credit directly to your American Express Card account, typically within 24-36 hours.
How to Add Money to My Amex Send Account?
Open the Amex App, go to the "Account" tab, select "Send & Split," and then tap "Add Money" to transfer funds from your eligible Amex Card to your Amex Send Account.
How to Check My Amex Send Account Balance?
You can check your Amex Send Account balance within the American Express App by navigating to the "Send & Split" section under the "Account" tab.
How to Cancel an Amex Send Money Transaction on Venmo?
Once a transaction from your Amex Send Account is completed and made available to the recipient in Venmo, it generally cannot be canceled.
How to Contact American Express Customer Service for Send & Split Issues?
You can contact American Express customer service by logging into your online account at americanexpress.com and using their online chat feature, or by calling the number on the back of your card.
How to Verify My Identity on Venmo to Increase Limits?
In the Venmo app, go to the "Me" tab, tap the "Settings" gear icon, and then select "Identity Verification" to follow the steps to confirm your identity.
How to Know if My American Express Card is Eligible for Send & Split?
Most U.S.-issued Basic Consumer Cards from American Express National Bank are eligible. You can confirm eligibility by attempting to enroll in "Send & Split" within the Amex App; if your card isn't eligible, the option may not appear or you'll receive a notification.
