AmEx Surpasses 190M Global Merchant Locations, Closes Acceptance Gap

American Express has expanded its global reach by surpassing 190 million merchant locations worldwide where its credit cards can be used. This expansion is a significant milestone for the company, which has long been trying to bridge the gap between itself and rival card networks Visa and Mastercard in terms of international acceptance.

According to Anna Marrs, group president, global merchant and network services at AmEx, the company has focused on strengthening its presence in locations where card members are likely to spend their time, including popular travel destinations such as Barcelona, Hong Kong, Paris, and Sicily. The company has also targeted other categories that drive card-member spending, such as restaurants.

The expansion of merchant acceptance is crucial for driving spending and revenue. In the most recent quarter, billed business jumped 9% to $455.8 billion, with quarterly revenue growing 10% to $19.6 billion in July. The company aims to capture a greater share of international spending from younger customers, who have become an increasingly important part of its user base.