Accept American Express
With American Express, you benefit from high-spending customers, free marketing and personal, local support.
Benefits of accepting American Express
Tap into high-spending target groups with American Express
Accepting American Express gives you access to a high-spending customer base that spends approximately 20 to 50 percent more than other credit card users in Switzerland. Studies also show that American Express credit cards are typically used 1.5 times more frequently and that customers return more often.
American Express is a particularly relevant additional payment option for high-value purchases as well as premium segment shopping, business travel, dining and hospitality. Over half a million Swiss residents now have an American Express credit card. Worldwide, the number is approximately 154 million people.
How merchants benefit from the American Express loyalty program
Most American Express credit cardholders participate in the Membership Rewards program, which allows them to collect points with every transaction. These points can then be redeemed for attractive rewards.
This rewards program is very popular with both private and business customers. Therefore, when given a choice between several merchants, customers will likely opt for a store, restaurant or hotel that accepts American Express, so that the number of their bonus points can grow quickly.
Benefits of American Express customers
Apply to become a merchant: It’s quick and easy
Would you like to offer your customers the option to pay with American Express? If so, you can apply to become an American Express merchant quickly and easily online.
Do you have any questions you’d like to discuss in a personal consultation? Then contact us using this contact form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. You can also call us directly on 044 659 64 44, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Free marketing for new American Express acceptance points
Many merchants aren’t aware of it, but as a new American Express acceptance point, you benefit from free marketing campaigns and communication support. With American Express Selects, you can showcase your business on our website.
With American Express Selects, you can showcase your business, restaurant or hotel for free. You can also offer potential customers limited-time special promotions, such as a discount or a voucher. Restaurants and bars that aren’t rated by GaultMillau but appeal to a trend-conscious crowd are selected by GaultMillau and featured under the "GaultMillau POP!" section. The American Express Selects websites attract more than 360,000 visitors per year.
Visibility and savings with Amex promotional materials
In addition to integrating your business into our marketing platforms, you can receive free promotional materials from us that show that American Express credit cards are accepted at your location. This also saves you from having to purchase everyday items such as pens, beer coasters, bill folders, bottle openers, notepads or candy as giveaways.
Clear costs – clear value
At American Express, transparency is key: For small merchants, the merchant fee starts at 1.95 percent per transaction, with no additional costs. This means you know exactly what to expect right from the start. At first glance, these fees may seem higher than those of other payment networks, but accepting American Express still pays for the vast majority of merchants – after all, American Express Cardholders are known for their high spending power and brand loyalty.
The following example clearly illustrates how quickly accepting American Express can actually pay for a merchant. We’ve deliberately kept our calculations conservative and in our example assume just a 10 percent increase in purchasing value:
American Express
- Purchasing value: CHF 110
- Merchant fee: 1.95%
- Purchasing fee: CHF 2.15
- Transaction amount after fees: CHF 107.68
Other credit card*
- Purchasing value: CHF 100
- Merchant fee: 1.35%
- Purchasing fee: CHF 1.35
- Transaction amount after fees: CHF 98.65
* The comparative fee of 1.35% is provided solely as a calculation example. Actual terms and conditions of other payment providers may vary depending on the provider, agreement, card type and transaction.
This example clearly shows that even a small increase in transactions can more than offset the difference in the acceptance fee.
Mathematically, a purchasing value that is just 0.6 percent higher is enough to offset the difference in fees between 1.35 percent and 1.95 percent. With a purchasing value that is 10 percent higher, the merchant is left with CHF 9.21 more in revenue after deducting the applicable acceptance fee.
Become an American Express acceptance partner: It’s this easy
Any business in Switzerland can become an American Express acceptance partner, regardless of size or revenue. Setting up American Express is also a quick and easy process:
For brick-and-mortar stores, a payment terminal from a provider is required on-site; for online stores, American Express works with any standard payment interface. Just fill out the merchant application or schedule a consultation to clarify any questions you have in advance.
- Sign the acceptance agreement: Becoming an American Express acceptance partner takes just a few steps. You can easily sign your acceptance agreement online.
- Complete your application online in minutes: All we require is your contact details, information about your business, your bank account details, and whether your business is a brick-and-mortar store, an e-commerce business, or both.
- Activation of the payment provider: We’ll handle all the technical details with your payment provider.
An overview of compatible payment providers, broken down by brick-and-mortar retailers and online stores, is provided below.
Overview of payment providers
If you accept payments directly in your store – at the checkout or on a mobile device, for example – you’ll need a card reader from a certified provider. Here’s a selection of popular providers in Switzerland:
- Worldline: www.worldline.com / tel. +41 848 83 20 20
- Nexi: www.nexi.swiss / tel. +41 58 220 58 58
- Wallee: www.wallee.com / tel. +41 44 505 13 60
- Paytec: www.paytec.ch / tel. +41 52 354 53 00
American Express can be integrated with all major payment service providers (PSPs). A selection in Switzerland:
- Worldline: www.worldline.com / tel. +41 848 83 20 20
- Planet: www.weareplanet.com / tel. +41 41 512 60 44
- Wallee: www.wallee.com / tel. +41 44 505 13 60
- Nexi: www.nexi.swiss / tel. +41 58 220 58 58
Other European providers may be an alternative. We will be happy to work with you to evaluate the integration.
American Express is already included with these providers; no additional agreement is necessary. The entire process, from the transaction to accounting, is handled directly by the respective payment provider:
- Adyen: www.adyen.com
- SumUp: www.sumup.com
- Stripe: www.stripe.com
The following options are available to ensure simple and transparent processing:
- myAccount: View transactions and payments online
- Data export: as Excel, CSV, or PDF
- Standard formats: RAF, MRX, GRCCN
For more complex setups, the following third-party providers offer support:
- Abrantix: www.abrantix.com / Tel. +41 43 370 30 30
- Treibauf: www.treibauf.ch / Tel. +41 44 355 50 80
Service and support: reliable and personal support for retailers
Being connected to a call center somewhere else in the world and having to interact with bots? Not at American Express: We’re the only billing provider to provide our customer service directly from Switzerland. If you have any questions, you can rely on personal assistance and technical support from our knowledgeable staff that’s available in German, French, Italian and English. You’ll also be assigned a personal contact who ensures rapid and hassle-free support with your everyday processes.
Contact details for American Express acceptance partners
044 659 64 44
partner.business@swisscard.ch
Swisscard AECS GmbH, Partner Service JSOB5, P.O. Box, 8810 Horgen
Frequently asked questions and answers
Accepting American Express credit cards is beneficial for merchants because it allows them to reach affluent customer groups and generate additional revenue.
If you’re considering welcoming American Express Cardholders to your business, you can submit your contact details via the merchant contact form, and we’ll get back to you shortly. You can also call us directly on 044 659 64 44 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and have your questions answered as quickly as possible.
Small merchants with annual American Express Card turnover of up to CHF 100,000 pay a fee of 1.95 percent per transaction. There are no additional fees.
