American Express Expands Global Reach as Card Acceptance Surpasses 190 Million Merchant Locations
American Express is significantly expanding its global payments network, with the company announcing that its cards can now be used at more than 190 million merchant locations worldwide.
The milestone represents a major expansion of the company's acceptance network and comes as American Express focuses increasingly on international markets, travel destinations and younger consumers. The company said acceptance outside the United States has more than doubled over the past four years.
The expansion is designed to make American Express cards more useful for customers when they travel, shop, dine and spend money across international markets.
190 Million Merchant Locations Worldwide
American Express said its network now includes more than 190 million merchant locations globally.
The company added approximately 20 million locations during 2026, according to its announcement.
The figure includes locations where American Express cards are enabled through its own network as well as through partners, payment facilitators, local acquiring relationships and digital wallets.
American Express said the estimate is based on merchant locations in force as of July 2026.
The company had reported more than 170 million merchant locations worldwide at the end of 2025, showing the scale of expansion achieved within a relatively short period.
International Acceptance Is Growing Rapidly
One of the most important parts of the expansion is outside the United States.
American Express said the number of merchant locations accepting its cards outside the US has more than doubled during the last four years.
Historically, Visa and Mastercard have had broader international merchant acceptance in many markets, making global coverage an important area for American Express as it expands.
The company has been targeting locations where its cardmembers frequently live, work and travel.
Travel Is a Major Focus
International travel is an important part of the company's strategy.
American Express has specifically focused on destinations including Barcelona, Hong Kong, Paris and Sicily.
The company is also targeting cities that are expected to attract visitors for major sporting and entertainment events, including Mexico City and Melbourne.
For international travelers, wider acceptance can reduce the need to carry multiple payment cards when visiting different countries.
The expansion also gives merchants access to customers who may prefer using American Express for travel, dining and other purchases.
Restaurants and Everyday Spending
American Express is not focusing only on airports, hotels and tourist destinations.
The company said it has also been expanding acceptance among restaurants and other categories where cardmembers frequently spend.
This matters because payment networks benefit when customers can use their cards for everyday purchases rather than only during occasional travel.
The wider the acceptance network becomes, the more opportunities cardmembers have to use their preferred payment method.
American Express Is Targeting Younger Customers
The expansion also comes as American Express looks to increase its presence among younger consumers.
The company has been attempting to build relationships with customers earlier in their financial lives and expand its appeal beyond its traditional image as a premium card provider.
A larger merchant network can support that strategy by giving younger cardmembers more places to use their cards.
For payment companies, customer spending habits are closely connected to the size and usefulness of the acceptance network.
Spending on American Express Cards Continues to Grow
American Express also reported strong spending activity among its cardmembers.
In the company's most recent quarter, billed business increased 9% to $455.8 billion, according to Reuters.
The company reported quarterly revenue of $19.6 billion in July, representing 10% growth.
These figures show the scale of spending moving through the American Express ecosystem as the company continues expanding its merchant network.
Digital Wallets Are Helping Expand Acceptance
The global payments industry is changing rapidly as consumers increasingly use digital wallets and mobile payments.
American Express said its latest merchant-location estimate includes merchants that accept its cards through digital wallets in markets including China and Brazil.
This means card acceptance is no longer limited to a physical card being directly inserted or tapped at a payment terminal.
Digital payment platforms can allow customers to use linked cards through smartphones and other devices.
That creates additional opportunities for payment networks to expand their reach.
American Express Is Also Expanding in India
India is another market where American Express has been increasing its merchant network.
The company's India website currently says American Express cards are accepted at more than 4.9 million merchant locations in India.
American Express says its Indian network expanded significantly during 2025, including additional retail, fuel-station and online merchant locations.
The Indian market is particularly important because digital payments and mobile commerce have grown rapidly in recent years.
For global payment companies, maintaining a strong presence in India can provide access to a large and increasingly digital consumer market.
Competition in the Global Payments Industry
The expansion places American Express in a highly competitive global payments market.
Visa and Mastercard have extensive international networks, while digital payment companies and local payment systems continue developing rapidly.
For American Express, increasing merchant acceptance is one way to make its cards more competitive across international markets.
The company has said it continues working with payment platforms, payment facilitators, licensed partners and local acquiring companies to expand acceptance.
Why Merchant Acceptance Matters
A payment card is only useful when customers can actually use it.
A traveler may have a premium card with valuable rewards, but if a restaurant, hotel or retailer does not accept that card, the customer may need another payment method.
That is why merchant acceptance has become an important part of competition between global payment networks.
By expanding from more than 170 million merchant locations at the end of 2025 to more than 190 million in its latest estimate, American Express is increasing the number of places where its customers can use its cards.
A More Connected Global Payment Network
The latest expansion shows how payment companies are increasingly building networks that operate across borders.
Travelers can move between cities and countries while continuing to use the same payment ecosystem.
For businesses, accepting international cards can provide access to customers from other markets.
For payment networks, every additional merchant location creates another potential point of transaction.
This makes global acceptance an important part of the long-term payments industry.
What Comes Next for American Express
American Express says it does not consider the 190 million-location milestone the end of its expansion.
The company continues to identify markets, cities, travel destinations and spending categories where it can increase acceptance.
The strategy also includes deeper relationships with local payment companies and digital platforms.
As international travel, online commerce and mobile payments continue developing, the global payments market is likely to remain highly competitive.
For American Express, the latest milestone represents a major expansion of the network available to its cardmembers.
With more than 190 million merchant locations worldwide, the company is positioning its payment network for a more international and digitally connected consumer economy.
Journalist: Vijay Singh