American Express, Amazon Roll Out UK Credit Card Aimed At SMBs

American Express on Tuesday (Sept. 29) launched a co-branded credit card with Amazon, targeting small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the U.K. “The cards offer a host of rich rewards and payment flexibility designed to help businesses better manage their cash flow,” according to a press release.

The names for the new offerings are the Amazon Business American Express Card and the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card. During the checkout process, cardholders will have “the option to earn reward points or select a deferred payment term for each transaction,” the release said. “Reward points can be earned anywhere American Express Cards are accepted and redeemed toward future Amazon purchases or applied to the balance” of cardholders’ monthly statements.

The two companies already have a co-branded program in the U.S., and Amazon accepts American Express cards globally.

According to the release, the U.K. program comes at a time when “63 percent of British small businesses say cash flow issues have led them to delay purchasing goods and services they need to run their businesses.” Nearly one-quarter of SMB participants said in a survey that they have put off big-ticket purchases over the past six months during the pandemic. In addition, 38 percent of participants said they are only purchasing “essentials” for their businesses at this time.

“We want to make it easier for businesses to manage their finances and continue accessing the goods and products they need — with more options to pay,” said Colin O’Flaherty, American Express general manager of U.K. global commercial services. The cards will offer SMBs the option of selecting “how to pay, purchase by purchase,” he added.

Earlier this month, Amex introduced its Pay Over Time option for SMBs that are holders of Green, Gold or Platinum Business Cards, effective at the start of their November billing cycle. The new option is aimed at helping customers “meet their cash flow management needs,” the company said in a press release.