Accept American Express in Singapore: How Amex Drives International Premium Spenders
- Pedro Garcia
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
American Express, or Amex, stands out in Singapore’s payment landscape because of its link with affluent consumers and global brand trust. While Visa and Mastercard dominate transaction volume, Amex drives value through a high-spending customer base.
According to Nilson Report data, Amex cardholders globally spend over USD 20,000 per year on average, double the industry average. In Singapore’s cashless economy, that distinction matters. Local F&B, retail, and service businesses increasingly serve expatriates, frequent travellers, and corporate professionals, all groups with high Amex usage. For these merchants, accepting Amex is not about coverage, but about capturing higher-value transactions and cultivating brand prestige.
When integrated through Debia’s unified platform, Amex acceptance becomes a plug-and-play process. Merchants can manage Amex transactions alongside PayNow, Visa, and other payment rails in one dashboard with automatic reconciliation.
What American Express Provides Merchants
Unlike Visa and Mastercard, which operate as open networks, American Express operates a closed-loop payments network, meaning it acts as both the card issuer and the acquirer. This gives Amex complete visibility over every transaction and allows faster dispute resolution, better fraud control, and stronger rewards integration than open-loop networks.
Globally, Amex processes more than 12 billion transactions a year, with network volumes exceeding USD 1.5 trillion, according to its 2023 financial report. In Singapore, Amex has steadily increased acceptance, with local coverage now surpassing 95% of card-enabled merchants in the F&B and retail sectors.
For merchants, the value proposition is clear:
Higher transaction value: Amex customers spend up to 2–3 times more than average cardholders, particularly in F&B, luxury retail, and hospitality.
Enhanced security: End-to-end encryption and fraud detection built directly into Amex’s network.
Global recognition:Â Acceptance among premium travellers and expatriates who prefer Amex for loyalty rewards and purchase protection.
This combination of high-value customers, loyalty benefits, and technical reliability makes Amex an attractive rail for businesses that prioritise quality over quantity in their transactions.
Want to grow your business and accept American Express with Debia?
Why does American Express Matter?
Singapore’s cashless landscape is maturing rapidly, with consumers expecting to pay using cards or wallets wherever they go. The Monetary Authority of Singapore reports that contactless payments now account for more than 70% of in-person card transactions. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enabling Amex is no longer a luxury; it is a practical move to meet consumer expectations and capture higher-value spending.
Businesses that accept American Express typically see:
Higher average transaction values and improved margins from affluent customers
Increased trust and visibility, especially in the travel, retail, and dining sectors
Access to Amex marketing programs that highlight participating merchants to cardholders
These factors collectively enhance customer experience while supporting consistent revenue growth. For businesses operating in competitive environments, even a small lift in average order value can make a measurable difference in profitability.
How Do Amex Transactions Work?
When a customer pays with Amex, the process differs slightly from other cards. The transaction travels directly through Amex’s own network, without routing to external issuing or acquiring banks. This integration allows for faster approvals and greater consistency in processing.
Debia’s payment gateway integrates seamlessly with this model. Once a transaction is initiated, authorisation data is sent securely to Amex for validation and returned to the merchant in seconds. For online transactions, Debia’s API enables smooth acceptance without redirecting users, maintaining a premium checkout experience that reflects Amex’s standards.
Modern POS terminals (link to product page here) and SoftPOS devices (link to product page here) supported by Debia handle both chip and contactless Amex payments. They also support tokenised digital wallets, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, that link to Amex cards, helping merchants provide flexibility to customers who prefer mobile transactions.
How Can Debia's Merchants Accept Amex Easily and Transparently
Debia simplifies the process of accepting Amex by bringing it into one unified platform with a variety of other payment rails. Merchants can activate Amex alongside other rails, including Visa, Mastercard, PayNow, and major e-wallets, without juggling multiple vendors or contracts.
Debia’s system provides a consolidated dashboard that shows live transactions, settlement summaries, and downloadable reports. Merchants can filter by payment type or outlet to make reconciliation faster and more accurate.
Unlike many providers that require fixed monthly or annual fees, Debia operates on a pay-per-transaction model, allowing merchants to scale acceptance without heavy overheads. Compliance is also covered, with Debia licensed as a Major Payment Institution under the Monetary Authority of Singapore and certified under PCI DSS and EMV standards.
If your existing POS already supports Amex, Debia can integrate directly through API connections to unify reporting and settlement. For merchants starting from scratch, Debia provides terminals and SoftPOS options that are compatible with Amex’s security and hardware requirements.
Trends and Insights: The Premium Card Advantage
The premium card market is expanding in Singapore, driven by an ever-increasing affluent consumer and frequent traveller base.
According to data from American Express, the average Amex customer is more likely to prioritise convenience and loyalty rewards over discounts. For merchants, that means Amex users often choose venues where their card is accepted, even when alternatives exist.
Here are three key insights for Singapore businesses:
Affluent customer base: Amex cardholders spend 3× more annually than other cards at US $6378 for Q4 2024, bringing increased revenue to merchants accepting Amex.
Higher potential spending: According to CoinLaw, 54% of Amex cardholders use their cards primarily for travel and entertainment, industries correlated with higher spending patterns.
Signalling is key: 89% of American Express Card Members say they tend to spend more at businesses with clear signage indicating American Express is accepted
For merchants, enabling Amex acceptance signals credibility and readiness to serve both premium local and international clientele.
Conclusion
American Express offers more than just a payment option. It provides access to a premium audience, enhanced security, and consistent transaction performance. For Singapore merchants, integrating Amex through Debia’s payment platform means turning that advantage into daily operational ease.
By combining Amex with other rails such as PayNow, Visa, and Mastercard, merchants create a payment ecosystem that serves every customer segment with efficiency and trust.
Explore Amex acceptance and how to integrate it for your business. Visit Debia Payments or email hello@debia.co to speak with our payment specialists.