Amex Global Pay Is Shutting Down: What It Means for Your Business Payments and What to Do Next

Key Takeaways

• American Express is discontinuing its Global Pay service on April 11, 2026, affecting US small businesses that used it for international and domestic B2B payments.

• Businesses that relied on Global Pay for supplier payments in foreign currencies will need to find an alternative that covers international transfers, FX, and payment tracking.

• Moving to a dedicated international payment provider like Xe can replace the core functionality of Global Pay and add tools like forward contracts, batch payments, and rate alerts.

If your team has been using Amex Global Pay to pay suppliers, freelancers, or overseas partners, you now have a clear deadline to work toward. American Express says Global Pay will be discontinued on April 11, 2026¹, and it is not currently accepting new applications.¹

What Is Amex Global Pay, And What’s Changing

American Express Global Pay is positioned as a business payments product that lets business customers add a funding account, add recipients, and send payments online.¹ American Express also lists transaction fees of $5 for foreign exchange payments¹, $20 for domestic USD payments¹, and $30 for cross-border USD payments¹, with no setup or account maintenance fees listed on the page.¹

The key change is the discontinuation date: April 11, 2026¹.

What You Are Losing When Global Pay Shuts Down

To figure out what you need next, it helps to be specific about what Global Pay provided:

What to Look for in a Replacement

When evaluating alternatives, focus on the capabilities that matter most for ongoing international payment operations. Here is a practical checklist:

Coverage and currency range. Global Pay covered 40+ countries. Make sure your replacement covers the specific corridors you use. Many dedicated providers support 130+ countries and a wider range of currencies.

Transparent pricing. Global Pay showed the exchange rate before you confirmed a payment, which is good practice. Your replacement should do the same: show the full cost, including any fees and the exchange rate, before you commit. Compare providers to see how pricing stacks up.

Payment tracking. Being able to see whether a payment has been initiated, sent, or delivered is not optional when you are paying suppliers who need to reconcile on their end. Look for real-time or near-real-time status updates.

FX tools beyond spot rates. Global Pay offered spot FX only. If your business makes regular payments in the same currency, tools like forward contracts (which let you lock in a rate for a future payment) and limit orders (which execute when a target rate is reached) can help manage costs and improve budgeting. Explore forwards and limit orders to see if they fit your payment pattern.

Batch and scheduled payments. If you pay multiple suppliers at once or on a regular cycle, batching payments into a single run and scheduling them around cutoffs and holidays saves significant time. Global Pay did not offer this.

How to Transition Without Disrupting Supplier Payments

Switching providers does not need to be disruptive if you plan the handover before the April deadline. Here is a practical sequence:

Step 1: Audit your current payment activity. Pull a list of the international payments you have made through Global Pay in the last 6 to 12 months. Note the countries, currencies, frequency, and average amounts. This is your baseline.

Step 2: Set up your new provider. Open an account with your chosen alternative and complete verification. With Xe, business accounts can be set up online and the process is typically straightforward for registered businesses.

Step 3: Re-enter and verify vendor details. This is the most important step. Transfer your supplier banking details into the new platform and verify them. Confirm IBAN, SWIFT/BIC, and account details directly with each vendor. Use tools like the SWIFT code lookup and the IBAN calculator to validate before your first payment.

Step 4: Run a test payment. Before moving all your volume, send a smaller test payment to a key supplier to confirm the process works end to end: timing, confirmation, and receipt on their side.

Step 5: Notify your suppliers. Let them know your payment method is changing. Provide your new payment reference format so they can reconcile incoming funds without confusion.

How Xe Can Help If You Used Amex Global Pay

Xe is not a bank, but many finance teams pair Xe with their primary business bank account to manage international payments in a way that is predictable and easy to run week to week.

A common setup looks like this:

• Your bank account remains your funding source

• Xe supports international payments execution and visibility (international payments

• Your team reduces manual steps with batch payments and scheduled payments

If your biggest concern is a smooth cutover, the goal is not to “do everything new.” It’s to:

• reuse verified payees

• keep references consistent

• make payment timing predictable

For teams tightening controls during cutover, security and fraud is a helpful operational reference.

Frequently Asked Questions

When exactly does Amex Global Pay shut down?
American Express will close Global Pay accounts on April 11, 2026¹. The service is no longer accepting new applications. Existing users can continue to make payments until the shutdown date.

Will I lose my payment history from Global Pay?
Amex has not published specific details about data retention after shutdown. It is a good idea to export or save your payment records and any confirmation details before the April 11 deadline.

Can I still use my Amex Business Card after Global Pay closes?
Yes. Global Pay was a separate service from your American Express Business Card. Closing your Global Pay account does not affect your card.

What if I only make a few international payments a year?
Even at low volume, you still need a provider that offers transparent FX pricing and reliable delivery. A dedicated international payment provider can serve you whether you are making 5 payments a year or 50 a month, without requiring a separate card relationship to access the service.

Does Xe charge a fee per transaction like Global Pay did?
Xe’s fee structure varies by corridor, currency, and payment method. The key difference is that Xe shows you the full cost, including fees and exchange rate, before you confirm. For a clearer picture, review transfer fees or check a live quote for your specific payment route through international payments.

Conclusion

With Amex Global Pay ending on April 11, 2026¹, the best move is a calm cutover: export your payee data, pilot a replacement workflow early, and keep payment runs predictable so suppliers continue getting paid on time.

If you need a practical replacement for international supplier payments, Xe can help you run cross-border payments with clear workflows and tracking. You can send international payments, reduce manual entry with batch payments, and keep timing predictable with scheduled payments.

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The content within this blog post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. All figures and data are based on publicly available sources at the time of writing and are subject to change. Actual conditions may vary depending on location, timing, and personal circumstances. We recommend consulting official government resources or a licensed professional for the most up-to-date and personalized guidance.

Citations

¹ American Express — Global Pay (Important Notice, Fees, Terms) — (2026)
² American Express — FX International Payments (Discontinuation Notice) — (2026)

Information from these sources was taken on March 19, 2026.