Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

American Express Expands Virtual Card Capabilities to Help Businesses Utilize Fast-Growing Commercial Payment Method

Business

American Express Expands Virtual Card Capabilities to Help Businesses Utilize Fast-Growing Commercial Payment Method
Business

Business

American Express Expands Virtual Card Capabilities to Help Businesses Utilize Fast-Growing Commercial Payment Method

2026-08-13 20:02 Last Updated At:20:30

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 13, 2026--

American Express today announced new capabilities to help U.S. commercial customers simplify payments and give them more options to efficiently manage spending in their financial software of choice with American Express® Virtual Cards. Virtual cards are a fast-growing commercial payment method that offer greater control through adjustable spending limits and added security through unique digital card numbers. Amex Corporate customers can now create, manage and use Amex Virtual Cards 1 in Amex’s software platform, @ Work 2, which customers can use to manage their Corporate Program. In addition, customers who use Amex’s Business Travel Account with Virtual Payments (BTA), a centrally billed account for business travel payments, can now create, manage and use Amex Virtual Cards with solutions from Conferma, a leader in virtual payments technology.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260813303430/en/

"Businesses want to simplify how they pay for things while maintaining control and visibility into spending across employee expenses, supplier payments and business travel," said Eva Reda, Executive Vice President, Global Commercial Services Products, American Express. "Virtual cards can help solve many of these challenges, which is why we're making it easier for customers to create and manage them in the software and digital wallets they’re already using while preserving the trust, security and service our customers expect from Amex."

Virtual Card Use Grows Across a Range of Business Spending

Virtual cards can be used for many types of business spending, from supplier payments to everyday purchasing to travel expenses, and for contractors, interns, company guests or other authorized users who don’t have a traditional Corporate Card. Amex Virtual Cards provide that convenience plus the added security of the lowest U.S. fraud rate among major card networks for the last 19 consecutive years.

Whether reserving travel in advance, paying for expenses with a Digital Wallet 3, or making supplier payments or everyday business purchases, virtual cards give authorized users an easy way to pay for expenses that reduces the need for personal card reimbursements and helps businesses capture more purchases on approved payment methods while maintaining visibility into spending.

New Ways to Manage and Use Amex Virtual Cards

American Express is expanding access to Virtual Cards in the tools customers already use to manage their business spending.

Amex Corporate customers can now create and manage Amex Virtual Cards in the @ Work platform, which helps customers manage Corporate Card applications, track employee spending and generate customer reports with the ability to integrate with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Expense Management platforms.

With Amex Virtual Cards now in @ Work, eligible customers can:

Amex Virtual Cards in @ Work are currently available to select U.S.-based American Express® Corporate Program customers, with additional availability planned. Contact your American Express representative to learn more.

For customers using BTA, American Express is also expanding Amex Virtual Card capabilities through an expanded relationship with Conferma 6 (enrollment required).

Eligible BTA customers can now create Amex Virtual Cards through the Conferma mobile app for eligible on-the-go expenses, including meals, retail purchases, car rentals, rideshares and other eligible charges incurred during business travel. This collaboration complements BTA’s central billing capabilities, which help give companies greater control over higher cost expenses like airfare and hotels, by enabling travelers to use Amex Virtual Cards for expenses that require payment at the point of purchase.

Additional benefits include:

American Express® Virtual Cards with Conferma are currently available to U.S.-based American Express® BTA customers. A third-party token facilitator, Conferma facilitates the distribution of Amex Virtual Cards. The availability, functionality, and performance of capabilities offered by Conferma may be subject to change without prior notice. For more information, contact your American Express representative.

1 American Express @ Work® Virtual Cards are available only for select US central-bill funding accounts (i.e., Business Travel Account with Virtual Payments, Corporate Card Central Bill Account with centrally managed Virtual Card capability, Corporate Meeting Card, Corporate Purchasing Card, and vPayment). To learn more or enable this capability, please contact your American Express representative.

2 Use of American Express @ Work® is restricted to employees, contractors and/or agents that the Company, and its representatives designated for the sole purpose of performing online account queries and maintenance, including accessing and/or creating reports relating to the Company's American Express® Corporate Card programs. @ Work is available to all companies with an American Express Corporate Card program. Enrollment is required. To enroll in @ Work please contact your American Express Representative or call 1-888-800-8564.

3 Digital Wallets are Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay. Terms apply. In-app push-provisioning may not be available for all digital wallets. Contactless payments are accepted at participating merchants that accept American Express.

4 Country controls apply to card-present transactions only and depend on merchant classification.

5 Merchant category controls can help manage where Cards are used, but they rely on merchant classification and transaction data that may not always reflect the underlying purchase. As a result, controls may not apply as intended in all cases, including when transactions are processed through third parties or where merchant classification is inaccurate. Controls are subject to configuration limits and do not guarantee that all transactions will be approved or declined as expected.

6 The availability, functionality, and performance of capabilities offered by Conferma may be subject to change without prior notice.

ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS

American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a global payments and premium lifestyle brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back our customers with differentiated products, services, and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.

Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, American Express’ brand is built on trust, security, service, and a rich history of delivering innovation and Membership value for our customers. We seek to provide the world’s best customer experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations, and we build and manage relationships with millions of merchants across our global network.

For more information about American Express, visit americanexpress.com, americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/, and ir.americanexpress.com.

Location: U.S.

American Express Expands Virtual Card Capabilities to Help Businesses Utilize Fast-Growing Commercial Payment Method

American Express Expands Virtual Card Capabilities to Help Businesses Utilize Fast-Growing Commercial Payment Method

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Crown Prince Akishino, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito, on Thursday said he has “mixed feelings” about the government's revision to the Imperial House Law that reinforces a rule dictating only men can become emperor.

“I believe there is no difference between men and women” in serving the roles of the imperial family to respond to social needs, Akishino said at a news conference ahead of a trip to Paraguay later this month to mark the 90th anniversary of Japanese emigration to the South American country.

The comments by Akishino, the next in line for the throne, come just weeks after a historic revision to the Imperial House Law by the conservative government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that insists only paternal-lineage men can become emperor.

The law has been criticized as anachronistic and sexist, and the revision sparked outrage and concern that the measure could doom the already shrinking imperial family.

Critics say the government’s insistence on the male-only succession imposes an inhumane system on the royals without taking into consideration their perspective.

As an imperial family member who is not supposed to make political statements, Akishino was nuanced in his comments.

“I have mixed feelings about it, and it's rather strange if I don't,” Akishino said when asked about the government’s decision. He added that it “is a difficult question, and the reality is that I can't talk about it.”

“Society needs to keep making progress, and I believe it is important for people with different views to keep thinking what's best,” Akishino said.

Naruhito’s 24-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, is hugely popular and many Japanese want her to be his successor, but as a woman she is ineligible. The male-only succession rule means the throne must go to Akishino, then to his 19-year-old nephew Prince Hisahito. Next in line after him is the emperor’s 90-year-old uncle.

The revisions by Takaichi's government to the antiquated law is meant to solidify the principle of the imperial bloodline, but pushes aside the emperor’s daughter.

The revision allows princesses to keep their status and perform royal duties if they marry a commoner, but their husbands and children will remain non-royals.

A more controversial change allows unmarried male descendants aged 15 or older of very distant imperial male relatives to be adopted into the immediate royal family to father heirs. Only those of paternal lineage can be chosen for adoption.

The revisions have led to protests from Japanese who see the government efforts as an attempt to eliminate Princess Aiko from ruling and justify discrimination against women and a patriarchal system.

Akishino's popular younger daughter, Princess Kako, has taken on official duties in recent years, including overseas trips. His elder daughter, former Princess Mako, renounced her royal status in 2021 when she married her college boyfriend and moved to the U.S. where he now is a lawyer. Under the revised law, Kako gets to choose whether to keep her status if she marries, though her intention is unknown.

Akishino said he hopes Kako and his son Hisahito cherish each official duty when they serve their roles. “As a parent ... I just hope they will find their way to happiness.”

There have been eight female monarchs in Japan. The last was Empress Gosakuramachi, who ruled from 1762 to 1770.

The paternal-line male succession was stipulated for the first time in the 1890 Imperial House Law, when Japan promoted patriarchal systems. That law was largely carried over to the current 1947 version.

There is also worry that the government’s push will upset the legacy of former Emperor Akihito, including making amends for the victims of World War II, which was fought in his father’s name.

Akihito, who abdicated in 2019, tried to bring what was seen as an aloof monarchy closer to the people, an example followed by his son, Naruhito, and his family.

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino attends a news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, ahead of his visit to Paraguay. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino attends a news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, ahead of his visit to Paraguay. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko attend a news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, ahead of their visit to Paraguay. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko attend a news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, ahead of their visit to Paraguay. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko attend a news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, ahead of their visit to Paraguay. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko attend a news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, ahead of their visit to Paraguay. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)

Recommended Articles