American Express expands virtual cards for US businesses

American Express has expanded its virtual card offering for US business customers, adding access through its @ Work platform and through an expanded partnership with Conferma.

Amex Corporate customers can now create, manage and use virtual cards within @ Work, the company's software for administering corporate card programmes. Customers using American Express Business Travel Account can also create, manage and use Amex virtual cards through Conferma's tools, including its mobile app.

Virtual cards are single-use or limited-use digital card numbers that companies use for controlled spending. Businesses deploy them for supplier payments, everyday purchases and travel costs, as well as for contractors, interns and guests who may not hold a standard corporate card.

American Express is targeting companies that want tighter oversight of spending without relying on reimbursements to personal cards. Users can set spending limits, time windows and restrictions by country or merchant category when issuing the cards.

Broader access

Adding virtual cards to @ Work brings those controls into a system many American Express corporate customers already use for card applications, employee spending oversight and reporting. The platform also connects with enterprise resource planning and expense management systems.

For travel spending, the expanded arrangement with Conferma extends virtual card use beyond centrally billed air and hotel costs. Eligible Business Travel Account customers can issue cards for expenses incurred during trips, including meals, retail purchases, car hire, and rideshares.

This allows companies to keep large travel bookings on a central account while still giving travellers a company-backed payment method at the point of sale. The arrangement is intended to reduce administrative work tied to travel expenses and broaden access to approved payment methods for employees who travel infrequently or do not have a corporate card.

Controls and data

Businesses using virtual cards through Conferma can apply spending and time limits, and route requests through approval workflows before a card is used. Transaction data, reporting options and digital receipt capture in the mobile app can also reduce manual reconciliation.

These features address a common challenge for corporate finance teams, which often must balance employee convenience with policy compliance and fraud controls. Unique card numbers for specific purchases or time periods can also limit exposure if card details are misused.

American Express also pointed to rising demand for virtual cards across commercial payments, as finance teams seek more granular control over who can spend, how much can be spent and where transactions can take place.

Availability remains limited. Amex Virtual Cards in @ Work are currently open to select US-based Corporate Program customers, while the Conferma option is available to US-based Business Travel Account customers.

American Express did not disclose the financial terms of its expanded relationship with Conferma, which serves as the third-party token facilitator for issuing virtual cards.

Eva Reda, Executive Vice President, Global Commercial Services Products at American Express, said the move reflects customer demand for simpler payment tools that still provide oversight across different types of spending.

"Businesses want to simplify how they pay for things while maintaining control and visibility into spending across employee expenses, supplier payments and business travel," Reda said.

"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," she added.