American Express (Amex) has signed a new agreement with payments company Worldpay.

The credit card giant said that the expanded partnership would make it easier for small businesses to welcome “loyal and high-spending” American Express cardmembers by giving them another option to accept its card payments.

WorldPay already brings new retailers into Amex's network as a key merchant recruitment partner for the company.

The move is part of its strategic approach to expand the number of locations where its cardmembers can spend in the UK.

The company says that the total number of Amex-accepting locations has jumped by 46 per cent over the past three years.

“As our Cardmember base continues to grow in the UK, we’ve been making great strides in expanding our merchant coverage,” said Dan Edelman, vice president and UK general manager, merchant services at American Express. “This new strategic agreement will help power our progress, meaning thousands of additional small businesses across the country can benefit from welcoming Amex Cardmembers who, on average, spend 3.9 times more annually and 3.2 times more frequently than non-Cardmembers.”

Globally, the number of places that accept American Express has more than tripled since 2017.

Chris Wood, general manager SMB international and US direct, Worldpay said: “Working in partnership with American Express, we’re pleased to be opening up more opportunities for our base of merchants in the UK and Ireland to benefit from the spending power of loyal Amex Cardmembers. Consumers expect to pay the way they want to."

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