How to Pay Your Amex Bill With Cash: A Complete Guide

Paying your American Express card bill with cash may seem outdated, but it can actually be a practical payment method for certain cardholders. Handling payments in cash allows you to bypass bank transfers and ensures your payment gets credited quickly.

Below we’ll explore the step-by-step process for paying an American Express or Amex bill with cash through various methods. We’ll also look at the pros and cons of cash payments versus electronic payments for Amex cards.

Overview of Paying Amex Bills With Cash

American Express offers cardholders a few different ways to pay Amex bills with cash The options include

• Paying at an Amex branch location

• Using an Amex-network ATM

• Getting a money order with cash to mail

To pay at a branch, simply visit during business hours and present cash to the teller. For ATM payments, insert your Amex card, select “Make a Payment” and follow the prompts. If mailing a money order purchased with cash, fill it out to American Express and include with your statement.

Cash payments reach your Amex account within 1-2 business days in most cases. This is faster than external bank transfers which can take 3+ days. Just be sure to save your receipt for proof of payment.

Below we will walk through the step-by-step instructions for each cash payment method for American Express cards.

Step-by-Step Guide to Paying Amex With Cash

Pay at an Amex Branch

Paying at an American Express branch with cash is straightforward:

• Find your nearest Amex branch location using the locator tool on their website or app.

• Withdraw enough cash from your bank to cover the Amex payment amount plus any fees. Ask for a receipt as proof of the withdrawal.

• Go to the Amex branch during open hours with your cash. Stand in line to wait for a teller.

• When it’s your turn, tell the teller you want to make a cash payment on your Amex card account. Provide your card number.

• Give the teller your cash payment. Specify the amount you want to pay.

• The teller will process the transaction and provide a receipt showing the cash payment. Keep this receipt in your records.

• Your Amex account balance will reflect the cash payment within a day or two in most cases.

Bringing cash to an Amex branch is one of the quickest and most convenient ways to pay your bill. Just be sure to have your card number handy for a smooth transaction.

Use an Amex ATM

Many Amex cardholders opt to pay their bill at American Express ATMs:

• Locate an Amex ATM near you using the ATM finder tool on their website.

• Withdraw cash from your primary bank account to cover the Amex payment amount. Get a receipt for this withdrawal transaction.

• Go to the Amex ATM during regular hours. Insert your American Express card when prompted.

• Select “Make a Payment” from the menu screen. Follow the prompts to input your cash payment.

• Carefully insert your cash into the ATM. Confirm that the payment amount displayed matches the cash total you’re inserting.

• Complete the transaction and remove your card. The ATM will dispense a receipt showing the payment.

• Your Amex account balance will update with the ATM payment within a business day or two in most cases.

When using Amex ATMs, go slowly and review all screens to ensure the correct amount is credited. This gives you an automated way to pay with cash.

Pay With a Money Order

If an Amex branch or ATM is not convenient, you can pay with a money order purchased using cash:

• Go to a bank, post office, retailer, or convenience store to buy a money order in the amount you want to pay on your Amex card. Bring enough cash to cover the money order fee too.

• Fill out the “Pay to” line to American Express and write your Amex account number in the memo section.

• Mail the money order to the payment address listed on your Amex statement right away before the due date. Include your payment stub.

• Amex will receive and process the money order payment. Expect it to post within 5-7 business days.

• Check your next statement to confirm the money order payment was applied correctly without issues.

While slower than in-person payments, money orders provide an accessible cash payment option if you mail them at least a week before your due date.

Pros and Cons of Paying Amex Bills With Cash

Paying your Amex card bill with cash has some potential benefits:

Pros

• Bypasses bank transfer time ensuring on-time delivery

• Allows anyone to pay their bill regardless of bank account access

• Often processes faster than electronic payments

• Easy to budget for those who manage finances in cash

• Accessible payment method for those without technology

However, there are also some downsides to be aware of:

Cons

• No paper trail – receipt is only proof of payment

• Security risks of carrying and mailing cash

• Mailed payments have higher risk of delays

• Money order fees can make it more expensive

• Not as convenient for recurring automatic payments

For certain situations, the pros may outweigh the cons when paying Amex with cash. But for many cardholders, electronic payments tend to be easier and more secure overall.

Tips for Paying Your Amex Bill With Cash

If you do choose to pay your American Express bill with cash, here are some tips:

• Get a receipt every time as your proof of payment in case of issues later.

• Mail money orders 5-7 days before your due date to ensure on-time delivery.

• Use exact change to avoid getting cash back.

• Double check your Amex account number to prevent misdirected payments.

• Notify Amex immediately if you think a cash payment didn’t process properly.

• Consider splitting large cash payments into smaller amounts for security.

• Pay a few days early to account for any processing delays with cash.

• Save cash payments in a safe place until you’re ready to pay your bill.

• If mailing cash, use registered mail or money orders – never send loose bills.

Alternatives to Paying Amex With Cash

While cash payments work for some, most Amex cardholders use electronic methods:

• Online payments through your Amex account allow secure card-to-card transfers or bank debits.

• AutoPay can be set up to debit your bank automatically each month.

• Mobile payments via Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo or the Amex app are quick and easy.

• Mailed checks allow 5-7 days for delivery and processing time.

• Bank bill pay lets you schedule one-time or recurring payments.

• Over the phone payments by calling Amex and providing your banking details.

Electronic payments provide convenience, tracking, and security. But cash can be better in some cases if you take the right precautions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Paying Amex With Cash

Here are some common questions about paying American Express bills with cash:

Are there fees to pay my Amex bill with cash?

Amex does not charge fees for cash payments made at branches or ATMs. But money order fees at retailers may apply.

How long does it take Amex to process cash payments?

In-person cash payments typically post to your Amex account within 24-36 hours. Mailed money orders take 4-7 days to process.

Is it safe to mail cash or carry large amounts to pay bills?

Mailing loose cash is never recommended. Use money orders and registered mail instead. Take security precautions if transporting large cash amounts.

What if I lost the receipt for my cash payment?

Contact Amex immediately if you lose your receipt or have any issues with a missing cash payment. The receipt is your only proof.

Can I set up automatic recurring cash payments?

Unfortunately Amex does not allow customers to schedule recurring automatic cash payments. You would need to pay in-person each month.

Pay Your Amex Bill Quickly and Securely With Cash

Paying your American Express card bill with cash can provide certain benefits like faster processing and accessibility. If you need to pay with cash, be sure to take measures to pay on time and keep payment records. For most cardholders, however, electronic payment methods tend to be the most convenient approach to managing monthly Amex bills securely.