American Express USA Opt-Blue ® Discount Rates.

Amex is a popular card used by customers around the world. Customers using Amex tend to make larger purchases, with many Amex cards used for business and corporate purchases. By accepting Amex, your customers can pay in-person, by phone and online. Helcim makes it easier and more affordable for your business to accept Amex cards so you can offer your customers a fast, reliable and secure method of payment. We display Amex's OptBlue wholesale discount rates on our website as part of our transparent Interchange Plus pricing.

Learn more about our merchant fees

USA - OptBlue ® Discount Rates.

Card-Type Transaction Size Rate
RETAIL < $75 1.45 % + 10 ¢  
RETAIL < $1,000 2.05 % + 10 ¢  
RETAIL > $1,000 2.50 % + 10 ¢  
SERVICES < $5 2.00 % + 2 ¢  
SERVICES < $15 1.60 % + 4 ¢  
SERVICES < $250 1.60 % + 10 ¢  
SERVICES < $3,000 2.10 % + 10 ¢  
SERVICES > $3,000 2.50 % + 10 ¢  
RESTAURANT < $5 2.00 % + 2 ¢  
RESTAURANT < $15 1.60 % + 4¢  
RESTAURANT < $25 1.85 % + 10 ¢  
RESTAURANT < $150 2.50 % + 10 ¢  
RESTAURANT > $150 2.85 % + 10 ¢  
MAIL ORDER & INTERNET < $150 1.70 % + 10 ¢  
MAIL ORDER & INTERNET < $3,000 2.05 % + 10 ¢  
MAIL ORDER & INTERNET > $3,000 2.50 % + 10 ¢  
HEALTHCARE < $150 1.55 % + 10 ¢  
HEALTHCARE < $2,000 1.85 % + 10 ¢  
HEALTHCARE > $2,000 2.30 % + 10 ¢  
B2B/WHOLESALE < $400 1.65 % + 10 ¢  
B2B/WHOLESALE < $7,500 1.90 % + 10 ¢  
B2B/WHOLESALE > $7,500 2.35 % + 10 ¢  
T&E < $100 2.25 % + 10 ¢  
T&E < $1,000 2.60 % + 10 ¢  
T&E > $1,000 3.00 % + 10 ¢  
PREPAID < $75 1.35 % + 10 ¢  
PREPAID < $1,000 1.70 % + 10 ¢  
PREPAID > $1,000 2.15 % + 10 ¢  
OTHER < $100 1.60 % + 10 ¢  
OTHER < $3,000 1.95 % + 10 ¢  
OTHER > $3,000 2.45 % + 10 ¢  
EDUCATION < $100 1.10 % + 10 ¢  
EDUCATION < $3,000 1.45 % + 10 ¢  
EDUCATION > $3,000 1.70 % + 10 ¢  
GOVERNMENT < $100 1.40 % + 10 ¢  
GOVERNMENT < $3,000 1.55 % + 10 ¢  
GOVERNMENT > $3,000 1.75 % + 10 ¢  
EMERGING MARKET < $1,200 1.43 % + 10 ¢  
EMERGING MARKET < $4,000 2.05 % + 10 ¢  
EMERGING MARKET > $4,000 2.70 % + 10 ¢  
CHARITY <$5 2.00 % + 2 ¢  
CHARITY <$15 1.60 % + 4 ¢  
CHARITY >$15 2.00 % + 10 ¢  
INSURANCE <$1,200 1.25 % + 10 ¢  
INSURANCE <$4,000 1.85 % + 10 ¢  
INSURANCE >$4,000 2.50 % + 10 ¢  
RENTALS <$150 1.40 % + 10 ¢  
RENTALS <$3,000 1.75 % + 10 ¢  
RENTALS >$3,000 1.90 % + 10 ¢  
UTILITIES <$1,000 1.40 % + 10 ¢  
UTILITIES >$1,000 1.75 % + 10 ¢  
GAMBLING <$100 2.40 % + 10 ¢  
GAMBLING <$3,000 2.75 % + 10 ¢  
GAMBLING >$3,000 3.15 % + 10 ¢  
Assessments and Association Fees  
AMEX NETWORK FEESApplies to all transactions. 0.165%  
AMEX INTL CROSS BORDER FEEApplies to all international transactions. 1.00%  
AMEX KEYED FEEApplies to all manually keyed transactions. 0.30%  

Helcim Network Fees.

Acquirer Network Fees  
Acquirer Network Fees Applies to all transactions. 0.10% + 10 ¢  

The acquirer network fee above is not charged by American Express card-network, but instead is charged by Helcim's acquiring bank to access the American Express network. This fee is applied to all American Express transactions as part of our Interchange+ pricing model.

FAQ.

Transparency, low rates, smart tools and amazing service! Many merchants have been dragged through the mud by their prior processor with hidden fees, contracts, and terrible service. We've built our reputation on being the opposite. We care about building long-term relationships with our merchants — which means offering you the payment service you've been looking for.

Have more questions? Email or give us a call. Our in-house team of Helcim Merchant Experience Specialists are here to share their knowledge, answer your questions and point you in the right direction. No commissions, no pressure.

If your business is looking for a better way to accept credit and debit cards online or in-person, then Helcim is the payments company for you. Helcim offers a wide range of payment tools and software solutions to make it faster and easier for you to get paid.

No! We want to help small businesses grow and thrive, so there are no monthly fees. Your Helcim account allows you to process both in-person and online payments with great low processing rates. You also get full access to all of our merchant tools and benefit from our amazing customer service team.

For Visa, Mastercard, Amex and other card-brands, we offer Interchange Plus pricing to give you complete transparency and greater savings. By passing the base cost directly to you and only charging for a single markup, Interchange Plus pricing gives you significant savings. By knowing our cost as well as our markup, we promote a fully transparent partnership which means no surprises on your monthly statement!

To calculate your rates for in-person and online transactions, you can visit our pricing page.

Yes! And there is no need to call and renegotiate rates. Our Interchange Plus margin automatically decreases the more you process, helping you save even more.

You can view our complete volume discounts on our pricing page.

No! You can close your account anytime without any penalty and there are no hidden fees. You never again have to worry about setup fees, termination fees, quarterly fees, PCI & non-compliance fees, customer service fees, or bank deposit fees.

Deposits will appear in your bank account within 2 business days, depending on the time of day that your transactions are settled. Transactions processed over the weekend or bank holidays are initialized for deposit on the following business day. Your daily transactions are batched together and deposited to your bank account net of processing fees.

The Helcim Shop is built right into your account dashboard, and is accessible immediately after signing up. You can order card readers, stands, printers and more directly from there.

Shipping is free and takes 2-3 business days via FedEx or UPS ground. Any equipment purchases are charged to your bank account on file. We do not currently offer rentals nor payment plans.

No! You can use your existing bank account, provided by your financial institution or credit union. Sole proprietors can use a personal bank account. Incorporated business and partnerships are required to use a business bank account.

Law firms and other businesses that require separate trust and operating bank accounts are able to customize the flow of deposits and fees to meet their needs.

You can sign up directly on our website using your computer or mobile phone. There is no need for complicated paperwork nor signatures. The signup form takes as little as 5-minutes, asking you to enter basic information about your business, address and contact information.

Once you create your Helcim account, you can begin using it right away! Get started here.

You Deserve Better Payments.

Lower Rates. Better Tools. Amazing Service.

  • Easily Sign Up in Minutes
  • No Hidden Fees or PCI fees
  • Interchange Plus Pricing
  • No Contracts or Commitments
  • Deposits in 1-2 Business Days
  • Friendly Service via Telephone or Email

We're always
here to help.

New to accepting card payments? We take the time to help you understand how it all works so you can make the best decisions for your business.

  • Speak to a real person, fast
  • Experts you can trust
  • No commission = no pressure
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