American Express has launched a new Flexible Payment Option (FPO) in the UK, designed to give small business owners greater control over their cashflow by offering an instant line of credit embedded directly into their card services.
The new feature is available to new American Express Business Platinum and Gold Cardmembers. It allows these customers to choose between repaying their statement balance in full or paying a portion of it over time with interest.
A shift from the ‘Charge Card’ model
Historically, Amex’s Business Platinum and Gold cards in the UK have operated primarily as charge cards, requiring balances to be settled in full each month. The introduction of FPO marks a significant shift, offering a revolving credit facility similar to a credit card.
Cardmembers will still benefit from up to 54 calendar days interest-free on purchases if they pay in full by the due date. However, the new functionality provides the option to pay only the minimum due, or any amount between the minimum and the total balance, managing these payments via their online account or the Amex app.
Addressing SME pain points
The launch comes in response to the growing pressure on small business margins. According to American Express research conducted in 2025, 31 per cent of UK SMEs cite cashflow management as a key focus, while 26 per cent view repayment flexibility as “highly important” when selecting financing solutions.
Ruchi Sharma, vice president, UK commercial at American Express, commented: “We know that cashflow is vital for small businesses and that’s why we’re excited to launch the Flexible Payment Option feature… By providing an instant line of credit when needed, small business owners don’t have to use personal savings, take out a separate loan or miss out on the next business opportunity when it arises.”
Alongside the FPO feature, the cards continue to offer “no pre-set spending limit,” meaning the spending power adjusts dynamically based on the business’s specific needs, payment history, and credit record.
It is important to note that this feature is currently available automatically only to new applicants for the Business Platinum and Gold cards. Existing cardmembers wishing to access the FPO feature would currently need to submit a new application.
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