American Express is turning up the dial on B2B payments in 2025. The company is expanding its suite of tools for suppliers and corporate buyers, focusing on higher-volume transactions, more flexible payment rails, and tighter integration with invoicing systems.
At the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference, Amex CEO Stephen Squeri said the company is doubling down on both sides of the B2B relationship. The goal? Make it easier for buyers to pay and for suppliers to accept payments, while unlocking more spend on Amex products in the process.
To support that push, Amex is building out a broader B2B network that can handle payments not just via card but also through ACH, wire, and checks. That network is designed to act like a digital control center for accounts payable, especially for businesses still buried in manual workflows.
Invoice Friction and Late Payment Risk
Amex’s recent moves are rooted in a familiar problem: late payments and invoice headaches. According to an American Express survey, more than 1 in 4 U.S. businesses have cut ties with a buyer or supplier because of payment delays. That’s a big deal when dealing with corporate clients where transaction values can reach five, six, or even seven figures.
To ease some of those pressure points, Amex is promoting tools like:
- Buyer Initiated Payments (BIP) – Lets buyers control payment timing while helping suppliers get paid faster. It’s designed to slot into existing ERP systems.
- Vendor Pay by BILL – Built to streamline invoice management and reward payments made via Amex cards. It combines automation with cashback or points incentives.
These tools give businesses more options, but they also shift some of the operational burden to platforms. When payments stall or disputes arise, the stakes are higher. B2B chargebacks can involve much larger sums than consumer transactions, and they’re often harder to track. In some cases, suppliers don’t even know a chargeback was filed until after funds are withdrawn.
A New Wave of B2B Dispute Complexity?
Corporate card disputes come with their own challenges. They often happen weeks after a service has been rendered or goods have shipped. And unlike retail disputes, which are often straightforward, B2B disputes can get tangled in contract terms, delayed approvals, or incomplete invoice data.
That’s why Amex’s push into B2B is also a signal for merchants: now’s the time to tighten up documentation, dispute tracking, and chargeback protocols. Because the volume may be going up, but so is the risk.
Chargeblast Helps You Stay Ahead of B2B Disputes
As Amex and other issuers lean harder into B2B, merchants need to prepare for a new layer of complexity. Chargeblast helps businesses prevent and manage chargebacks across card networks, including high-value B2B disputes. Stay ahead of the risk, and keep payments moving.
