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Amex to shrink workforce

American Express trims its workforce by 4.5% to pivot toward AI, signaling a shift in how lenders will manage merchant and consumer relationships.

Curated by Financing Your Way from original reporting by Payments Dive. Summary is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed — see our editorial standards.

FYWBy Financing Your Way EditorialOctober 23, 2026

American Express is reducing its global workforce by roughly 4.5% to streamline operations and lean into artificial intelligence. For retailers and operators, this signals a shift in how major credit providers handle customer service, underwriting, and merchant support. The company isn't shrinking due to financial distress; rather, it is restructuring to prioritize AI-driven efficiency. This means you should expect your interactions with major lenders to become increasingly automated over the next year. While staff reductions can sometimes lead to temporary friction in merchant support, Amex aims for these changes to make them more 'agile.' For your business, this likely translates to faster automated approvals for your customers but potentially fewer human touchpoints when resolving complex processing issues. As Amex integrates AI more deeply, the data they provide about consumer spending habits may become more sophisticated, helping you better target your financing offers. Keep a close eye on your merchant account representatives to see if your direct support channels change as the company shifts its headcount toward technology-focused roles.

Source: Payments Dive

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