American Express OptBlue
On a statement: AMEX OPTBLUE PROGRAM
OptBlue is how most small businesses accept American Express: your processor sets one combined rate that includes Amex's wholesale cost plus the processor's markup. Amex is more expensive than Visa or Mastercard, and on many statements the processor's margin on Amex is higher than on the other brands.
What a fair version looks like
Amex's wholesale cost is roughly 1.6%–2.3% plus $0.10 for most home-service tickets; a fair OptBlue rate sits a few tenths above that. Above 3% is worth a conversation.
What 321 Swipe would do
We split the Amex line into wholesale cost and markup so you can see what you're actually paying for the privilege.
See it on a statement
On our sample statement this line is $209.26 (18 items · $9,020.00).
Also under interchange & assessments
All fees →
Is this on your statement?
Send it and we'll tell you — along with everything else on there that shouldn't be. A phone photo of the fee page is enough.