Square, the mobile payment company, today announced that Canadian businesses using its service are now be able to accept American Express and JCB credit card payments. The same 2.75% transaction fee will apply as to other credit cards.
“Small businesses are a huge part of not only the Canadian economy, but the Canadian identity. We’ve been working hard to identify more ways to support small merchants, and American Express acceptance with Square is a great next step,” says Jennifer Hawkins, Vice President and General Manager of Merchant Services at American Express Canada. “We’re thrilled that our Cardmembers can now shop at more small merchants through Square and get the rewards they enjoy by using their American Express Cards.”
Square offers businesses a free card reader that plugs into the audio jack of a mobile device With the free Square Register app, they can accept credit card payments easily. Square charges a 2.75% transaction rate per swipe for American Express, VISA, MasterCard and JCB payments. Funds from swiped payments are typically available the next business day.
Square launched in Canada a year ago.
Square Businesses in Canada Now Accepting American Express Payments
SAN FRANCISCO, CA–(Marketwired – Oct 28, 2013) – Square, the company making commerce easy for everyone, today announced that Canadian Square customers are now able to accept American Express and JCB credit card payments with Square. Small and mobile business owners who use Square can now process American Express, VISA, MasterCard and JCB payments for the low rate of 2.75%.
Local businesses are the backbone of communities across Canada with more than 1 million small businesses in Canada and 2.7 million Canadians who are self employed. Canadians carry an average of two credit cards per household. Square enables millions of businesses around the world to accept credit card payments on their mobile device ensuring local businesses needn’t ever miss a sale.
In Canada, Square businesses are processing over $100M in credit card payments. Jill Burk owns Health Span Inc., a Square business in Canada. “Since joining Square, we have increased our profitability. With Square our mobile massage therapists can collect money safely and transparently from our clients. Payments are processed on site, eliminating errors and the risk of not being able to collect a payment. That’s a big deal in my business.”
“Small businesses are a huge part of not only the Canadian economy, but the Canadian identity. We’ve been working hard to identify more ways to support small merchants, and American Express acceptance with Square is a great next step,” says Jennifer Hawkins, Vice President and General Manager of Merchant Services at American Express Canada. “We’re thrilled that our Cardmembers can now shop at more small merchants through Square and get the rewards they enjoy by using their American Express Cards.”
Square offers a free card reader that plugs into the audio jack of a mobile device. Square Register is the free app that enables anyone to safely and securely accept credit card payments with a simple, low transaction rate of 2.75% per swipe, with no hidden fees. Square Register enables customers to process American Express, VISA, MasterCard and JCB payments for the low rate of 2.75%. Funds from swiped payments are available the next business day.
The Square Reader is available for free at square.ca or at over 800 retail outlets throughout the country including Apple, Best Buy, Future Shop, London Drugs and Staples, with a $10 rebate for first time customers.
About Square, Inc.
Square is making commerce easy for everyone. Starting with a free credit card reader for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, Square Reader allows anyone to accept credit cards anywhere, anytime, for a low transaction rate of 2.75% per swipe, with no hidden fees. Square Register serves as a full point of sale system for businesses to accept payments, manage items, and share menu and location information. Founded in 2009, and headquartered in San Francisco, Square is currently available in the U.S., Canada, and Japan. More information is available at square.ca.
About American Express Canada
American Express in Canada operates as Amex Bank of Canada and Amex Canada Inc. Both are wholly owned subsidiaries of the New York based American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., the largest operating unit of the American Express Company. Amex Bank of Canada is the issuer of American Express charge and credit cards, with outstanding products like the American Express® Gold Rewards Card, the American Express® Platinum Card, and the American Express® AeroplanPlus® Gold Card. Amex Canada Inc. operates the Corporate Travel and Travellers Cheques divisions in Canada. American Express opened its first offices in Toronto and Hamilton in 1853 and now employs 3,700 Canadians coast-to-coast. For more information, visit AmericanExpress.ca or connect with us at Facebook.com/AmericanExpressCanada, Twitter.com/AmexCanada and YouTube.com/AmericanExpressCAD.