Frequently asked questions about American Express cards

American Express is a global company that provides credit cards and payment solutions.

Due to changes in European payment services legislation, AEPE – American Express Payments Europe S.L., based in Madrid, took over in December 2019 the contractual position that Millennium bcp held with merchants in Portugal.

Since then, Millennium bcp has acted in Portugal as an agent of American Express, ensuring the acceptance of American Express cards in a growing network of merchants.

AEPE is registered with the Bank of Portugal as a payment institution authorised to operate in the European Union.

You need to sign the American Express Card Payment Acceptance Agreement, also known as the "Merchant Application Form".

For more information or to submit your application, please contact us at (+351) 211 135 410 (calls to landlines; call costs depend on your operator’s tariff). Personalised service is available on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

You can also send an email with your application or enquiry to amex.vendas@millenniumbcp.pt.

Accepting payments with American Express cards has no activation, cancellation, monthly, or billing fees. You only pay a commission on the value of each transaction made with an American Express card.

Please contact us at (+351) 211 135 410 (calls to landlines; call costs depend on your operator’s tariff). Personalised service is available on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Alternatively, send an email with your application to amex.vendas@millenniumbcp.pt.

Please provide your identification number, the new POS terminal number(s), and the details of the new location(s).

Yes. Since American Express is represented by Millennium bcp in Portugal, the enrolment process is simplified. You only need to complete the American Express Card Acceptance Agreement. No additional documents are required, unlike for customers of other banks.

In addition to signing the American Express Card Acceptance Agreement, you will need to provide the following information:

• Access code to the Permanent Certificate (CRC)
• Proof of IBAN in the name of the merchant to be associated with each establishment/POS terminal(s)
• Central Register of Effective Beneficiaries (RCBE)
• Scanned copy of the ID document(s) of the company or sole proprietorship representative(s), shareholders with a stake of 25% or more, and members of the management or equivalent governing body
• Balance sheet and income statement for the most recent full year of activity

For more information, please email amex.vendas@millenniumbcp.pt.

Contact us on (+351) 211 135 410 (calls to the national landline network; call costs depend on the rates agreed with your operator).

Select option 1 – Authorization Centre.

Available on business days from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Automated service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Always check that the card is in good condition, authentic, and valid. Ask the customer to confirm the purchase using their PIN. Only use the magnetic stripe if the terminal cannot read the chip; in this case, ask the customer to sign and compare the signature with their ID.

If you have any concerns about the card, PIN, or signature, always ask for an ID to confirm the customer’s identity.

If needed, contact the Authorization Center and request the "Code 10", a security procedure by American Express, answering only "Yes" or "No" to the questions. If the transaction is not authorized or exceeds the set limit, you can also call the Authorization Center to try to complete the operation.

If your business is online, make sure your technology provider uses a secure payment solution certified by American Express SafeKey® 2.2.
SafeKey is an advanced authentication solution based on 3D Secure technology.

It provides greater protection for online transactions by asking the cardholder to confirm their identity through unique codes or additional methods, such as facial recognition on their mobile phone.
Despite the enhanced security, be alert to signs of potential fraud in online sales, such as:

• Multiple orders to the same address using different cards
• Orders placed from the same IP address with inconsistent data
• Card numbers with suspicious patterns (e.g., sequential numbers)
• Orders with delivery to high-risk addresses (e.g., P.O. boxes, prisons)
• Orders with an unusually large number of items or marked as urgent