FedEx shipments no longer qualify for the American Express Business Gold card’s flexible credit. UPS replaced the carrier on Oct. 1, giving cardholders a different shipping option for collecting up to $20 back each month.
Businesses that used FedEx to claim the benefit can use eligible purchases at UPS.com, Grubhub, or US office supply stores. The maximum remains $240 annually, split into monthly credits that require enrollment.
UPS takes over the shipping credit
The replacement took effect on Oct. 1, 2026, when FedEx purchases stopped qualifying and UPS.com shipments became eligible. Grubhub and US office supply stores remain on the list.
FedEx’s departure was reported, then retracted earlier this year before Amex confirmed the removal. Adding UPS preserves a shipping option for businesses that regularly send packages.
Switching carriers still deserves a price comparison. If the same shipment costs more through UPS, that difference reduces the savings from the credit.
The $20 cap covers the account
Enrolled cardholders can receive up to $20 in statement credits each calendar month across eligible purchases. Spending $20 at Grubhub and another $20 at UPS.com produces a maximum $20 credit across the account.
Businesses already buying shipping, meals, or office supplies through eligible merchants can direct those purchases to the card. Spending extra just to trigger the credit would reduce its value.
The $240 annual maximum requires using the benefit throughout the year. Regular eligible expenses make that easier than occasional purchases, so cardholders should compare the merchant list with what their business already buys.
UPS store purchases do not qualify
The shipping credit covers eligible small-parcel shipments paid for directly at UPS.com with the enrolled card. Purchases at The UPS Store, UPS Access Point locations, and through third-party shipping resellers are excluded.
That distinction matters when buying labels through another service or paying at a local store. Choosing UPS as the carrier doesn’t automatically make the transaction eligible.
Purchases must also process within the calendar month to count toward that month’s credit. Statement credits can take up to eight weeks to appear, and a purchase made at month-end could process in the following month.
Amex adds tools for corporate spending
Separately, Amex launched a platform on Sept. 30 combining Corporate Cashback cards, expense management software, and a mobile app. The broader business tools target midsize and large companies as Amex competes with providers such as Brex and Ramp.
The Corporate Cashback cards earn 1.5% cash back on up to $10M in eligible annual purchases. The program has a $2,950 annual membership fee, with an introductory offer waiving the first year.
Amex is planning AI agents and accounts payable workflows to automate more financial tasks. Its wider business pipeline includes a payroll system with AI-powered insights scheduled for early 2027.
Raymond Joabar, Amex’s group president of global commercial services, emphasized the company’s established relationships:
“Companies want to work with someone that they know has been around.”
American Express
In an Amex survey, nearly nine in 10 businesses said future growth depended on better understanding employee spending. The corporate offering brings payments and expense tracking together to address that demand.
For Business Gold holders using the shipping credit, the immediate task is to compare eligible UPS.com purchases with existing shipping costs. Collecting $20 back helps most when it offsets an expense the business already needed.
