The fastest way to fund your Amex savings account

You can transfer money into your American Express savings account from another bank account using ACH transfer, which is the standard electronic method. You initiate the transfer from your other bank's website or app, not from Amex. The transfer takes one to three business days to arrive, and there is no fee on Amex's side.

Alternatively, you can transfer money between your own Amex accounts (if you have a checking account with Amex, for example) instantly through their platform. You can also deposit a check by photographing it through the Amex mobile app, though this takes the same one to three business days as an ACH transfer.

The method you choose depends on where your money currently sits and how quickly you need it moved. If you are starting from scratch with no Amex accounts yet, you will need to open the savings account first before you can fund it.

Key Takeaways

  • ACH transfers from another bank take one to three business days and cost nothing, and you start them from your other bank's website or app, not from Amex.
  • Transfers between your own Amex accounts (checking to savings, for example) post instantly if you initiate them through your Amex login.
  • Mobile check deposit through the Amex app takes one to three business days and works for checks you receive, not for moving existing bank balances.
  • You cannot transfer money directly from a credit card to a savings account; you would need to pay the credit card first, then transfer from your bank.
  • Wire transfers are not a standard option for funding Amex savings accounts, so ACH is your primary choice for moving money from outside banks.

Setting up an ACH transfer from your current bank

Log into your existing bank's website or mobile app and look for "Send Money," "Transfer," or "Pay" in the main menu. You will need to add American Express Bank as a recipient before you can transfer to it. This step requires Amex's routing number (011000015) and your Amex savings account number, which you can find in your Amex account settings or on your account statements.

Your bank may call this step "adding a payee" or "linking an external account." Once you have entered Amex's routing number and your account number, your bank will verify the connection—this usually happens instantly, though some banks take up to one business day. After verification, you can initiate the transfer for any amount you want.

Enter the amount, choose the date you want the transfer to happen (you can schedule it for today or a future date), and confirm. Your bank will show you a confirmation number. The money will leave your account immediately or on the date you scheduled, and it will arrive in your Amex savings account within one to three business days.

Transferring between your own Amex accounts

If you have both a checking and savings account with American Express, you can move money between them without waiting. Log into your Amex account online or through the mobile app, find the transfer or move money option, and select the account you want to transfer from and the account you want to transfer to.

Enter the amount and confirm. The transfer posts immediately—you will see the money leave one account and arrive in the other within minutes. There is no fee for this type of transfer, and you can do it as many times as you want.

Depositing checks through the mobile app

If you have a physical check, you can deposit it without visiting a branch or mailing it. Open the Amex mobile app, go to Deposit or Mobile Check Deposit, and follow the prompts to photograph the front and back of the check. The app will ask you to confirm the check amount and the account you want to deposit into.

After you submit the photos, the check is processed and the funds will arrive in your account within one to three business days, the same timeline as an ACH transfer. Once the deposit is complete, you should destroy the physical check to prevent accidental duplicate deposits.

There is a daily limit on mobile check deposits—this varies and you can find the current limit in your app or by contacting Amex customer service. If you need to deposit a check larger than the daily limit, you may need to split it across multiple days or contact Amex for other options.

What you cannot do: credit cards and wire transfers

You cannot transfer money directly from an American Express credit card to your savings account. If you want to move funds from a credit card, you would need to pay off the card first (which moves money from your bank account to Amex), and then transfer from your bank to savings. This is a two-step process and defeats the purpose of a direct transfer.

Wire transfers are not a standard funding method for Amex savings accounts. If you need to move a large sum quickly and ACH is too slow, contact Amex customer service to ask whether wire transfer is an option for your situation—it may be available in some cases, but it is not the default method.

Timing and what to expect

ACH transfers and check deposits take one to three business days. This means a transfer you initiate on a Monday may arrive by Wednesday, or it may not arrive until Thursday. Weekends and bank holidays do not count as business days, so a transfer initiated on Friday will not arrive until Monday at the earliest.

You will receive a confirmation number when you initiate the transfer. Keep this number in case you need to track the transfer or contact Amex about a delay. Once the money arrives in your Amex savings account, it begins earning interest according to your account's current rate.

If a transfer does not arrive within three business days, contact Amex customer service with your confirmation number and the date you initiated the transfer. They can investigate whether the transfer is stuck in processing or whether there was an error on either end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer money from my Amex credit card to my savings account?

No, not directly. You would need to pay your credit card balance first from your bank account, then transfer from your bank to savings. This is inefficient if your goal is simply to move money into savings.

How much can I transfer at once?

ACH transfer limits depend on your bank, not on Amex. Most banks allow transfers of $10,000 to $25,000 per day, though some allow more. Check your bank's transfer limits in their settings or contact them directly.

Do I pay a fee to transfer money into my Amex savings account?

American Express does not charge a fee to receive ACH transfers or check deposits. Your own bank may charge a fee for sending an ACH transfer, though most do not. Check your bank's fee schedule.

What if I enter the wrong account number?

Your bank will verify the account number before the transfer goes through. If the number is invalid, the transfer will be rejected and the money will stay in your account. If you accidentally use someone else's valid account number, the money will go to that account and recovering it is difficult.

Can I set up automatic recurring transfers?

Yes. When you initiate a transfer through your bank, you can usually choose to repeat it weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Set this up through your bank's transfer settings, and the same amount will move to your Amex savings account on your chosen schedule.