Amex and Bottomline Unite to Tackle the $180 Trillion B2B Payment Problem

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – July 21, 2026 – In a significant move to overhaul the labyrinthine world of business-to-business payments, payments giant American Express and fintech leader Bottomline have announced a strategic partnership. The collaboration integrates Bottomline’s secure Paymode network into the American Express Buyer Initiated Payments (BIP) platform, creating a new feature dubbed BIP Connect. The goal is to directly attack the chronic inefficiencies, errors, and strained relationships that plague the massive, $180 trillion global B2B payments market.

While consumers have enjoyed seamless digital transactions for years, the B2B space has remained stubbornly complex, often mired in manual processes, paper checks, and fragmented systems. This partnership signals a concerted effort by two industry heavyweights to finally bring B2B payments into the modern digital age, promising a more connected, secure, and efficient ecosystem for businesses of all sizes.

The High Cost of Inefficiency

The need for such a solution is stark. According to recent research from the Amex Trendex, the friction in B2B payments is more than a minor annoyance; it’s a direct impediment to growth. A staggering 67% of financial decision-makers surveyed agree that payment inefficiencies prevent their business from operating at its full potential. The data paints a grim picture of the status quo: 90% of these leaders report their business experienced payment errors in the last year alone.

These errors aren't just clerical mistakes; they have cascading consequences. The same research found that 65% of respondents believe inefficiencies in their invoicing and payment experiences make it harder to maintain strong buyer-supplier relationships. When payments are late, incorrect, or difficult to reconcile, trust erodes. One financial consultant noted, “It’s the silent killer of partnerships. A supplier might tolerate one late payment, but systemic issues create a perception of unreliability that can sever a crucial supply chain link.”

Industry data corroborates this, showing that buyers and suppliers spend nearly a month—an average of 29-32 business days—simply processing a single invoice payment. For many companies, this manual-heavy process, which still relies on paper checks for an estimated 30% of transactions, is a significant drain on resources and a major source of risk. The partnership between American Express and Bottomline aims to replace this friction with flow, targeting the root causes of B2B payment dysfunction.

Forging a Connected Payments Future

At the heart of the partnership is BIP Connect, a feature that embeds Bottomline’s Paymode network directly into the American Express BIP system. For eligible Amex customers, this creates a streamlined channel to pay thousands of authenticated vendors already on the Paymode network via Premium ACH. In practice, a buyer can initiate a payment using their existing Amex BIP account, leveraging its working capital benefits, while the supplier receives a fast, data-rich electronic payment through Paymode.

“Our partnership with Bottomline allows BIP customers to get expanded access to Bottomline’s extensive network of B2B suppliers, while also providing working capital flexibility and control,” said Widad Chaoui, Senior Vice President at American Express, in the official announcement.

The integration is designed to be a win-win. Buyers gain access to a pre-vetted network of over 600,000 authenticated businesses, dramatically simplifying the often-arduous process of supplier onboarding and verification. This helps accelerate the shift to digital payments by removing a key barrier: supplier readiness. For their part, suppliers on the Paymode network receive payments more predictably, along with enhanced remittance data that makes reconciliation, a common accounts receivable headache, far simpler. This can significantly reduce Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and improve cash flow visibility.

“By integrating Paymode into BIP, we’re giving buyers access to greater control, enhanced security, and a simpler way to manage payables and receivables,” commented Craig Saks, CEO of Bottomline. This move effectively combines American Express’s vast corporate client base and payment infrastructure with Bottomline’s specialized, high-security network, creating a powerful synergy.

Beyond the Transaction: Security and Strategic Value

In an environment where B2B payment fraud is rampant—with nearly 80% of organizations reporting attempted or actual fraud in 2024—the security aspect of this partnership cannot be overstated. Paymode has built its reputation on a multi-layered fraud control system, which includes validating every business on the network across hundreds of data points. This robust authentication and secure handling of vendor bank information directly combats threats like business email compromise (BEC), one of the most pernicious forms of B2B fraud.

The value proposition extends beyond mere security and efficiency. By standardizing and automating payment interactions, the BIP Connect solution fosters a more transparent and predictable environment. This reliability can transform buyer-supplier relationships from purely transactional to truly strategic. When suppliers are paid on time and can easily reconcile payments, they are more likely to offer better terms, prioritize shipments, and collaborate on innovation. The 65% of businesses who see payment friction damaging relationships are the direct target for this value-add.

Furthermore, the enhanced data generated by these connected transactions provides strategic insights. Buyers can better analyze their spending, and suppliers can more accurately forecast cash flow. This data-driven approach allows finance leaders to move from reactive problem-solving to proactive financial management, a key goal for any modern enterprise.

Navigating the Path to Modernization

While the partnership represents a significant leap forward, the road to full B2B payment modernization is not without obstacles. The primary challenge remains adoption. Despite the clear benefits, only 17% of businesses have fully automated their payment processes. Entrenched legacy systems, a cultural resistance to change, and the perceived disruption of implementing new technology can make CFOs hesitant.

Supplier onboarding, though simplified by the vast Paymode network, will continue to be a factor. For vendors not already on the network, a smooth and compelling enrollment process will be critical to the platform’s ultimate success. Both American Express and Bottomline are well aware of these challenges and appear to be positioning BIP Connect as a solution that minimizes disruption by integrating into existing workflows and offering clear, immediate benefits.

The strategic alignment positions both companies to capture a larger share of the ongoing digital transformation in finance. It strengthens American Express’s competitive position against other corporate card issuers and fintechs vying for B2B payment volume, while solidifying Bottomline’s role as a central hub in the payment ecosystem. As businesses increasingly seek to optimize working capital and mitigate risk, integrated solutions like BIP Connect that address multiple pain points at once are poised to become the new industry standard.