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Last updated August 2026.
Quick answer: Zil Money lets a business make an Amex online payment to a vendor, contractor, or payroll run, even one that has never accepted a credit card. The business charges its American Express card. Zil Money then delivers the funds to the vendor as a standard ACH transfer, Same Day ACH, RTP (a real-time bank transfer network), or wire payment, so the vendor gets an ordinary bank deposit with no new merchant setup on its end. The business keeps its cash in the operating account until its Amex bill is due, and may earn card rewards on the spend, depending on its card program’s terms. Most searches for “Amex online payment” mean paying your own Amex bill; this page covers the reverse move. See how Zil Money’s American Express payment feature works.
Key Takeaways
- ✓ Funds move over standard ACH, Same Day ACH, RTP, or wire bank rails, the same kind of bank rails vendors commonly use to receive payments from other customers.
- ✓ Zil Money lets a business fund ACH, Same Day ACH, RTP, or wire payments from an Amex credit card balance.
- ✓ The vendor doesn’t need to accept credit cards or open a merchant account to receive the payment.
- ✓ The paying business may earn card rewards or cash back on the transaction, subject to its own card program terms.
- ✓ Standard ACH, Same Day ACH, RTP, and wire move money at different speeds, so the right rail depends on how soon the vendor needs to be paid.
- ✓ Payroll and recurring supplier bills can be scheduled the same way, which can give a seasonal business more room in its cash flow during slow months.
A worked example: paying vendors who won’t take a credit card
Boutique hotels and bed-and-breakfasts run into this often: a supplier bills you, but won’t take a credit card at all.
For example
- Business: A 12-room inn
- Location: Historic Montford neighborhood, Asheville, North Carolina
- Vendor 1: Commercial linen and laundry service, billed biweekly
- Vendor 2: Local produce and beverage distributor, billed weekly for breakfast service
- The constraint: Neither vendor accepts credit cards; both expect a bank transfer
Worked example for illustration, not an actual Zil Money customer.
Zil Money bridges that gap. The inn charges its Amex card. Each vendor still gets a normal ACH deposit or wire.
How does an Amex-funded vendor payment move through Zil Money?
- Enter the payment. The business logs into Zil Money and enters the vendor’s payment details or invoice.
- Pick a payout rail. It selects ACH, Same Day ACH, RTP, or wire for how the vendor should receive the money.
- Zil Money charges the Amex card. The charge is authorized against the business’s American Express card balance.
- The vendor is paid over its own bank rail. Zil Money reissues the funds through the selected method, so the vendor sees a routine bank credit.
- Rewards accrue per your card’s terms. The business’s card program treats the charge like any other Amex purchase, subject to its own reward terms and category rules.
The vendor does not need a merchant account, a card reader, or new software to receive the payment. Zil Money’s American Express payment page states that paying this way carries no merchant-style fee for the business, across ACH, wire, or other payout methods, for accounts that keep a minimum average wallet balance of $10,000 under Zil Money’s Wallet Deposit Policy. Accounts below that balance may be charged a fee, so it’s worth checking your own account’s status before assuming the cost is zero.
ACH vs. Same Day ACH vs. RTP vs. wire: which one fits which vendor payment?
Not every vendor payment has the same urgency. A linen service invoiced two weeks out is not the same as a produce delivery driver waiting on same-day funds. The table below is a general comparison to help match the payout method to the situation; actual availability and cutoff times depend on the receiving bank and Zil Money’s own processing windows.
| Payout rail | Typical timing | Best fit for a hotel/B&B |
|---|---|---|
| Standard ACH | Typically settles in one to a few business days | Recurring bills with a known due date, like a biweekly linen invoice |
| Same Day ACH | Same business day, subject to bank submission windows and cutoff times | A produce or beverage delivery that needs to post before the next drop, when RTP is not available |
| RTP | Settles on a faster timeline than standard ACH, any day including weekends, when the receiving bank participates on the network | An urgent, unplanned payment where the vendor’s bank is RTP-participating |
| Wire | Usually same business day, earlier cutoff times apply | A one-time, larger payment, such as a contractor deposit for a renovation |
A wire is usually irreversible once it is sent, so it is worth double-checking the vendor’s account details before sending a large one-time wire. For the official rules behind these rails, see NACHA’s Same Day ACH overview and The Clearing House’s RTP network page.
Why would a seasonal hotel pay vendors with a credit card instead of paying cash right away?
Like many mountain-town hotels, this hypothetical Asheville inn sees stronger bookings in fall leaf season and the warm-weather months, with a slower stretch in January and February.
Paying the old way (cash or debit)
- Cash leaves the operating account right away
- No rewards or cash back on the spend
Paying with Amex through Zil Money
- Cash stays in the operating account until the Amex bill is due
- Card rewards or cash back may apply, per the card’s own program
- Vendor relationship and invoicing stay unchanged, it still just gets a bank deposit
Paying a supplier with an Amex card through Zil Money can let an owner keep cash in the operating account a little longer during a slow stretch, without asking the vendor to wait or change how it invoices. The business still pays its Amex bill on its normal cycle; it has simply used the card’s float and rewards program on a bill it could not have charged to Amex directly. A linen company or a small produce distributor is not going to set up a card terminal for one hotel client, so routing the payment through ACH, RTP, or wire on the back end can deliver card benefits without asking the vendor to change anything.
Does it cost anything to pay a vendor with Amex through Zil Money?
Before paying a vendor this way, check three things
- Zil Money’s American Express payment page states this feature carries no merchant-style fee for the business, across ACH, wire, or other payout methods, for accounts that keep a minimum average wallet balance of $10,000. Accounts below that balance may be charged a fee.
- Ask American Express how it classifies a payment made through a third-party platform like this on your specific card, since some issuers treat cash-equivalent transactions as cash advances, which can carry a separate fee and immediate interest.
- Check whether your Amex card program excludes certain payment categories from earning rewards, since that rule comes from the card issuer, not from Zil Money.
See How to Pay a Vendor With Your Amex Card
See how Zil Money turns an Amex charge into an ACH, wire, or RTP payment for most suppliers, contractors, or payroll runs.
Where this fits into a hotel’s regular bill run
This inn, like many boutique hotels, has a short list of repeat payments.
Go deeper: Vendor payment options | ACH payment guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the vendor need to accept credit cards to get paid this way?
No. The business charges its Amex card inside Zil Money, and the vendor receives the funds as an ACH deposit, wire, or RTP payment through its own bank account, the same way it would receive any other bank transfer.
Can this be used for a one-time payment, or only recurring bills?
Both. A one-time contractor payment or deposit can be sent by wire or ACH, and recurring bills like a biweekly linen invoice or weekly produce order can be saved and reused.
Are there fees the vendor has to pay?
The vendor receives a standard bank credit, not a card transaction, so it has no separate fee to pay. For the business, Zil Money’s American Express payment page states there’s no merchant-style fee for accounts that keep a minimum average wallet balance of $10,000; accounts below that may be charged a fee.
Will the business still earn Amex rewards on these payments?
The business may earn rewards or cash back under its own Amex card program, subject to that program’s category rules and any exclusions the card issuer applies. Check the terms for the specific card in use.
How is this different from just paying an Amex bill online?
Paying an Amex bill online settles what the business already owes American Express. This is the reverse: the business uses its available Amex credit to pay someone else, such as a supplier or contractor, and Zil Money handles converting that charge into a bank payment the recipient can accept.
What’s the difference between Same Day ACH and RTP?
Same Day ACH is a batch system with bank submission windows and cutoff times that still settles the same business day. RTP settles on a faster timeline, any day including weekends, but only when the receiving bank participates on the RTP network.
Can payroll be paid with an Amex card through Zil Money?
Yes. A business can fund a payroll run from its Amex card the same way it funds a vendor payment, with Zil Money delivering the pay to employees over ACH or wire.
Does paying a vendor with Amex through Zil Money count as a cash advance?
How a payment like this posts on your statement depends on the Merchant Category Code your card issuer’s processor assigns, not on how the transaction is described. Some issuers, including American Express, treat cash-equivalent transactions as cash advances, which can mean immediate interest, a separate fee, and no rewards. Zil Money cannot guarantee how a specific transaction will be classified. Test with a small payment first and confirm directly with American Express before scaling up.
Does the vendor find out the payment came from a credit card?
The vendor’s bank statement typically shows a standard ACH, RTP, or wire credit. The exact descriptor wording is controlled by the receiving bank, so confirm with your bank if that detail matters for your own records.
What happens if a vendor payment fails or the account details are wrong?
Bank payments can be returned or delayed if the vendor’s account details are wrong, the same as any ACH, RTP, or wire payment. Double-check the vendor’s account information before sending, and contact Zil Money support right away if a payment looks wrong. Wires are usually the hardest to reverse once sent, so verify those details with extra care.
Zil Money is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking and money movement services are provided through partner financial institutions and licensed service providers. FDIC insurance coverage applies only to eligible deposit products and accounts, and is subject to applicable terms, conditions, limitations, and requirements. Additional information regarding partner institutions, products, and services is available in the applicable terms and agreements.