Amex Will Automatically Turn On ‘Pay Over Time’ in 2027 — Here’s Why You May Want To Disable It

Updated: November 2, 2026, 12:36pm CST

Edited by:

Jump to Section

Table of Contents

Amex Is Automatically Activating Pay Over Time in February 2027
Why You Might Want To Turn Off Amex Pay Over Time
Final Thoughts

We may be compensated when you click on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

American Express is changing how some cardholders pay their bills, and it’s happening automatically.

Starting February 1, 2027, Amex will activate Pay Over Time on eligible accounts. This feature allows cardholders to carry a balance instead of paying their entire bill each month.

Here’s what that means, why you might want to turn it off, and how doing so could potentially earn you bonus points down the road.

Amex Is Automatically Activating Pay Over Time in February 2027

American Express is notifying eligible cardholders that Pay Over Time will automatically be switched on starting February 1, 2027.

Amex Pay Over Time — Pay Over Time will automatically be activated on eligible Amex accounts starting February 1, 2027. Screenshot: American Express

If you’re unfamiliar, Amex’s Pay Over Time feature lets you carry a balance on eligible charges, up to your Pay Over Time limit, rather than paying everything off at once.

With the feature activated, cardholders can do the following with their bill:

Pay entire balance in full.
Make the minimum payment.
Pay any amount in between.

It’s important to note that Pay Over Time doesn’t mean you have to carry a balance. You can still pay your bill in full each month (as you should strive to do) and avoid interest charges. That said, if you do decide to carry a balance, you’ll generally pay interest on that amount. And depending on how much you owe, those charges can add up quickly.

Why You Might Want To Turn Off Amex Pay Over Time

Here’s where things get interesting, especially if you like earning Amex Membership Rewards points.

In the past, Amex has targeted some cardholders with bonus points simply for activating Pay Over Time. These offers have sometimes included thousands of points, making it an easy way to pick up extra rewards without spending anything.

That’s why it may be worth turning the feature off once Amex automatically activates it. There’s no guarantee Amex will target you with an offer to activate Pay Over Time in exchange for bonus points, but keeping it activated might make you ineligible for a potential offer down the line.

Hot Tip:

You can check your Pay Over Time status in your American Express online account or app. If you’d rather keep it off, look for the option to manage your “Pay Over Time” settings. Just remember that switching it off won’t eliminate any existing balance or interest charges.

Final Thoughts

Amex is giving cardholders more flexibility with how they pay their bills starting on February 1, 2027, but that doesn’t mean you have to use it.

If you pay your bill in full each month, turning Pay Over Time on could be worth considering, especially if Amex brings back targeted bonus-point offers for activating it in the future.