American Express Gift Cheques

American Express Gift Cheques provide users with more security than with gift cards and with an easy payment option. You can give them as gifts or use them yourself for more careful management of your money.

Features of American Express Gift Cheques

These gift cheques provide users with key benefits, especially when you compare them to using gift cards or cash to make purchases. Gift cheques from American Express work much like cash. They are in prepaid denominations, determined by the buyer. You can purchase cheques in denominations of $25, $50 or $100. In addition to the value of the cheque, buyers will pay a small activation fee. It varies depending on where they buy the cheques.

Benefits of Using Gift Cheques

One of the key benefits to using the Gift Cheque is that American Express provides protection for users. If you lose your Gift Cheque, or it is stolen, American Express will stop payment on the lost or stolen cheque. It will then issue a new one for you to use.

writing a gift certificate

Besides the security feature, additional benefits to using these include the following:

  • You can send money to others through the mail using the gift cheques. Identification is necessary to use the cheques, which means these checks are safer than gift cards.
  • Most merchants accept the cheques from American Express. This makes the cheques easy to use.
  • You can purchase them online using a credit card or debit card.
  • The cheques do not expire.
  • Cardholders can take the cheques into any American Express banking center and get cash in hand.

Using Gift Cheques from American Express

American Express Gift Cheques work well for spending needs. Buyers can purchase a specific cheque amount to use for entertainment or gas purchases each month. Those who wish to keep a budget in line can use these cheques to do so since it will effectively limit their spending.

It is more common that these cheques are given as gifts. If you receive one, sign your name in the upper left corner for your protection. With your name in place, no one else can use the gift cheque. Once you are ready to spend it, fill out the "pay to the order" line on the front of the gift cheque. Sign your name in the lower left corner as well.

Another way to use these cheques is for travel needs. Purchase the number of cheques you will need for spending money on your trip and take them with you. Use them as instructed to make purchases. This can help you to protect your cash and credit cards from theft. If you do lose them or they are stolen while you are traveling, you can quickly call American Express. It will stop payment on the originals and issue new ones for you. If you're traveling with another person, you can purchase Cheques for Two so that both of you can use them.

To learn more about these gift cheques, visit the American Express website. You can purchase them through most banks and credit unions.