SMEs charge it

American Express reports that it has had a big increase in small business charge card receivables this year, as SME owners look for alternatives to scarce bank funded working capital.

Amex Australia head of small business services, Jason Fryer, said receivables on the group's small business charge card were up 19 per cent in the first four months of the year, after increasing 13 per cent in 2009.

Fryer said: "The card offers 51 credit free days, so it is an effective working capital facility.

"We would argue that it is superior to an overdraft. The annual fee is as low as $40 for the basic product, statements include GST itemisation and it has a reward program.

"We have customers in high volume retail segments, such as pharmacy and liquor, putting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stock purchases through the card each month."
 
Fryer said each customer was assessed by Amex's underwriting team to establish a spending limit.

Amex has some specialist industry teams, including healthcare and food and liquor.

Fryer's figures on growth in the business are surprising, given that American Express Australia's 2009 financial report shows a net decrease in card member receivables of more than $500 million.

Fryer said the decrease was on the consumer side of the business.