Many readers have probably run into this just like I have: sometimes an AMEX credit card ends up with a negative balance. For example, after making a payment, you may forget that an AMEX Offer credit has not posted yet, and then the AMEX Offer refund hits the account after you have already paid. Some time ago, I also tested this with a Discover it credit card and successfully ACHed the balance to a Checking account; see this 101 update for reference: 参考这则 101 快讯.
There is no option in online banking to directly ACH a negative credit card balance to a Checking account, so in practice you generally have to call customer service.
- The process is very simple: call the number on the back of the credit card account and explain that you want the balance ACHed to the Checking account used for payment. Some representatives may not be very familiar with the process, but they can usually find the right option for you, so just wait patiently. AMEX is quite fast when sending this type of Refund to a Checking account; it often arrives the same day. In fact, sometimes the money reaches your Checking account before it even shows up in the credit card online account. On your credit card statement, it will appear as MANUAL CR BAL REFUND.
- It is also not recommended to do this type of refund with AMEX too frequently. Doing it once or twice a year occasionally is a perfectly normal request. If you request it too many times, that may not be a good thing.