American Express is looking for significant acquisitions outside the US, as well as investments in domestic start-ups, to take advantage of the growing demand among users for mobile payments and ecommerce, according to a Bloomberg interview with David Messenger, the company’s executive vice president (pictured). Amex is considering deals in developing countries such as China as well as investing in or acquiring smaller tech start-ups which own innovative technology, he said.

“You shouldn’t assume that’s the largest acquisition we can do,” said Messenger in the interview, referring to the US$660 million it paid in 2010 to acquire Loyalty Partners, a marketing firm. Amex is “very active” and making acquisitions is “a key component of our strategy”, he said. In terms of the mobile payments market, Amex earlier this year made an investment in Payfone as part of a large funding round for the carrier billing firm. Amex and Payfone also agreed to work together on supporing Serve, the credit card company’s m-wallet.

Following Messenger's comments, Amex subsequently acquired virtual-currency provider Sometrics in a cash and stock deal worth US$30 million. Sometrics fits the description of being a smaller US start-up, the second category Messenger outlined for possible acquisitions.