American Express Co., the largest U.S. credit card company by purchases, is paying some cardholders $300 each to close accounts so the lender can reduce the risk of defaults as the recession deepens.

People who got the offer to "simplify" their finances must pay off their entire credit card balance by April 30, according to New York-based American Express. Enrolling in the program cancels a customer's account and may lead to forfeiture of reward points or rebates, the company said on its Web site.

"What AmEx is trying to do is move to the front of the line in terms of getting paid back" by customers who owe debts to multiple lenders, said Michael Taiano, an analyst at Sandler O'Neill & Partners. "They clearly grew loans faster than their competitors in the years leading up to this financial crisis."