American Express is one of the leading card issuers in the United States. It's known for its top-notch customer service and some of the best rewards available. From ultra-elite business travel cards to everyday rewards, American Express has credit cards that are a good choice for many different types of cardholders.
The best American Express cards of February 2022
Amex is also well-known for its excellent customer service and wide assortment of airline, hotel, cash back, and general travel cards. Amex cards also offer various benefits like travel insurance and purchase protection.
Winner: Visa
American Express has long charged higher credit card processing fees than other payment networks. To avoid those more expensive fees, some merchants have opted not to accept American Express cards. It's accepted in over 170 countries; however, Visa is accepted in over 200 countries.
Why So Many Retailers Don't Accept American Express
Why can't every store accept American Express cards? The answer is simple: stores want more money in their pockets. American Express charges stores, or merchants, higher fees than other credit card networks like Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.
It's generally harder to get an American Express card than it is to get a credit card from many other major issuers simply because all of Amex's credit card offers require good or excellent credit for approval. ... And some of Amex's premium cards for big-spenders, which can be relatively difficult to get, have high fees.
The American Express Centurion Card is the most exclusive credit card in the world and commonly known as the “Amex Black Card.” Launched in 1999, American Express has kept it in a shroud of uncertainty, giving it a very high level of status in the minds of consumers.
We recommend that your annual income be at least $50,000 or higher before applying for the Amex Platinum. The Amex Business Platinum card gives you a little more wiggle room because even if you have low business income or are just starting your business, you can still qualify for an Amex small business card.
No. American Express is not specifically for rich people, though applicants need good or excellent credit scores of 700+ to qualify for Amex credit cards. In addition to high credit scores, applicants that have an annual income of $60,000 or higher are often more likely to get approved.
All credit card issuers charge a fee, but not all issuers charge the same fee. Because of this set up, merchants can choose which credit cards they want to accept. The different fees often make or break a deal for a merchant. This is why many merchants, especially small businesses, don't accept American Express.
is accepted online, on your high street and all over the world. Some of the places where you can use your Card. Your Card Account on the go! Make a payment, view recent transactions or simply redeem your points.
Winner: Citi undeniably has the better travel credit, but Amex wins in just about every category. From Centurion Lounge and Delta Sky Club access to statement credits for Uber and Saks Fifth Avenue, the Platinum card is chock full of benefits.
What makes American Express different is that it is both a card issuer and a card network. ... Amex also charges higher interchange fees, better known as swipe fees, than the other major card networks.
The American Express credit score requirement is 700 or above, depending on the card. That means people with good to excellent credit are eligible to be approved for an American Express credit card.
American Express cards are issued by American Express—a publicly traded financial services company—and are charge cards, credit cards, or prepaid cards. An American Express card, also called an “Amex” card, can offer a variety of perks, including rewards points, cash back, and travel perks.
While it is true that American Express offers their own line of rewarding credit cards, many American Express cards are issued by a third-party – like Bank of America, Wells Fargo or U.S. Bank.
American Express is not accepted everywhere because American Express charges merchants higher fees than Visa, Mastercard. This makes retailers like Costco, independently owned boutiques, and many family stores shy away from accepting your American Express card.
Do all grocery stores take American Express? All major grocery chains, except Costco, do accept Amex.
As with almost every question about credit reports and credit scores, the answer depends on your unique credit history and the scoring system your lender is using. "Too many" credit cards for someone else might not be too many for you. There is no specific number of credit cards considered right for all consumers.
The most exclusive credit card is the American Express Centurion Card, also known as the Amex Black Card. It is reportedly reserved for people who spend at least $100,000 per year, and an invitation is needed to apply.
Every month an open Amex account is used responsibly, positive information will be reported to the credit bureaus. ... That said, any primary or additional cardholder who has only positive credit information reported monthly to credit bureaus can build excellent credit with enough time.
There's no credit limit
The American Express Black Card doesn't have a pre-set spending limit, so cardholders can spend as much as they want every month. ... The Centurion® Card from American Express is a charge card, so cardholders can't carry a balance. Whatever they spend must be paid back in full each month.
Unlike traditional credit cards, American Express cards do not have a regular APR or charge interest, as all balances must be paid in full each month. However, the Gold card does offer cardmembers the flexibility to pay for purchases of $100 or more over time at a set interest rate.
The American Express Black Card's requirements are rumored to include being an Amex cardholder for at least a year, spending over $100,000 annually on American Express credit cards, and annual income of at least $1 million. You'll probably need to have an excellent credit score, too.
Most rich people can easily afford to pay cash for every purchase. Despite this, even the wealthy use credit cards regularly. Here are four big reasons why.
The Mastercard® Gold Card™ is the highest-end card offered by Luxury Card, which offers three metal rewards cards. The other two are the Mastercard® Black Card™ (Review) and the Mastercard® Titanium Card™ (Review).