The card is so hard to get, you have to be invited to even apply. While Amex doesn't really have published requirements to procure such an invite, it's reported that you'll need to spend at least $350,000 a year on your credit cards to be considered.
Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company. 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.
The USAA® Secured American Express® Card used to be the easiest American Express card to obtain as it was available to people with bad credit.
According to the score ranges from FICO, that means American Express applicants typically have at least a 670 score: Exceptional. 800 and above.
It's recommended that you only apply for the American Express® Gold Card if you have a FICO® Score of 670 or higher. Like just about all the best travel rewards cards, this card is for consumers with good or excellent credit.
According to Weiss, one of the most recommended cards for high-net-worth individuals is The Platinum Card® from American Express . While this card comes with a wide range of perks that make it seem too good to be true, it also comes with an annual fee of $695 (See Rates), which is higher than most other credit cards.
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.
Amex primarily pulls Experian, though sometimes Equifax or TransUnion reports. Chase favors Experian, but may also buy Equifax or TransUnion reports.
There is anecdotal evidence of applicants with scores as low as the mid-600s being approved, but that's rare. Even for the American Express® Green Card, a more beginner-focused travel card, a score of 670 or higher is probably necessary.
This will not affect your credit score. However, your request for a Card will show up on your credit bureau reports as a request for credit, also known as an "inquiry."
The Centurion® Card from American Express, sometimes referred to as the Black Card, may be the hardest credit card to get because you need a special invitation from Amex to apply and there's a high financial bar to getting the card. It's been reported the card requires a $7,500 "initiation fee" and a $2,500 annual fee.
If you're getting a credit card directly from American Express, you'll generally need good credit to qualify. If you have fair credit, though, you may be able to get an Amex card from a different credit card issuer, such as the Credit One Bank American Express® Credit Card.
American Express sends a letter to affected applicants citing why the application was denied. Common reasons an application could be denied include a low credit score, an insufficient annual income, number of open credit accounts, and more.
What does your credit score need to be for the Amex Platinum card? While there is no set score needed, we recommend you have a credit score of at least 720, 2 years of clean credit history, and an income of at least $50,000 per year to apply for the Amex Platinum card.
If you make near $100,000 a year and have good credit, you should have no issue getting approved. But, applicants with annual incomes as low as $40,000 have also been approved if they have a low debt-to-income ratio and pay their other credit cards in full every month.
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.
To get approved for this card you'll want a credit score of at least 670 to get approved, but some people have reported having a score as low as 630 and being able to get the card.
American Express uses Experian most of the time. Though Amex will use the other 2 major credit bureaus, TransUnion and Equifax, for some applications, they pull Experian for the majority. Amex usually only does hard credit pulls for new applications.
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card is hard to get because applicants need to have a score of 670 or higher to be approved for the card. However, you'll have a better chance of being approved for the card if you have at least a very good FICO score (740 to 799).
Generally, American Express does not do a hard pull on your credit report when you request a credit limit increase. Keep in mind, though, that this is not a rule and can always change.
Amex is so popular because it offers high-end credit cards with great rewards and luxury perks, which have become status symbols in popular culture over time.
An American Express card is worth it for people with good or excellent credit scores who want to earn rewards on U.S. purchases that they'll pay for in full by the due date every month. An Amex card may also be worth it for people who want an introductory low-interest period in addition to rewards.
American Express does not disclose a specific income requirement, but it will need to be enough to make payments on the card and to afford the $250 annual fee.
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.