According to the score ranges from FICO, that means American Express applicants typically have at least a 670 score: Exceptional. 800 and above.
Although this card carries no annual fee, folks report needing a credit score of at least 680 to get approved. But some others were approved with scores of as low as 650, so you might have a good shot even with less of a credit history.
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.
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.
Credit Score Needed for American Express Credit Cards
Aim to get your credit score in the mid-to-upper-600s if you want a basic, lower-end American Express credit card. And if you're interested in the higher-value cards that carry big fees (but also offer big rewards, perks, and benefits)?
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.
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.
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.
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.
While it is possible to be approved with a lesser score, you will generally need excellent credit to qualify for the best (premium) American Express cards. Leading credit bureau Experian defines excellent credit as 800 or better and good credit as a score of 700 or better.
Amex primarily pulls Experian, though sometimes Equifax or TransUnion reports. Chase favors Experian, but may also buy Equifax or TransUnion reports.
With either preapproved or prequalified Amex offers, the issuer uses information like your income to determine if you're in the target audience for a particular card. Both are good indicators that you will be approved when you apply, though preapproved is a slightly better chance.
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."
A 700+ credit score is needed to get most Discover credit cards, but there's no minimum credit score needed for a few Discover cards. You can get the Discover it® Secured Credit Card with a bad credit score (below 640).
American Express can help your credit score if you are the primary accountholder or an authorized user aged 18 or older on an American Express credit card or charge card account. For an Amex card to be good for your credit score, the account must be kept in good standing with on-time monthly bill payments.
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.
While American Express doesn't have a "5/24" rule like Chase does, the issuer does limit welcome offer eligibility based on your card history — nominally, you're eligible for one welcome offer per credit card “per lifetime,” but it's not necessarily as simple as that.
If you're an existing cardholder and you apply for a new card, Amex will not perform a hard pull on your credit if you get denied. They use the information they have on file for you to conditionally approve you, then perform a hard pull to double-check that there have been no major changes to your credit report.
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).
If you're considering an American Express card but don't meet the minimum credit requirements, you can request to be added to another person's credit card as an authorized user. Another option is to apply for a card from another issuer with less stringent requirements.
How many credit accounts is too many or too few? Credit scoring formulas don't punish you for having too many credit accounts, but you can have too few. Credit bureaus suggest that five or more accounts — which can be a mix of cards and loans — is a reasonable number to build toward over time.
FICO credit scores, the industry standard for sizing up credit risk, range from 300 to a perfect 850—with 670 to 739 labeled “good,” 740-799 “very good” and 800 to 850 “exceptional.” A 700 score places you right in the middle of the good range, but still slightly below the average credit score of 711.
You must have a good credit score of at least 670 to be considered for either of the co-branded Amazon Signature Visa cards. Amazon also offers two store-only cards that are not credit cards and can only be used for purchases on Amazon.