Some of the oldest players in the Credit Card space have long understood the use of branding Credit Cards as status symbols. The best among them Amex which built a multibillion dollar empire by telling its user they were special. And that their card symbolised this special status.
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply. See rates and fees) originally launched in 1984 with an annual fee of $250—unprecedented at the time. Since then, it has become one of the most popular and sought-after travel rewards cards, as well as a status symbol.
American Express is special because it is a luxury credit card brand, known for offering elite rewards and having exclusive approval requirements. American Express also is among the country's largest credit card issuers by purchase volume, and it is one of the four major payment networks.
Why It's One of the Most Exclusive Credit Cards: The most exclusive, prestigious credit card is without a doubt the American Express Centurion Card, otherwise known as the Amex Black Card. That's because it's the most famous.
1951, Amex introduces the Centurion as a symbol of security, strength and protection on the Travelers Cheque. 1951, Amex introduces the Centurion as a symbol of security, strength and protection on the Travelers Cheque.
No,. American Express is not specifically for rich people, even though it does have a high level of status in many people's minds. Applicants need good or excellent credit scores of 700+ to qualify for Amex credit cards, and you don't need to be rich to have a good credit score.
But we have it on good authority that celebrities including Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Jerry Seinfeld, who reportedly received the first-ever Black Card, all carry it. Collectively there are thought to be fewer than 20,000 AmEx Centurion cardholders around the world.
The highest level American Express card is the Centurion card, which is also known as the 'black card.
What Is the Spending Limit on the American Express Black Card? There is no spending limit with the Amex Black Card. However, balances must be paid off in full every month.
Although Amex doesn't publish requirements for the card—or its perks, for that matter—it typically extends black card invitations only to high earners who have spent and paid off between $350,000 and $500,000 across all of their American Express accounts in a calendar year.
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.
What makes American Express different is that it is both a card issuer and a card network. Unlike card issuers such as Chase or Bank of America and card networks such as Visa or Mastercard, American Express serves both the role of servicing accounts and processing transactions.
It will be difficult for the average person to get the American Express Platinum card because of the card's 700+ credit score and reportedly high income requirements. Another reason why the American Express Platinum card may be hard to get is because of the card's daunting $695 annual fee.
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.
Why Isn't American Express Accepted Everywhere? If you have an American Express card, then you may have visited merchants who accept other credit cards, but not your Amex. The reason has to do with the interchange fees charged by the credit card payment networks such as Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
Drawbacks of American Express include the notorious annual fees. Although an annual fee is almost expected, the actual fee itself varies.
The Amex Platinum is one of the most prestigious travel credit cards you can own.
Its gold-plated exterior is a good bit lighter than its sibling (The Platinum Card® from American Express weighs in at 18.6g but comes with a $694 annual fee), but the Gold Card is worth its weight for cardholders who spend more on groceries and restaurants than flights.
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.
Currently, you can have up to five American Express consumer credit cards at one time. It is important to note that American Express offers multiple types of cards — business cards and consumer cards — and that the rule only applies to consumer cards where you are the primary cardholder.
Yes, it is hard to get the American Express® Gold Card because it requires at least good credit for approval. Unless your credit score is 700 or higher and you have a lot of income, it will be very hard for you to get approved for the Amex Gold card.
American Express Platinum has no preset credit limit. That means the amount you can spend may change from month to month based on your usage of the card, credit history, income and more.
Cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express (another high credit limit card), or any other type of Amex members, can try using the American Express Auto Purchasing Program, which connects you to dealers who accept American Express and let you charge $2,000 or more toward a car purchase on your Amex card.
Having an American Express card means that you likely have good or excellent credit, and some people might assume that you have an above-average income and good employment. Owning an Amex card also means you can use your card at any merchant or financial institution that accepts cards on the American Express network.