Getting an American Express (Amex) card can range from relatively easy to quite difficult, depending on the card, but generally requires good credit, a stable income, and being over 18; while basic cards are accessible with fair credit, premium cards like the Platinum demand excellent credit, higher income ($50k+), and strong financial history, making the difficulty directly tied to the card's prestige and perks.
Amex charge cards (Green, Gold & Platinum) are definitely easier to get than most other comparable cards. Then once you're in the door with Amex, they'll be more generous with the increased and getting new products. Go on and open up a checking account with them.
American Express eligibility depends on the card, but generally requires being 18+, having a good credit history, stable income (varies by card, e.g., $50k+ for some), and sometimes specific residency or business criteria, focusing on your ability to repay and financial responsibility. Key factors include age, income level, credit score (aim for 700+), credit file review, and sometimes being an Australian citizen/resident for AU cards.
Yes, American Express is often considered a "classy" credit card brand, especially when compared to many others. Amex is known for its premium cards like the American Express Platinum Card® and the Centurion® Card from American Express, which come with high annual fees and luxury perks.
American Express does not disclose specific minimum income requirements for its credit cards, but the higher your income is, the more likely you are to be approved.
The credit limit you can expect for a $70,000 salary across all your credit cards could be as much as $14000 to $21000, or even higher in some cases, according to our research. The exact amount depends heavily on multiple factors, like your credit score and how many credit lines you have open.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Australian citizen or permanent resident. At least 18 years old. Individual Trustee or Director of the Trustee company. Business revenue of $75,000+
100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points are generally worth $1,000 to $2,000 or more, depending on redemption; you get about 1 cent per point ($1,000 total) using the travel portal or gift cards, but can achieve 2 cents per point or higher ($2,000+) by transferring to airline/hotel partners for premium flights, yielding significantly more value, according to Bankrate and WalletHub and The Points Guy.
Cardholders of the American Express Platinum 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.
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card are two of the easiest Amex cards to get approved for because they only require good credit.
Amex minimum income requirements vary significantly by card and country, but generally range from around $45,000-$50,000 for some standard rewards cards (like the Explorer card in Australia) up to higher amounts like $65,000 for premium cards (Qantas Ultimate), or even business revenue requirements (e.g., $75,000 for Business Platinum). Some Amex cards, particularly in markets like Canada, surprisingly have no stated minimum income.
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card is the best credit card with a $5,000 limit for bad credit. You can get a $5,000 credit limit by placing a refundable security deposit of $5,000, and you will earn 1.5 point per $1 spent without even having to pay an annual fee.
Transferring 30,000 points to our loyalty partners gives you between £300 and £900.
The "2/3/4 rule" refers to an informal guideline for Bank of America (BofA) credit card approvals, limiting new cards to 2 within 30 days, 3 within 12 months, and 4 within 24 months, helping manage lending risk. It's also a term used in baby sleep training for wake windows (2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours between naps) and in food safety (2-hour/4-hour rule for keeping food out of the fridge).
To get a $30,000 credit limit, you need excellent credit, high income (often $75k+), stable employment, low existing debt, and a history of responsible card use (paying on time, low utilization). Apply for premium cards with high limits, request increases on existing accounts after 6+ months, and provide proof of income/assets to issuers like Chase Bank.
The Amex 2/90 rule is a guideline limiting most people to approval for no more than two new American Express credit cards within a 90-day period, even if they meet other rules like waiting five days between applications (the 1-in-5 rule). This rule specifically applies to credit cards, not necessarily charge cards, and is a key factor in managing how many new Amex cards you can open and get welcome bonuses for.
While 200K Amex points will typically only give you about $2,000 in value when you shop for flights in the Amex travel portal, you can sometimes find Business or First Class flights — that can normally cost over $10,000 — for only 200K points, when transferred to a frequent flyer program.
Historically, American Express charged higher fees than their competitors, making their cards less attractive to merchants. Merchant funding was also a slow process.
Using 90% of your credit card limit results in a very high credit utilization ratio, which can significantly hurt your credit score. Lenders view high utilization as a sign that you might be overextended and at a higher risk of missing payments.
Yes, American Express cards often carry higher annual fees and interest rates compared to standard Visa or Mastercard offerings, but for some cardholders, the travel benefits, gift card redemptions, and access to reward cards with premium features might be worth it.
In Australia, you'll find American Express (Amex) often not accepted at discount retailers like Aldi, wholesale clubs like Costco, many smaller local businesses/cafes, and some government services (like vehicle registration) due to higher merchant fees, so always carry a Visa or Mastercard as a backup, though major retailers generally accept Amex.
The 2-2-2 credit rule is a guideline lenders use to assess a borrower's creditworthiness, requiring two active revolving credit accounts, open for at least two years, with a history of on-time payments for those two consecutive years, often with a minimum limit of $2,000 per account, to show financial stability for larger loans like mortgages. It demonstrates you can handle multiple credit lines responsibly, not just have a good score, building lender confidence.
Since its introduction, the Centurion card has only been issued to clients invited by American Express to apply for it. The selection criteria the company uses to identify potential cardholders has been subject to speculation.