Best American Express Bank Credit Card Ranked & Reviewed By CreditXpertis
Expert breakdown of every major Amex card — premium travel, cash back, dining rewards, Delta SkyMiles, Hilton Honors, and Membership Rewards — with real pros, cons, and who each card is actually best for.
American Express Platinum ® Premium Travel ()
Card 1: The Platinum Card® from Amex
Card 2: American Express® Gold Card
Card 3: American Express® Green Card
Card 4: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Card 5: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Card 6: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Card 7: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
American Express Card Comparison Table
| Card Name | Annual Fee | Best Earn Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Platinum Card® | $895 | 5X flights & prepaid hotels via Amex Travel | Premium travel, lounge access, luxury perks |
| Amex ® Gold Card | $325 | 4X restaurants & U.S. supermarkets | Dining & grocery rewards, foodies |
| American Express® Green Card | $150 | 3X travel, transit & restaurants | Budget-friendly Membership Rewards entry |
| Blue Cash Preferred® | $0 first yr / $95 after | 6% U.S. supermarkets & streaming | Grocery & streaming cash back |
| Blue Cash Everyday® | $0 | 3% supermarkets, gas & online retail | No-fee everyday cash back |
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold | $0 first yr / $150 after | 2X Delta, dining & supermarkets | Regular Delta flyers, free bags |
| Delta SkyMiles® Blue | $0 | 2X dining & Delta purchases | Occasional Delta flyers, no-fee SkyMiles |
*All APRs, rewards rates, annual fees, and terms are subject to change. Terms apply to all Amex benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com for current rates and fees. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible. Enrollment may be required for select benefits.
Understanding Amex Membership Rewards Points
Membership Rewards is Express’s proprietary points currency and one of the most valuable point systems in the credit card world. Points are earned on the Platinum, Gold, Green, EveryDay, and Blue Business Plus cards, and can be transferred to an extensive network of airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Key Transfer Partners
Amex Membership Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to most partners, including: Delta SkyMiles, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Avios, ANA Mileage Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Avianca LifeMiles, Emirates Skywards, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio). Hotel partners include Marriott Bonvoy (1:1) and Hilton Honors (1:2). This is the broadest transfer partner network in the U.S. credit card market.
Redemption Values (Best to Worst)
- Transfer to airline/hotel partners (best): Consistently delivers 1.5-2.5+ cents per point when transferred strategically. Sweet spots include Delta domestic flights via SkyMiles, ANA first class via Virgin Atlantic, and Hilton stays via Hilton Honors.
- Book through Amex Travel (good): Points are worth 1 cent each for flights, or more for prepaid hotels through Fine Hotels + Resorts.
- Statement credits (acceptable): Points can be redeemed at 0.6-1 cent each as statement credits.
- Gift cards or Amazon (poor): Typically 0.5-0.7 cents per point. Avoid these redemptions.
Which Amex Cards Earn Membership Rewards
Only certain Amex cards earn transferable Membership Rewards points: the Platinum Card, Gold Card, Green Card, EveryDay Preferred, EveryDay, and Blue Business Plus. The Blue Cash Preferred, Blue Cash Everyday, Delta SkyMiles cards, and Hilton cards earn their own separate currencies (Reward Dollars, SkyMiles, or Hilton Honors points respectively) that cannot be transferred between programs. This distinction is critical when choosing your Amex card strategy.
American Express Bank Credit Card Score Requirements by Card Type
American Express generally requires good to excellent credit for most of its cards, though approval depends on multiple factors beyond credit score alone, including income, existing Amex relationship, and overall debt load.
Excellent Credit (740+)
- The Platinum Card — $895/year, premium travel
- Amex Gold Card — $325/year, dining & groceries
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve — $650/year, premium Delta perks
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire — $550/year, premium Hilton
Good Credit (670-739)
- American Express Green Card — $150/year, travel & transit
- Blue Cash Preferred — $0 first year / $95 after, grocery cash back
- Delta SkyMiles Gold — $0 first year / $150 after, Delta rewards
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum — $350/year, Sky Club access
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass — $150/year
Fair to Good Credit (640-669)
- Blue Cash Everyday — $0/year, everyday cash back
- Delta SkyMiles Blue — $0/year, entry-level SkyMiles
- Hilton Honors Amex Card — $0/year
- EveryDay Credit Card — $0/year, Membership Rewards entry
American Express offers a pre-approval check through its “Check for Offers” tool at americanexpress.com/prequalify that uses a soft pull — no credit score impact. However, Amex has a notable limitation: the “once-per-lifetime” rule (sometimes called the “once-per-product” rule) restricts most welcome bonuses to one per card product per lifetime. If you’ve previously received a welcome bonus on a specific Amex card, you generally cannot earn it again.
American Express vs. Major Issuers: How It Compares
Where American Express Excels
- Transfer partner network: Amex Membership Rewards has the broadest set of airline and hotel transfer partners in the U.S. market — 20+ partners including Delta, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, and Hilton. Chase has 11+ and Capital One has 15+.
- Airport lounge access: The Platinum Card provides access to 1,550+ lounges worldwide, including Amex’s own premium Centurion Lounges — the most extensive lounge portfolio of any card.
- Dining and grocery rewards: The Gold Card’s 4X on restaurants and supermarkets is unmatched by any competitor at any price point.
- Grocery cash back: The Blue Cash Preferred’s 6% at U.S. supermarkets is the highest grocery earn rate on any major credit card.
- Statement credits ecosystem: No other issuer matches Amex’s depth of annual credits — the Platinum alone offers $3,500+ in potential annual value through brand partnerships.
- Customer service: Amex consistently ranks #1 in J.D. Power credit card satisfaction surveys and is known for exceptional customer service and cardholder protections.
- Amex Offers: Targeted deals that provide statement credits at specific retailers — a genuinely valuable, underrated benefit available on all Amex cards.
Where American Express Falls Short
- Merchant acceptance: While much improved, Amex is still not accepted everywhere. Smaller merchants, some international locations, and Costco (which exclusively accepts Visa) do not take American Express. This is less of an issue than it used to be, but it’s still a consideration.
- Annual fees: Amex premium cards are expensive. The Platinum’s $895 fee is the highest among mainstream consumer cards, and the Gold Card increased to $325 in 2024. These fees require significant credit utilization to justify.
- Once-per-lifetime bonus rule: You generally can only earn a welcome bonus once per card product in your lifetime. Chase allows bonuses every 48 months, and Capital One every 48 months within card families.
- Base earning rates: Both the Platinum (1X) and Gold (1X) earn just 1 point per dollar on non-bonus purchases. Competing cards like the Capital One Venture (2X on everything) earn more on general spending.
- Foreign transaction fees on cash back cards: The Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday both charge 2.7% foreign transaction fees — making them poor choices for international use.
- Charge card structure: The Platinum, Gold, and Green are technically charge cards, meaning the balance is generally due in full monthly. While the Pay Over Time feature adds flexibility, it’s not as straightforward as a traditional credit card.
- Credit complexity: Managing multiple monthly credits ($10/month Uber here, $7/month Dunkin’ there, $100/quarter Resy) requires active tracking. Many cardholders leave value on the table by forgetting to use credits.
Recommended American Express Card Combinations by Lifestyle
The Ultimate Amex Trifecta
- Platinum Card — 5X on flights, lounge access, $3,500+ in annual credits
- Gold Card — 4X on restaurants and groceries, $424+ in dining credits
- Blue Business Plus (if eligible) — 2X on all business purchases up to $50,000/year
- Combined: Maximum points earning across every category, all feeding into one Membership Rewards balance with transfer partners
The Foodie Setup
- Gold Card — 4X at restaurants and supermarkets, $424 in dining/Uber credits
- Blue Cash Preferred — 6% at U.S. supermarkets for additional grocery coverage (use Gold for restaurants, BCP for supermarkets if optimizing cash back)
- Combined: Best-in-class dining and grocery earning from both Membership Rewards and cash back angles
The Delta Loyalist
- Delta SkyMiles Gold — free bags, companion certificate, 2X on Delta/dining
- Gold Card — 4X on dining and groceries, points transferable to Delta at 1:1
- Combined: Earn SkyMiles directly + earn Membership Rewards transferable to Delta for maximum mileage accumulation
The Budget-Friendly Cash Back Setup
- Blue Cash Everyday — 3% at supermarkets, gas, and online retail, $0/year
- Pair with a flat-rate 2% card (like Citi Double Cash) for all non-bonus purchases
- Combined: 3% on everyday categories, 2% on everything else, $0 total annual fees
The Travel Starter
- Green Card — 3X on travel, transit, and restaurants, $209 CLEAR credit, $150/year
- Blue Cash Everyday — 3% on groceries and gas, $0/year
- Combined: Access to Membership Rewards transfer partners + grocery/gas cash back, total cost just $150/year
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Amex once-per-lifetime welcome bonus rule?
American Express generally restricts welcome bonuses to once per card product per lifetime. If you previously held the Gold Card and received its welcome bonus, you typically cannot earn the bonus again if you close and reopen the same card. This is more restrictive than Chase (which allows bonuses every 48 months) and makes it important to strategically time your Amex applications. There are occasional exceptions where Amex presents targeted offers to previous cardholders, but these are not guaranteed. Always check the offer terms before applying.
What is the difference between a charge card and a credit card at Amex?
The Platinum, Gold, and Green cards are charge cards — traditionally, the entire balance is due in full each month with no preset spending limit. However, Amex now offers a “Pay Over Time” feature on these cards that allows eligible cardholders to carry a balance with interest on purchases over $100 (up to a Pay Over Time limit). The Blue Cash Preferred, Blue Cash Everyday, and Delta SkyMiles cards are traditional credit cards with fixed credit limits and the option to carry a balance with interest from day one.
Are Amex points worth more than Chase or Capital One points?
At baseline, all three programs value points at approximately 1 cent each for travel bookings. The real difference is in transfer partners. Amex Membership Rewards has the broadest partner network (20+ partners), Chase Ultimate Rewards has the strongest domestic airline options (United, Southwest), and Capital One miles have a solid international airline selection (15+ partners). For most travelers, Amex points deliver the highest ceiling value when transferred to partners like ANA, Singapore Airlines, or Virgin Atlantic for premium cabin flights — where a single point can be worth 2-5+ cents.
Can I have multiple Amex cards at the same time?
Yes. American Express allows cardholders to hold multiple cards simultaneously — in fact, the most effective Amex strategy involves holding 2-3 complementary cards. There’s no publicly stated limit on the number of Amex cards you can hold, though the “5 credit card rule” (widely reported but not officially confirmed) suggests Amex may limit you to approximately 5 credit cards at once. Charge cards (Platinum, Gold, Green) are counted separately and don’t appear to count toward this limit. All Membership Rewards-earning cards pool their points into a single Membership Rewards balance.
Does American Express have a pre-approval tool?
Yes. Amex’s “Check for Pre-Qualified Offers” tool at americanexpress.com/prequalify lets you see which cards you may be pre-qualified for with no impact to your credit score. If you see a card with a pre-qualified offer, it does not guarantee approval, but it significantly improves your odds. Some users report seeing higher welcome bonus offers through the pre-qualification tool than what’s publicly advertised.
Why isn't my American Express accepted everywhere?
American Express charges merchants higher processing fees (typically 2.5-3.5%) compared to Visa and Mastercard (typically 1.5-2.5%). Some smaller merchants, particularly restaurants, gas stations, and international businesses, choose not to accept Amex to avoid these higher fees. However, Amex acceptance has improved significantly in recent years, and most major retailers, chains, and online merchants now accept American Express. If you’re concerned about acceptance, carry a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.
Is the Gold Card or Blue Cash Preferred better for groceries?
It depends on whether you prefer points or cash back. The Gold Card earns 4X Membership Rewards points at supermarkets (worth 4-8+ cents per dollar when transferred to travel partners). The Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% cash back at supermarkets (worth exactly 6 cents per dollar). For pure cash back value, the BCP wins. For travel redemptions, the Gold Card’s points can be worth significantly more — but only if you redeem them strategically through transfer partners. If you’re not willing to learn the transfer partner game, the BCP’s straightforward 6% cash back is the safer choice.
What are Amex Offers and how do they work?
Amex Offers are targeted statement credit deals that appear in your Amex account. They might include credits like “Spend $50 at Home Depot, get $10 back” or “Spend $200 on Delta flights, get $40 back.” Offers vary by cardholder and rotate regularly. You must actively add each offer to your card before making the qualifying purchase. Amex Offers are available on all Amex cards and can add hundreds of dollars in savings per year — many cardholders consider them an underrated benefit that alone can justify holding an Amex card.
Should I get the Platinum or the Gold Card?
These cards serve very different purposes. The Platinum ($895/year) is a travel-focused card built around airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and $3,500+ in annual credits across travel, dining, and lifestyle brands. The Gold ($325/year) is a dining and grocery-focused card built around 4X earning at restaurants and supermarkets with $424+ in annual dining credits. Most Amex enthusiasts hold both — using the Platinum for flights, hotels, and lounge access, and the Gold for all dining and grocery spending. If you can only pick one, choose the Gold if you eat out and grocery shop more than you fly, and the Platinum if you travel frequently and value lounge access.
Does Amex report authorized users to credit bureaus?
Yes. American Express reports authorized user accounts to all three major credit bureaus. Adding someone as an authorized user on your Amex card can help them build credit history, as the entire account history (including the original account opening date) typically appears on the authorized user’s credit report. This makes Amex cards useful for helping family members establish or improve their credit profiles.
What happens to my Membership Rewards points if I close my Amex card?
If you close your only Membership Rewards-earning card, you will lose all accumulated points. However, if you hold multiple Membership Rewards cards, your points are pooled across all accounts and remain safe as long as at least one MR-earning card remains open. Before closing any MR card, make sure you have another MR card active, or transfer/redeem all your points first. Many people downgrade from the Platinum to the Green card (lower fee) specifically to preserve their points balance.
