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For those that love dining out, the American Express® Gold Card (Terms apply. See rates & fees) could be a worthwhile addition to your wallet. Although it does have a relatively high annual fee, it allows you to earn valuable Membership Rewards points at restaurants and grocery stores and it offers added benefits like dining credits and Uber Cash.
If you’re not sure if you can qualify for the American Express Gold card, here’s what you need to know.
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American Express® Gold Card
On American Express's Website
4.7
Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.
On American Express's Website
Up to 4X Reward Rate
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.; Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points atRead More
Welcome Bonus
Earn 60,000 points
Annual Fee
$250
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Credit Score
Excellent/Good(700 - 749)
Editorial Review
Foodies and travelers can leverage the American Express® Gold Card to the hilt, earning up to 4x points. The annual fee may seem intimidating, but by using the included benefits and doing some spending, it's easy to come out ahead.
Pros & Cons
- High rewards earnings possibilities
- Points transfer option to many partners
- Add up to 5 authorized users for no additional annual fee
- Can choose from regular or rose gold versions
- No lounge benefits
- Limited options to carry a balance
- High APR for pay over time feature
- High pay over time penalty APR
Card Details
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
What Credit Score Do You Need for Amex Gold?
American Express doesn’t disclose its minimum credit score requirements. However, premium cards like the American Express Gold card generally require good to excellent credit. According to Equifax, one of the three main credit reporting bureaus, that means you’ll need a credit score of 670 or higher.
Requirements for Amex Gold Credit Card Pre-Qualification
Although American Express doesn’t disclose its minimum credit score or income requirements, you can check your eligibility for the Amex Gold without impacting your credit.
Amex introduced its ‘apply with confidence’ preapproval tool in 2022. It allows you to fill out a pre-qualification form, and with a soft credit pull, Amex will tell you your likelihood of being approved.
How To Improve Your Credit Score To Get Approved for the Amex Gold Card
If your credit is less-than-perfect, you can improve your credit over the next few months by following these steps:
- Review your credit report: Errors on credit reports are common, and incorrect information can damage your credit. You can review your credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you find information that’s inaccurate, you can file disputes with the major credit bureaus.
- Make all of your payments on time: Your payment history is the biggest contributor to your credit score. Sign up for automatic payments and mark down due dates, so you don’t miss any payments.
- Pay down existing balances: The amount of your available credit you use has a substantial impact on your credit. You can improve your credit by paying down your credit card balances.
- Limit credit inquiries: Limit inquiries for new credit, including credit cards and loans, to when you really need them. Each inquiry can cause your score to drop, so limiting inquiries can help you maintain good credit.
American Express Gold Card Rewards and Benefits
The Amex Gold card is a charge card. It doesn’t have a pre-set spending limit, giving you more flexibility on how you use the card. With the American Express Gold card, you can take advantage of the following benefits and rewards:
New Cardmember Offer
You can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership. Once you reach that threshold, Amex will credit the points to your account within eight to 12 weeks.
Depending on how you use your points, that new cardmember offer is worth anywhere from $360 for statement credits to $1,200 if you transfer points to a frequent traveler program.
Rewards Points
- With the Amex Gold card, you’ll earn 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar), 3 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.
Your points can be redeemed for account credits, gift cards, travel arrangements or they can be transferred to frequent traveler loyalty programs.
Benefits
The American Express® Gold Card has several other benefits. Standout perks include:
- $120 Dining credit: When you enroll and pay with your Amex Gold card for transactions through GrubHub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Milk Bar, Wine.com or select Shake Shack locations, you’ll get $10 in statement credits each month.
- $120 Uber Cash: Add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account and you’ll get up to $10 in Uber Cash per month. You can redeem Uber Cash for rides or UberEats orders in the U.S.
- Global Assist Hotline¹: If you travel more than 100 miles away from home, you can use the Global Assist Hotline to get emergency assistance. The hotline can help with everything from medical and legal referrals to missing luggage assistance.
- Baggage Insurance²: When you use your card to book your fare on a common carrier, you get coverage for up to $1,250 for carry-on bags and up to $500 for checked bags that are lost, damaged or stolen.
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Waiver³: Use your card to pay for your car rental—and decline the rental company’s coverage—and you’ll get insurance for damage or theft to the rental car.
- American Express Preferred Access: Preferred Access allows you to book premium seats at select sporting events and concerts.
Drawbacks of the American Express Gold Card
Despite its benefits, the American Express Gold card does some have significant drawbacks:
- High annual fee: The card has an annual fee of $250. Even if you don’t use the card, you owe the fee simply for keeping the account open.
- Limited travel benefits: While it does offer baggage insurance and car rental coverage, the Amex Gold has relatively few benefits for travelers. By contrast, cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card—which has an annual fee of just $95—includes trip cancellation/interruption insurance and trip delay reimbursement.
- Rewards are less valuable for non-travelers: To get the most value when redeeming your rewards, you have to transfer them to a frequent traveler program. Other redemption methods, such as gift cards or statement credits, have much lower values.
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Bottom Line
If you love dining out, the American Express® Gold Card could be a fit for you. It offers valuable rewards at restaurants and grocery stores, and it includes added benefits like $120 in dining and Uber credits.
However, the card requires good to excellent credit to get approved. It also has a high annual fee, and those that travel often may be disappointed by the few traveler benefits the card offers.
If you do decide to apply for the Amex Gold card, make sure you pay attention to the new Membership Rewards offer and reach the spending requirement, so you can get the welcome bonus. If you pay off your balance in full every month, you can earn those valuable rewards without paying added interest charges.
To view rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card please visit this page.
¹You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
²Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
³Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
FAQs
What Credit Score Do You Need For The American Express Gold Card? ›
Getting the Amex Gold Card isn't the easiest card to qualify for as you need good or excellent credit. That means having a minimum 670 FICO score and existing cards in good standing. Being an existing American Express cardholder can also make it easier to qualify.
What credit score needed to get Amex Gold? ›American Express doesn't disclose its minimum credit score requirements. However, premium cards like the American Express Gold card generally require good to excellent credit. According to Equifax, one of the three main credit reporting bureaus, that means you'll need a credit score of 670 or higher.
Is it hard to get approved for American Express Gold? ›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.
Can I get an Amex card with a 650 credit score? ›This means you need a credit score of at least 700. If you're hovering around the 700 mark, it may be best to wait to apply when your score increases as the average applicant has a score of 715. Although, some applicants have been approved with a credit score as low as 643.
What American Express card can I get with a 700 credit score? ›WalletHub's Take: The American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card is a good credit card for people with a 700+ credit score. Amex Blue Cash Everyday is especially worthwhile for applicants who want a $0 annual fee and bonus rewards on U.S. supermarket, U.S. gas station and U.S. online retail purchases.
What is the typical Amex gold limit? ›If you have a Consumer or Business Green, Gold or Platinum Card, your Card does not have a credit limit. Instead, your Card has no preset spending limit unless you have been previously notified otherwise.
What is the easiest Amex card to get? ›There are no American Express credit cards that are easy to get. They all require good credit or better. Compared to other American Express cards, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card is easier to get if you have good credit or better and you meet all other criteria in order to qualify for it.
Does Amex actually verify income? ›They will request tax returns and bank statements. What they're looking for is to make sure the income you reported on the application is true. The process typically takes 2-3 weeks, and you're assigned a specialist to talk to.
Is Amex Gold a good beginner card? ›The American Express Gold Card offers great value in its first year and on an ongoing basis. Generous offers from American Express add plenty of value with dining credits, Uber Cash and hotel experience credits. These three perks could be worth up to $340, which would more than help make up for the $250 annual fee.
Is Amex Gold or Platinum better? ›Amex Platinum ultimately offers more value, though. For example, its benefits include airport lounge access, while the Amex Gold Card's perks do not. When it comes to ongoing rewards on purchases, Amex Platinum has a higher maximum earning rate and better travel rewards. But Amex Gold provides more everyday value.
Which FICO score does Amex use? ›
We believe everyone should know their credit score and have the tools to understand it better. That's why we're giving you VantageScore® 3.0 by TransUnion®, and the key factors that affect your score for free, even if you are not an American Express® Card Member.
Which Amex gives the highest credit limit? ›The American Express card with the highest limit is The Platinum Card® from American Express because its purchasing power depends on the cardholders' credit worthiness and ability to pay. So, cardholders with high income, low debt and good credit history could get a high spending power.
Can I get an Amex with a 620 credit score? ›According to the score ranges from FICO, that means American Express applicants typically have at least a 670 score: Exceptional. 800 and above.
Why is my Amex Gold minimum payment so high? ›You're incurring interest: The only way to avoid getting hit with interest is to pay off your balance in full each month. Most credit cards carry double-digit interest rates, so if you're carrying a balance, these charges are getting tacked onto your minimum every month.
How much income do you need for Amex Platinum? ›Salary Needed for Amex Platinum Credit Card
If you make nearly $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.
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.
What is the 5 24 rule for Amex Gold? ›The issuer uses this rule to automatically reject applicants who've opened five or more cards in the last 24 months. Some business cards don't count, so be sure to check out this guide to 5/24 if you're not familiar with the rule.
Is Amex Gold a heavy card? ›The American Express® Gold Card is our top-rated travel card. The card is made out of stainless steel and weighs 15 grams. Cardholders will have the ability to pay with a tap of their card at select merchants thanks to the card's contactless feature.
How much do you need to spend a year to make Amex gold worth it? ›The quickest way to recoup the Amex Gold's annual fee is to spend a combined $6,250 at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, assuming a conservative 1 cent per point valuation (though it's easy to get more value than that).
Is Amex harder to get than visa? ›But in terms of comparing eligibility requirements for Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, American Express may be the hardest issuer to qualify for as most cards require applicants to have a “good” credit score of at least 670 to qualify.
What is the minimum credit score that Amex will approve? ›
The American Express credit score requirement is of at least 700, depending on the card. That means people with good to excellent credit are eligible to get approved for an American Express credit card.
Can I get an American Express card with a 600 credit score? ›To apply for The Platinum Card® from American Express, you need to have a good or excellent credit score. This means you need a credit score of at least 700. The average applicant has a score of 715. Although, some applicants have been approved with a credit score as low as 643.
What is the min income for Amex? ›However, you must fulfill the minimum annual income criteria for the American Express® credit card you are applying for. In general, you require a minimum income of Rs. 4.5 lakh or above if you are salaried, and Rs. 6 Lakh or above if you are self employed.
Does Amex ask for household income? ›With Amex credit cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express, the application states that you can include “all income” available to you including “wages, retirement income, investments, rental properties, etc.” unless you are under the age of 21. In that case, you can only include your own income.
What does Amex look at for approval? ›American Express Credit Card Approval Requirements
A credit score of 700+ is a good start, though some American Express cards require a 750+ credit score for high approval odds. Total annual income, employment status, and outstanding debts could also have a big influence on the outcome of your application.
The hardest Amex card to get is the Centurion® Card from American Express. Also known as the “Black Card,” this Amex card is hard to get because it is available by invitation only, and potential candidates are rumored to need an annual income of at least $1 million.
How many credit cards is too many? ›It's generally recommended that you have two to three credit card accounts at a time, in addition to other types of credit. Remember that your total available credit and your debt to credit ratio can impact your credit scores. If you have more than three credit cards, it may be hard to keep track of monthly payments.
What happens if you don't pay Amex Gold in full? ›Interest charges accrue when you don't pay the bill off in full. Pay Over Time charges an interest rate that is the same across the Green, Gold and Platinum products. As of August 2020, cardholders who use the feature will pay an APR between 15.99% to 22.99%, depending on creditworthiness.
Does Amex Gold give you access to airport lounges? ›The Amex Gold card does not offer any complimentary airport lounge access. Bottom Line: If you value worldwide lounge access, the Amex Platinum card is a clear winner as the Amex Gold card does not offer any form of airport lounge access.
Is Amex Gold a top tier card? ›As a top-tier rewards card offering bonus points at both restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, the Amex Gold makes it easy to earn and save rewards for your next dream vacation.
What is the advantage of Amex Gold Card? ›
Bonus rewards on dining, supermarkets and certain travel
4 points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 per year in purchases. After that, 1X back. 3 points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. 1 point on all other spending.
If the approved applicant then accepts the Card, a hard inquiry will be made on their credit report, which may impact their credit score.
What does a FICO score of 8 mean? ›FICO Score 8 is a base score, which means that it is used to consider the risk of a borrower not making payments on any type of loan. Other types of FICO Score are used for a specific type of borrowing, such as an auto loan. 2.
What is the highest FICO score 8? ›FICO 8 scores range between 300 and 850.
What credit card has a $100000 limit? ›On our list, the card with the highest reported limit is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which some say offers a $100,000 limit. We've also seen an advertised maximum credit limit of $100,000 on the First Tech Odyssey Rewards™ World Elite Mastercard®, a credit union rewards card.
Why is my Amex limit so low? ›Amex may decide to lower your card's credit limit if your income is reduced, you make late payments, you miss payments, your credit score drops, you have a high credit utilization ratio, you don't use your card frequently or you've been a victim of identity theft.
Is a $60000 credit limit good? ›Yes, a $60,000 credit limit is very good, as it is well above the average credit limit in America. The average credit card limit overall is around $13,000, and people who have limits as high as $60,000 typically have good to excellent credit, a high income and little to no existing debt.
Can I get Amex Gold with a 650? ›Although American Express doesn't specify any minimum credit score requirements, you'll need good credit (or better) to qualify, which means a FICO score of at least 670. A premium Amex card — say, the American Express Gold Card — likely requires a “very good” FICO score, somewhere in the range of 740 and above.
How to go from 620 to 720 credit score? ›- Check Your Credit Report. The first step you should take is to pull your credit report and check for errors. ...
- Make On-Time Payments. ...
- Pay Off Your Debts. ...
- Lower Your Credit Utilization Rate. ...
- Consolidate Your Debt. ...
- Become An Authorized User. ...
- Leave Old Accounts Open. ...
- Open New Account Types.
American Express appears to primarily pull credit reports from Experian, but this doesn't mean it doesn't occasionally pull from one or both of the other major consumer credit bureaus as well.
Can I get the Amex Gold with a 700 credit score? ›
What are the Amex Gold Card requirements for approval? The Amex Gold card requirements for approval include having a credit score of at least 700, being at least 18 years old, and being a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
How do I qualify for Amex black card? ›- Be an Existing Amex Cardholder in Good Standing.
- Make at Least $250,000 in Purchases on Your Amex Cards.
- Request an Invite.
The American Express Gold Card is considered one of the best travel rewards cards thanks to the numerous food and travel perks that appeal to big spenders who can afford its $250 annual fee. It offers generous ongoing rewards for airfare purchases and spending at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
What is the lowest credit score for American Express? ›...
According to the score ranges from FICO, that means American Express applicants typically have at least a 670 score:
- Exceptional. 800 and above.
- Very good. 740-799.
- Good. 670-739.
- Fair. 580-669.
- Poor. 300 - 579.
The quickest way to recoup the Amex Gold's annual fee is to spend a combined $6,250 at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, assuming a conservative 1 cent per point valuation (though it's easy to get more value than that).
Do I have to pay off Amex Gold every month? ›The American Express Gold and Platinum cards are actually “charge” cards rather than “credit,” which means you must pay the bill in full each month.
Is it worth upgrading Amex Gold to Platinum? ›Amex Platinum ultimately offers more value, though. For example, its benefits include airport lounge access, while the Amex Gold Card's perks do not. When it comes to ongoing rewards on purchases, Amex Platinum has a higher maximum earning rate and better travel rewards. But Amex Gold provides more everyday value.
How much income do you need for Amex? ›If you make nearly $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.
How much income do you need for Amex Black? ›The rarest credit card in the world is likely the Centurion® Card from American Express, also known as the “Black Card.” This card is available by invitation only, and you will reportedly need to spend at least $250,000 per year on other Amex credit cards and have an income of $1 million+ to get it.
What is the Amex Black Card limit? ›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.