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Link: Apply now for theAmerican Express® Green Card
TheAmerican Express® Green Card(review) is one of the most lucrative Amex cards for earning points, and this is also the ideal time to apply for the card. OMAAT readers have had mixed experiences getting approved for this card, so in this post I wanted to take a look at everything you need to know about applying for this card.
In this post:
Why you should apply for the Amex Green Card
The Amex Green Card has a $150 annual fee (Rates & Fees), and potentially offers quite a bit of value.
For one, this is the ideal time to apply for the card, given that it has a best-ever welcome offer, as follows:
- Earn 60,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 within the first six months
- Earn 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases made during your first six months, up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit
Beyond the excellent welcome offer, this is one of the best cards for earning Amex Membership Rewards points. It’s incredibly rewarding for spending, as it offers 3x points on dining, travel, and transit, all with no caps and no foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees).
On top of that, the Amex Green Card offers significant annual credits, which for many will help justify the annual fee. You can receive up to $100 in LoungeBuddy credits annually, and can also receive up to $189 in CLEAR Plus credits annually (Enrollment required).
Amex Green Card eligibility requirements
Many people may be wondering what it takes to get approved for the Amex Green Card and earn the welcome offer, so in this post I wanted to share the main things to consider before applying for the card, to try to figure out if you’re eligible.
Anecdotally, I find Amex cards to be among the easiest to be approved for, and I also appreciate how Amex will often warn you during the application process if you’re not eligible for a welcome offer. So let’s go over some of the main considerations.
Amex Green Card “once in a lifetime” rule
Amex has a “once in a lifetime” rule, whereby you typically can’t earn the welcome offer on a particular card if you’ve had that exact card before. So don’t expect that you’ll be eligible for the bonus points offer on the Amex Green Card if you’ve had this card before. Anecdotally a “lifetime” might be defined as seven years after you’ve closed a particular card, but that’s not a published policy.
Note that you should generally be eligible for the welcome offer on this card if you’ve had another Amex card, though I’ll cover that in more detail in the below section about the Amex pop-up feature.
Amex Green Card doesn’t count toward five card limit
Amex generally limits you to having five credit cards from the issuer at any given point, and that includes both personal and business cards. The good news is that this only includes credit cards, and not hybrid cards. Fortunately the Amex Green Card is considered a hybrid card, so it wouldn’t count toward that limit. That’s fantastic for those who are otherwise maxed out with the Amex credit card limit.
Amex Green Card application pop-up warning
Nowadays Amex has a pop-up warning, whereby you will receive a message during the application process if you’re not eligible for the welcome offer on a card. This message typically states that this is “based on your history with credit card balance transfers, American Express welcome offers, introductory APR offers, or the number of Cards you have opened and closed.”
It’s possible to get this warning even if you meet all the other eligibility requirements of this card. Clearly there’s some formula in place in the background that restricts who is eligible for welcome offers, beyond the generally accepted rules.
I’ve heard of plenty of people getting this pop-up message even if they’ve only ever had a couple of Amex cards. So unfortunately you wouldn’t be eligible if you got this message. And while it’s frustrating, don’t take it personally.
The great thing is that if you get this message you can cancel your application, and then there will be no credit pull, so this is about as low risk as applications get. I appreciate that Amex warns you of this prior to approving a card.
Amex Green Card credit score recommendation
There’s not a consistent rule as to what credit score you need to be approved for the Amex Green Card, as credit score is one of only many considerations when being approved for a card. In general, I’d recommend having a credit score in the “good” to “excellent” category if you’re going to apply for this card.
Personally, I probably wouldn’t apply if my credit score were under 700, and ideally, I’d hope to have a credit score of 740 or higher. That being said, people with scores lower than that have been approved, and conversely, people with scores higher than that have been rejected. There are lots of factors that go into approval — your income, your credit history, how much credit Amex has already extended you, etc.
See this post for more on how credit scores work, and how they’re calculated.
Amex Green Card approval FAQs
To answer a few more of the frequently asked questions when it comes to Amex Green Card approval…
Is it hard to get approved for the Amex Green Card?
Anecdotally I find Amex cards to be among the easiest to get approved for. Of course that won’t be the case across the board, but I find that there’s not an issuer that more consistently approves people for cards than Amex.
How long does it take to get approved for the Amex Green Card?
Approvals on Amex cards could be instant, they could take a few days, or they could take a couple of weeks. In my experience Amex has more instant approvals than any other card issuer. However, if you get a decision pending notice, don’t worry, you could still very well get approved.
What is the minimum credit line for the Amex Green Card?
There’s not a specific minimum credit limit you’ll get on the Amex Green Card, as this depends on a variety of factors, like your income, your total available credit, etc.
Which credit bureau does Amex pull from?
If you apply for the Amex Green Card, there’s not a single credit bureau that Amex always pulls from. It could be Equifax, Experian, or Transunion, depending on a variety of factors.
Is it bad for your credit score if you get denied for a card?
What are the negative impacts of applying for a credit card and getting denied? The only downside is that there’s a new inquiry on your credit file, which could temporarily ding your score by a few points. While everyone’s situation is different, personally I wouldn’t consider that to be a big issue, as losing a few points temporarily shouldn’t have major implications.
Meanwhile getting approved for the card and using it responsibly could have a very positive impact on your credit score, by improving your total available credit, history of on-time payments, credit utilization, etc.
Also keep in mind that if you get a pop-up warning about not being eligible for the welcome offer, then you can always cancel your application, and there won’t even be an inquiry.
If you get denied for the Amex Green Card, can you apply again?
You sure can. If you’ve gotten denied for the Amex Green Card in the past, you could apply again. Just because you get denied once doesn’t mean you’ll be denied again, especially if aspects of your credit worthiness have improved (for example, if your credit score went up, if you’ve applied for fewer cards recently, etc.).
Are other Amex cards easier to be approved for?
Anecdotally I find most Amex cards to be pretty easy to get approved for. The Amex Green Card has the additional benefit of being a hybrid card in terms of approval, so it doesn’t count toward the five card limit that other cards would be subjected to.
Bottom line
The Amex Green Card currently has a best-ever welcome offer of 60,000 bonus Membership Rewards points plus up to $200 in statement credits upon completing minimum spending and qualifying activity. This is an exceptional offer for a card that many people don’t have.
Best of all, anecdotally I find this card to be quite easy to be approved for. The biggest potential “catch” is that you may get Amex’s pop-up warning telling you that you’re not eligible for the welcome offer. If that’s the case, you can always withdraw your application, and there will be no credit pull.
Hopefully the above answers the question of who is eligible for the Amex Green Card. If anyone has any other questions on Amex Green Card approval, please let me know.
What has your experience been with being approved for the Amex Green Card?
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: American Express® Green Card (Rates & Fees).
FAQs
Amex Green Card Eligibility & Approval Tips? ›
To qualify for the Amex Green card, you'll need to have a good to excellent credit score (a FICO score of 670 or higher).
Is it hard to get approved for Amex green card? ›To qualify for the Amex Green card, you'll need to have a good to excellent credit score (a FICO score of 670 or higher).
What is the easiest Amex card to get approved for? ›Which Amex card is the easiest to get? The easiest Amex cards to get are ones with a lower minimum spending requirement for rewards, as well as a low annual fee or no annual fee. Examples include the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express and the American Express Cash Magnet Card.
How do I get approved for Amex after being denied? ›Please call us at 1-800-567-1083 if you'd like us to review our decision. Keep in mind that we cannot guarantee we will change our decision. It's been our experience that applicants who were not approved for a new account at one time may qualify in the future.
What is the limit on my Amex green card? ›The American Express Green Card has no preset spending limit and cardholders can choose to pay in full, use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee (up to the Pay Over Time limit) or or carry a balance with interest on eligible charges.
Does Amex approve instantly? ›Many American Express credit card applications will be approved immediately. However, if your application status is pending it can take up to 60 days to get a decision. If that happens, you'll be notified by mail once a decision is made.
Is Amex Green card better than gold? ›Amex Gold vs.
Travel Benefits Winner: The Amex Green card is the winner for travel benefits since it includes credits toward airport lounges and expedited security. The Amex Green Card caters more to travelers and as such includes a few benefits that will improve your travel experience.
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.
What 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.
What is the minimum credit score that Amex will approve? ›In other words, you'll likely need a score in at least the "good" range to qualify for an AmEx card. Other American Express cards will usually require even higher scores. According to the score ranges from FICO, that means American Express applicants typically have at least a 670 score: Exceptional.
Why would Amex reject me? ›
The most common reason you'll be denied an Amex card even with great credit is that you're already at their limit. Specifically, American Express tends to restrict each cardholder to a maximum of four "lending products" (that means revolving credit lines, like credit cards) and up to 10 charge cards.
How do I know if Amex will approve me? ›Upon applying for a chosen Card, a soft inquiry will be made on an applicant's credit report and applicants will be told with 100% certainty if they are approved – without any impact to their credit score.
Why did American Express reject my application? ›Either you have made too many applications in the last few months, or you have not met your obligations (minimum payments, late payments)…
Who is the Amex Green card good for? ›The Amex Green Card is designed for consumers with good or excellent credit. In addition to your credit score, Amex will consider other factors, including your income, other debt and more.
Is Amex Green card metal? ›The card's fresh design was created in part to draw environmentally conscious consumers. Unlike many of the high-end rewards cards that are made of metal, Green from Amex is made from 70% reclaimed plastic collected from beaches, islands and coastal communities, in partnership with Parley for the Oceans.
Does Amex Green card have lounge access? ›No problem! Purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app using the American Express® Green Card and receive up to $100 in statement credits annually.
Does Amex verify income? ›While American Express probably won't ask to verify your income, it's not a good idea to lie about your income on an application. In fact, providing false information on a credit card application is against federal law. Therefore, you're much better off being honest when applying for an American Express credit card.
Does everyone get approved for Amex? ›In addition to having good to excellent credit and the rules on how many cards you can have or apply for, American Express will also review credit report information including your payment history and credit utilization. Bottom Line: You will need good to excellent credit to be approved for an Amex card.
Which bureau does Amex pull? ›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 you upgrade Amex green to platinum? ›Upgrading an Amex Green Card to another Platinum is a great strategy if you want to collect a lot of Platinum cards. After you upgrade your Green card, you can open another Green card to maintain access to the great bonus categories offered by the revamp card.
What is the Amex Green 60k offer? ›
American Express® Green Card
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
The Amex Gold Card Is a Better Fit for You
If you've weighed the benefits of each card and decided that the bonus categories and perks of the Amex Gold card are a better fit for you, then it might make sense for you to upgrade your Amex Green card to the Amex Gold card.
The American Express Centurion Card, colloquially known as the Black Card, is a charge card issued by American Express. It is reserved for the company's wealthiest clients who meet certain net worth, credit quality, and spending requirements on its gateway card, the Platinum Card.
What 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.
We recommend that your annual income be at least $50,000 or higher before applying for the Amex Platinum.
How much income do you need for Amex Gold? ›American Express does not disclose a specific income requirement, but it must be enough to make payments on the card and to afford the $250 annual fee. Amex doesn't openly state any other Amex Gold card requirements, but there are plenty of other factors that Amex considers during the approval process.
Can I get approved for Amex with a 650 credit score? ›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.
Is Amex good for building credit? ›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.
Does getting rejected by Amex affect credit score? ›Will this affect my credit score and report? If your application was declined, we do not report it to the credit bureaus. This will not affect your credit score.
How do I get a black Amex card? ›- Be an Existing Amex Cardholder in Good Standing.
- Make at Least $250,000 in Purchases on Your Amex Cards.
- Request an Invite.
Is it hard to get an Amex Gold Card? ›
Yes, it is hard to get the American Express® Gold Card because you will need good or excellent 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.
How often is Amex not accepted? ›“According to an American Express representative, 99% of U.S. merchants who accept credit cards also now accept AmEx.”
Will American Express give me a second chance? ›Yes, American Express does have a reconsideration line for applicants to call and request a second review of their denied credit card application. The American Express reconsideration line is (800) 567-1083.
Is Amex Platinum hard to get? ›Yes, it is hard to get the American Express Platinum card because applicants need a 700+ credit score and a high income to qualify for approval. But if you have at least good credit and make a lot of money, you have a decent shot at getting approved.
Does Amex look at your bank account? ›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.
What does American Express look for? ›American Express approval odds are best for people with at least good credit (700+). Cardholders should also have enough annual income to pay the card's annual fee (if there is one) and the entire balance in full, when applicable. Minimal debt and steady employment are also important.
Does Amex send email after approval? ›For Card applications online, you can retrieve your Instant Card Number online immediately following application approval or via a link provided in your Welcome Email that you will receive shortly after you are approved.
What is the acceptance rate for American Express? ›This site may be compensated through a credit card partnership. American Express is currently accepted by 99% of U.S. merchants that accept credit cards, according to a 2022 issue of Nilson Report.
Does Amex have a blacklist? ›If you are on the American Express blacklist then it will become evident pretty quickly. When your social security number is on the list you will be automatically declined for any credit application without American Express even running your credit.
Why am I not getting approved for a credit card? ›Common reasons include a high debt-to-income ratio, a low credit score, insufficient monthly income, a limited credit history or delinquencies. Once you know why your application was denied, you'll know what to work on.
Who is most likely to get a green card? ›
Get started today! Every year, the U.S. government issues more than a million green cards. Most are given to family members of U.S. citizens and current green card holders, followed by workers from other countries seeking employment in the United States as the next biggest group of recipients.
What are the disadvantages of American Express card? ›Disadvantages of AmEx cards
One disadvantage of AmEx cards is that they charge both the seller and the buyer for processing a transaction. Since they do not rely on financial companies, such as Rupay, Mastercard or Visa, and have their own payment network, they charge additional fees on the transactions.
As of 2023, the immigrant visa application fee for a family-based green card is $325. Added to the $535 for I-130 form, the total will be $860.
How hard is it to get Amex Green? ›To qualify for the Amex Green card, you'll need to have a good to excellent credit score (a FICO score of 670 or higher).
Is Amex Green hard to get? ›Your Amex Green card approval odds are best with a 700+ credit score. This means that you need at least good credit to get this card. You will also need and proof of a steady income.
Does Amex green card have a limit? ›Green from Amex takes this flexibility to another level with no preset spending limit. Unlike a traditional card with a set credit limit, the amount you can spend on your Card adapts based on factors such as your credit history, purchase history, and payment history.
How do I maximize my Amex green? ›- Earn the welcome offer upfront.
- Get to know rewards categories and what qualifies.
- Make use of your travel credits.
- For the most bang for your rewards, redeem for travel.
- Avoid using the Pay Over Time feature.
- Lean on your side benefits.
The bottom line. American Express® Gold Card comes at a higher cost but offers more value to cardholders. If you want to earn more for travel purchases, or if you won't be able to maximize the American Express® Gold Card rewards, American Express® Green Card might be a better choice.
Does Amex Green Card have Priority Pass? ›This offer is made by Priority Pass and is for a complimentary 1-year Priority Pass™ Select digital membership with two complimentary lounge visits to be used by the member. To be eligible for this offer you must have a U.S. American Express® Corporate Green or U.S.
Is it hard to get approved for American Express Blue Card? ›Yes, Amex Blue Cash Everyday is hard to get because applicants need to have a credit score of 700 or higher to be approved for the card. Unless your credit score is at least good and you have a lot of income, it will be difficult for you to get approved for this card.
What is Amex Green card best for? ›
With broad travel and transit categories, this is one of the best credit cards for travel purchases and dining expenses.
Is Amex harder to get than visa? ›Because Visa is offered by so many more card issuers than American Express, there are more types of Visa cards, so it's typically easier to get approved for a Visa card with a lower credit score than an American Express card.
Is Amex Green a metal card? ›Unlike many of the high-end rewards cards that are made of metal, Green from Amex is made from 70% reclaimed plastic collected from beaches, islands and coastal communities, in partnership with Parley for the Oceans.
Should I upgrade from Amex Green to gold? ›The Amex Gold Card Is a Better Fit for You
If you've weighed the benefits of each card and decided that the bonus categories and perks of the Amex Gold card are a better fit for you, then it might make sense for you to upgrade your Amex Green card to the Amex Gold card.
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.
Does the Amex Green card get lounge access? ›Does the Amex Green card offer airport lounge access? Yes, the Amex Green card offers cardholders an annual LoungeBuddy statement credit of up to $100 that they can use to purchase access to eligible lounges within the LoungeBuddy network.
Does Amex Green card give lounge access? ›While there's no airline lounge membership included with the Amex Green, you do get up to $100 in LoungeBuddy credits each calendar year. LoungeBuddy is a service owned by American Express that lets you buy one-day entry to individual lounges at airports around the world starting at $25 per visit.
Is Amex the most prestigious? ›Centurion® Card from American Express
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.
The different fees often make or break a deal for a merchant. This is why many merchants, especially small businesses, don't accept American Express. American Express' interchange fee is just too high. Providers like Visa and Mastercard charge between 1.15% and 2.5%, while Amex charges merchants between 1.43% and 3.3%.