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Credit Cards

8 American Express card benefits you may not know about

These under-the-radar perks can save you money and help you earn additional rewards.

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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express cards are known for offering lucrative features like generous rewards, valuable statement credits and extensive airport lounge access. But beyond these flashy benefits, Amex offers a variety of under-the-radar perks that can add surprising value to your everyday life.

Whether you're already a cardholder or considering becoming one, these lesser-known benefits might be reason enough to give Amex cards a closer look. With a little legwork, you'll discover extra protections, discounts and other deals that make these cards even more rewarding.

Little-known Amex card benefits

Amex Offers

One of the easiest money-saving perks to overlook is Amex Offers, which are special deals for bonus points or cash back after you make eligible purchases. According to American Express, card members who enrolled in Amex Offers added the potential to earn an average of $150 back in statement credits on qualifying purchases in 2023.

To take advantage of an Amex Offer you have to log in to your account and add it to your card. These deals are targeted, and if you have multiple Amex cards, the offers can differ for each card.

Statement credit offers are typically available on all eligible cards, and you may also receive deals to earn additional rewards based on the type of rewards your card earns. If you have a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points or Hilton Honors points, some Amex Offers may reward you with bonus points instead of cash back.

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
4.8

On the American Express site

Spotlight

You can earn 130,000 bonus points and an Intro Annual Fee Offer after meeting the minimum spending requirements.

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

19.49%-28.49% Variable

Annual fee

$150

Welcome bonus

Intro Annual Fee Offer + 130,000 Bonus Points

See rates and fees, terms apply.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a solid mid-tier hotel card that offers with statement credits that can easily offset its annual fee.

  • Up to $50 in Hilton credit each quarter
  • Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status
  • High rewards rate for Hilton purchases
  • High spending threshold to earn a Free Night Reward
  • Hilton credit is earned in quarterly increments

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Enjoy a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 and earn 130,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/29/26. 
  • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status with your Card. Plus, spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
  • Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually.
  • Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
  • Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
  • Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
  • Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
  • Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
  • As a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you're enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
  • Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Global Assist® Hotline is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Other terms and conditions apply.
  • Points don't expire while your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is active and in good standing.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. 
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Travel services and perks

Amex issues many top travel cards, and benefits like airport lounge access, travel credits and valuable travel rewards tend to grab the headlines. But you could miss out on a lot of value if you aren't aware of your card's other benefits. Eligible Amex cards also offer:

  • Hotel benefits: Some Amex cards grant elite status with a specific hotel chain or chains (enrollment required). Eligible cards also offer additional perks when you book eligible stays through Amex Travel with The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels & Resorts. Benefits can include room upgrades (when available), on-property credits and more.
  • Cruise privileges program: With The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or the American Express Platinum Card®, you can receive additional perks when you book an eligible cruise through Amex Travel. The cruise must be at least five nights, and you can receive $100 to $300 in onboard credit per room and an additional onboard amenity per room.
  • Rental car status: Eligible Amex cardholders can receive complimentary status with Avis, Hertz and National (enrollment required). The benefits vary but can include upgrades and faster checkout lines. Terms and limitations apply.
  • Global assist*: Eligible Amex cards offer access to a Global Assist Hotline or Premium Global Assist Hotline when traveling more than 100 miles from your home in the United States. This service is available to help coordinate travel and solve issues you encounter while traveling.

American Express Platinum Card®

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

Spotlight

The Amex Platinum Card provides access to Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs® , Lufthansa Lounges, Escape Lounges and more. (Enrollment required)

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Annual fee

$895

Welcome bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points

See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our Amex Platinum Card review. The American Express Platinum Card® Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)

  • Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
  • Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
  • Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
  • High annual fee
  • Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. 
  • Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. 
  • With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025. 
  • $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply. 
  • $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required. 
  • $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. 
  • $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
  • $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal. 
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details. 
  • Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out. 
  • $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required. 
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible. 
  • Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7. 
  • $895 annual fee. 
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Balance transfer fee

N/A

Foreign transaction fee

None

*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. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Shopping protections

When you're looking for a card that can help you maximize your return on purchases, the rewards you earn are easy to attach value to. However, the retail protections available with select Amex cards may provide even more value if you ever have to make a claim. Eligible cards provide extended warranty protection, return protection*, purchase protection* and cell phone protection*.

The specific protections available vary by card, but many of Amex's premium cards offer all of the previously mentioned shopping protections, including the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
4.8

On the American Express site

Spotlight

Every year after renewal, you'll receive a companion certificate valid for Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight each year after renewal of your Card. (The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.)

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

19.49%-28.49% Variable

Annual fee

$650

Welcome bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Bonus Miles

See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card review. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card's array of premium benefits make it a perfect fit for the most loyal Delta flyers, including elite status boosts, rideshare credits (enrollment required) and airport lounge access.

  • Access to airport lounges, including Amex Centurion lounges
  • Up to $560 in annual statement credits (Enrollment may be required)
  • 15% discount for eligible Delta award flights (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.)
  • High annual fee
  • No bonus spending categories outside of Delta purchases

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.  Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together. 
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight. 
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year. 
  • Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.  Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit. 
  • $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required. 
  • $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required. 
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. 
  • With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta. 
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. 
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad. 
  • $650 Annual Fee. 
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Cell phone protection is underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Purchase protection and extended warranty are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Travel protections

American Express Membership® Rewards points can help you book all sorts of travel, including posh hotels and luxury flights. With the right Amex card, you can also give your peace of mind with additional travel protections, including baggage insurance*, trip delay insurance*, trip cancellation and interruption insurance* and car rental loss and damage coverage*.

You'll need a premium Amex card to get access to trip interruption or cancellation coverage, but the American Express® Gold Card is exceptionally rewarding and also offers trip delay, baggage insurance and car rental loss and damage coverage.

American Express® Gold Card

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

Spotlight

The Amex Gold Card offers over $400 in statement credits every year.

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Annual fee

$325

Welcome bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points

See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our American Express® Gold Card review. The American Express Gold® Card Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.

  • You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
  • Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Larger annual fee
  • Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. 
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. 
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. 
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. 
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay. 
  • Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required. 
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required. 
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. 
  • New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
  • Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
  • Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
  • Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Foreign transaction fee

None

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide for more details. Trip delay insurance and trip cancellation and interruption insurance are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. Baggage insurance and car rental loss or damage coverage are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Event access

Eligible Amex cards offer presale and reserved tickets to select events. This includes concerts, sporting events, dining experiences, theater shows and more. At venues part of the Amex Venue Collection™, you can take advantage of dedicated entrances and receive 10% back on qualifying concessions purchases (up to $250 back per calendar year).

If you want to take advantage of Amex's event perks and earn cash back on all of your other purchases, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a solid choice, especially for groceries and streaming subscriptions. (Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout)

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
4.8

On the American Express site

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

19.49% - 28.49% Variable

Annual fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Welcome bonus

You may be eligible for as high as $300 cash back

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a low-fee card with generous cash-back rewards and useful ongoing benefits, such as a monthly Disney Bundle credit. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)

  • High cash-back earnings for U.S. supermarkets and streaming services
  • Intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers
  • No annual fee for the first year
  • It's less rewarding after the first year because of the annual fee
  • Bonus rewards for U.S. supermarkets are capped

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $300 cash back* after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $3,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
  • Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don't have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you'll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
  • Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
  • Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign transaction fee

2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars

Car purchasing program

Finding a dealer that will allow you to purchase a car with a credit card isn't always easy, but all dealers that participate in the Amex Auto Purchasing Program let you charge at least $2,000 of the vehicle purchase price on your eligible Amex card (terms apply). This allows you to earn rewards on your car purchase, but there are significant caveats to pay attention to. If you can't pay off your card balance, you could end up paying a significantly higher interest rate on your balance compared to an auto loan.

Compare auto loans

Pair your card with an Amex bank account

If you want to maximize your rewards and simplify your financial life by keeping your card and bank accounts under one roof, American Express has you covered with checking and high-yield savings accounts.

With an American Express® Rewards Checking account, you can earn rewards for debit card purchases at a rate of one Amex Membership Rewards® point for every $2 in eligible spending. On top of that, your checking account balance will earn 1.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as of 06/24/2024 in interest. You get all of that with $0 monthly fees to worry about.

American Express® Rewards Checking Account

American Express National Bank is a Member FDIC.
  • Monthly maintenance fee

    $0

  • Minimum deposit to open

    $0

  • Minimum balance

    $0

  • Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

    1.00% as of 06/24/2024

  • Free ATM network

    37,000+ MoneyPass® ATMs

  • ATM fee reimbursement

    None

  • Overdraft fee

    N/A

  • Mobile check deposit

    Yes

  • Terms apply.

Click here to view terms and conditions.

The American Express® High Yield Savings Account offers an impressive *3.10% APY as of 5/19/2026. You don't have to jump through any hoops to qualify for this account's high interest rate. Plus, all the money you earn is yours to keep because you won't pay any monthly fees, overdraft fees or excessive transaction fees.

*The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of 5/19/2026. Interest rate and APY are subject to change at any time without notice before and after a High Yield Savings Account is opened. Interest Rate and APY of a Certificate of Deposit account is fixed once the account is funded

American Express® High Yield Savings Account

On the American Express site
  • Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

    3.10% APY as of 5/19/2026

  • Minimum balance

    Min balance to open = $0

  • Monthly fee

    $0

  • Maximum transactions

    No limits

  • Excessive transactions fee

    $0

  • Overdraft fee

    $0

  • Offer checking account?

    No

  • Offer ATM card?

    No

  • Terms apply.

  • American Express National Bank is a Member FDIC.

The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of 5/19/2026. Interest rate and APY are subject to change at any time without notice before and after a High Yield Savings Account is opened. Interest Rate and APY of a Certificate of Deposit account is fixed once the account is funded

There is no minimum balance required to open your Account, to avoid being charged a fee, or to obtain the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) disclosed to you

For purposes of transferring funds to or from an external bank, business days are Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Transfers can be initiated 24/7 via the website or phone, but any transfers initiated after 7:00 PM Eastern Time or on non-business days will begin processing on the next business day. Funds deposited into your account may be subject to holds. See the Funds Availability section of your Consumer Deposit Account Agreement and Savings Schedules for more information.

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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit cards. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.

For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees for the Hilton Honor Surpass Card, click here.

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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