Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Black cards are a status symbol that are typically invite-only and reserved for big spenders who can afford to pay initiation fees and annual fees totaling thousands of dollars. But the invitation-only requirement has changed slightly for the oldest "black card" — the Centurion® Card from American Express.
The Centurion Card, or the "Amex Black Card," is still invite-only, but in late 2021, the Amex Centurion website began allowing existing Amex cardholders who are interested in Centurion membership to request consideration by filling out a short online form.
An Amex spokesperson told CNBC Select that prospective Centurion members have always been able to request consideration for a membership to Centurion, but it typically has been handled over the phone and more recently, a digital feature has been added. Below, we review how you can request an invite for the Amex Centurion Card and the card's qualifications, fees and benefits.
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How to request an invite to the Amex Centurion Card
You can complete the invitation request for an Amex Centurion Card in a minute, but there are a few things to keep in mind. For starters, you'll need to be an existing Amex cardholder to request an invite. And the Amex Centurion website also disclaims that: "Submission of your information is not an application for credit and does not obligate American Express to invite you to apply for the Centurion Card."
Simply follow these steps to request an invite to the Amex Centurion Card:
- Go to the Centurion website.
- At the bottom of the page, click on: "Interested in Centurion® Membership? Click Here."
- Enter your first and last name and the card number and the security code for your Amex card.
- Submit your invite request.
- Amex will reach out if you qualify by sending an invitation via your mailing address on file.
Amex Centurion Card qualifications, fees and benefits
Experts estimate that there are around 100,000 Amex Centurion cardholders in the world, with only about 20,000 of those being in the United States.
While Amex doesn't officially publish the qualifications for the Amex Centurion Card, black cards often require you to have a strong existing relationship with the card issuer. This typically means high spending requirements of upwards of six figures or more each year. The 2020 Census Household Income Report found the median American household income is $67,521 per year, which makes the Centurion Card's six-figure minimum spending requirement well out of reach for most people. Of course, you are also expected to have an excellent credit score in order to qualify for a black card.
The cardmember agreement does state a hefty $10,000 initiation fee when you open the card and a $5,000 annual fee (see rates and fees). That's at least $15,000 in fees the first year, without considering adding authorized users, which cost an additional $2,500 per year for additional Centurion cards (up to two).
While the annual fees are mind-boggling, the Amex Centurion Card does offer top-notch benefits that frequent travelers may consider worth the card's steep cost. Centurion cardholders receive access to Amex Centurion airport lounges, exclusive clubhouses, complimentary Delta Platinum Medallion, Marriott Gold and Hilton Diamond status. Each loyalty program offers its own suite of perks that can be worthwhile for Delta, Marriott and Hilton enthusiasts.
The value of these perks ranges, but can be worth thousands of dollars. For instance, Hilton Diamond status typically requires $12,000 in spending, which cardholders receive complimentarily. And Hilton Diamond status offers free continental breakfast for you and a guest, your fifth night free when you book a hotel stay with points and other VIP privileges. Meanwhile, Delta Platinum Medallion status offers a "Choice Benefit" (such as a $200 Delta travel voucher), waived baggage fees, priority boarding and more.
In addition to a high spending limit, Centurion cardholders also get an Equinox Destination Access gym membership, Saks Fifth Avenue shopping credits, access to exclusive lounges, invitations to exclusive entertainment events and access to a personal concierge to assist with travel bookings, restaurant reservations and other inquiries.
If you want a premium card without $15,000 in fees your first year and $5,000 thereafter, consider more mainstream cards with significantly lower annual fees, such as the American Express Platinum Card® ($895, see rates and fees) or the American Express® Gold Card ($325, see rates and fees). All three of these cards can save you thousands in annual fees and offer competitive rewards and benefits. For example, similar to the Black Card, the Platinum Card® offers widespread airport lounge access, hotel elite status with Marriott and Hilton, credits towards an Equinox gym membership and more. Enrollment required; 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
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
Pair your card with an Amex bank account
If you want to 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 account options.
With an American Express® Rewards Checking account you get valuable features that are rare to find with checking accounts. You'll 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
Monthly maintenance fee
$0
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Minimum balance
Min balance to open = $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.
Pros
- Free ATM network
- No monthly fees
- ATM fee reimbursement
- No minimum deposit to open an account
- No overdraft fees
- Can transfer rewards
Cons
- Only available for existing Amex cardholders who've had a card account open for at least three months
The American Express® High Yield Savings Account offers an amazing 3.10% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as of 5/19/2026*, which compares favorably to the savings accounts that offer the best rates. 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.
American Express® High Yield Savings Account
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.
Pros
- Strong APY
- Min deposit / Min balance = $0
- $0 monthly fees
- 24/7 customer support
- Helpful "Tips & Tools" section on website
Cons
- Higher APYs offered elsewhere
- No option to add a checking account
- No ATM access
- You can't deposit a check via the mobile app
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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Read more
For rates and fees of Centurion® Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
*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.
