[2020.1 Update] If you still have the Ameriprise version of this card, take note: it will automatically be converted to the new AMEX Green credit card on 2020.3.26. If you have not applied for the AMEX Green before, remember to close this card first to avoid triggering the lifetime restriction. You can also apply for an AMEX Green before the automatic conversion so the welcome bonus does not go to waste. At the moment, using incognito or VPN mode may bring up a 45,000 MR offer.
[2019.10 Update] The Ameriprise version of the Gold card is no longer available for application either. It has officially been discontinued.
[2017.6 Update] This card has been removed from the AMEX website and is now discontinued.
Contents [Hide]
Who This Card Is For:
- Long-term hold ($160/year cost)
- AMEX Offer enthusiasts
- Short-term hold, then close after one year (return > -$0+$500+$150=$650)
- No annual fee for the first year (-$0)
- 25,000 MR welcome bonus (about $500)
- One year of AMEX Offers (about $150)
- Various built-in AMEX card benefits (>0)
My Take:
I do not currently plan to apply for this card just for the 25,000 MR welcome bonus. The reason is that I have opened quite a few cards recently, and I already have a large MR balance, so even though this is one of the highest offers in recent years, I am not very interested. If you have not opened many cards recently, have already picked up other AMEX welcome bonuses, and are good at maximizing AMEX Offers, then this card could be worth considering for the welcome bonus plus a year of AMEX Offers. This card is the lower-tier version of the AMEX Premier Gold Rewards. The biggest differences are that it has no airline incidental credit ($100 per year) and lower earning rates (only 2x on airfare), yet the annual fee is only $30 lower. It is hard to understand why AMEX designed this card this way. Unless you make heavy use of AMEX Offers every year, it is probably not worth keeping long term—close it after one year and move on.
Entry-Level Gold Card Overview
Application
- Application link: None (if the page does not show this offer, click here for detailed instructions)
- Approval difficulty: This card is relatively easy; in general, about six months of credit history is often enough for instant approval
- Application status: Official application status check link
- Things to note:
- Please read AMEX bank characteristics before applying
- You can apply without an SSN. If you are not approved or your application is pending, you can call for reconsideration
Basic Features
- Welcome bonus: 25,000 Membership Rewards (worth about $250-$500)
- Earning MR points:
- 2x on airfare purchased directly from airlines, 2x at restaurants
- 1X on all other purchases
- Redeeming MR points:
- Transfer to many airline mileage programs to maximize value
- Can also be used for hotel points, statement credits, Amazon, McDonald's, purchases in the official rewards mall, and gift cards
- For more details, see: MR Guide
- No foreign transaction fee
- $160 annual fee (waived for the first year)
Highlights
- 25,000 MR points as a welcome bonus:
- High value and very flexible. You can transfer points to major airlines for great-value award tickets. (60k points transferred to ANA can get you a round-trip ticket between China and the U.S., and transferring to BA is also excellent for short domestic flights in the U.S.)
- For more details, see: MR Guide
- AMEX card benefits
- AMEX Offers: What? Spend 20 at Amazon, get 20 back? Walmart 15-5? Pay your phone bill 75-10? AMEX often gives cardholders generous offers that let you earn cash back while spending. For details, see AMEX OFFER Guide.
- Free ShopRunner membership: enjoy free two-day shipping at many online stores. For details, see the official link
- Extended warranty: items paid in full with an AMEX card automatically get one extra year added to the manufacturer's warranty
- Free reports: some users can check their credit score for free, and once per year can receive a free credit report
Drawbacks
- This is a charge card, so you need to pay the balance in full after the statement closes; otherwise the interest is extremely high
- Compared with its higher-end version, Premier Gold Rewards, it falls far short and is definitely not worth keeping long term
Application Link:
- None
