You need a credit score of 700 or higher to get an American Express card, along with a steady income that enables you to afford the monthly bill payments. American Express only offers credit cards for people with good credit or better, so you may have to work on improving your credit score before applying for an Amex. You can check your credit score for free, right here on WalletHub.
Credit Score Needed for Notable Amex Credit Cards
You should note that while your credit score is an important factor, there are plenty of other things that will impact your chances of being approved for an American Express credit card, too. Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, number of open accounts, recent credit inquiries, employment status, and housing status.
If you’re not sure whether you will qualify for an American Express credit card, you can check for pre-approval through the issuer’s dedicated webpage. This way, you can quickly see which American Express credit cards will give you the highest odds of approval.
How to Get Pre-Approved for an American Express Card
- Visit the American Express pre-approval page.
- Enter your name, address, income, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Click on “View My Card Offers” to view any pre-approved offers.
Current American Express customers may also receive pre-approved offers periodically by e-mail or when logging into their card’s online account. In some cases, American Express will also send people pre-approved offers for a specific credit card in the mail.
Getting pre-approved for an American Express card indicates that your chances of being approved for an account are very high (80%-90%), should you decide to apply. It does not mean that approval is guaranteed.
How to Improve Your Credit Score Before Applying for an Amex Card
- Check your credit report for errors:If you identify a mistake on your credit reports, you should disputeissues promptly to protect your credit score. WalletHub’sfree credit monitoring tool can help you catch errors or possible signs of fraud on your credit report as they occur.
- Keep open accounts in good standing:Lenders relay account information to the major credit bureaus every month. A good payment history is essential for improving your credit. In order tonever forget a due date, you canset up automatic monthly bill payments from a bank account.
- Keep your credit utilization low:Using more than 30% of your credit limit might damage your credit score.Credit utilization of 1% - 10% is best for your credit score.
To learn more, you can read WalletHub’s guide on how to improve your credit score. You can also get personalized tips on how to enhance your credit with WalletHub’s freecredit analysis.
This answer was last updated on 03/27/24 and it was first published on 10/30/20. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
FAQs
In most cases, you need at least good credit to get approved for an American Express card, which FICO typically defines as a score of 670 or higher. Other banks also issue American Express cards.
What is the minimum credit score that Amex will approve? ›
Cards such as the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express usually recommend a 670+ score. However, there is anecdotal evidence of scores in the lower 600s being approved.
What's the easiest Amex to get approved for? ›
What's the easiest American Express card to get?
- Best Overall: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.
- Best for Cash Back Rewards: American Express Cash Magnet® Card.
- Best for Airlines: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card.
- Best for Hotels: Hilton Honors American Express Card.
Where does the data on American Express® MyCredit Guide come from? The data on your MyCredit Guide is based on your Experian® credit report. Your FICO® Score is calculated based on information in that credit report.
How much does American Express approve you for a credit card? ›
American Express credit card approval odds are best for people with a good or excellent credit score of 700+, an annual income of $50,000+, and relatively little debt. Applicants will also need to be 18+ years old with a U.S. mailing address and an SSN or ITIN to get a American Express credit card.
Can I get approved for Amex with a 650 credit score? ›
There's no credit score that guarantees you'll be approved or denied. Some applicants have reported getting approved for The Platinum Card® from American Express with scores of 650 and 660. Others have been denied with scores above 700 and 750.
Can I get approved for Amex with a 600 credit score? ›
Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator
No, you cannot get an American Express credit card with a 600 credit score, which is considered bad credit. Most Amex credit cards require a credit score of 700 or better for high chances of approval. This means you need to have at least good credit to get an Amex credit card.
What is the hardest American Express card to get approved for? ›
Centurion® Card from American Express
A rating of 5 is the best a card can receive. Why it's one of the hardest credit cards to get: The hardest credit card to get is the American Express Centurion Card. Known simply as the “Black Card,” you need an invitation to get Amex Centurion.
What credit score is needed for Amex Blue Card? ›
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday credit score requirement is 700, at a minimum.
Is American Express hard to get approved for? ›
It is hard to get an American Express credit card because all cards offered by American Express require good credit or better for approval, which may be out of reach for the average consumer. Applicants need a 700 credit score and a steady income to have good approval odds for an American Express credit card.
As a guideline, American Express' MyCredit Guide tool uses FICO's scoring model, which considers a credit score between 670 and 799 to be good or very good, anything below 670 to be fair or poor and anything above 800 to be excellent.
What credit score do I need to get Amex Platinum? ›
Bottom line. To qualify for the Amex Platinum Card®, you'll typically need a good to excellent credit score (670+).
How to get an Amex with bad credit? ›
American Express does not offer any credit cards for bad credit (a credit score below 640). All American Express credit cards require good-to-excellent credit for approval, which means a credit score of at least 700.
What is the easiest American Express card to get? ›
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the American Express Cash Magnet® Card are two of the easiest Amex cards to get approved for because they only require good credit.
What is American Express minimum credit score? ›
In most cases, you need at least good credit to get approved for an American Express card, which FICO typically defines as a score of 670 or higher. Other banks also issue American Express cards.
How does Amex decide credit limit? ›
A credit limit is determined based on financial details and information we receive in your application. We review this information on a regular basis and may offer you a new credit limit during your membership.
Can I get an Amex with a 720 credit score? ›
To give yourself the best chance of being approved, you'll want a credit score of at least 670. However, having a pristine credit score doesn't guarantee your approval.
Is 730 score enough to qualify for a gold Amex? ›
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.
What credit rating do I need for American Express? ›
As a guideline, American Express' MyCredit Guide tool uses FICO's scoring model, which considers a credit score between 670 and 799 to be good or very good, anything below 670 to be fair or poor and anything above 800 to be excellent.
