American Express Credit Cards

An Abridged Version of American Express’ History

American Express currently has offices in more than 130 countries and is considered to be one of the most prestigious financial institutions in the world. The company was founded in 1850 in New York City and quickly expanded throughout the USA and then spread across the rest of the world. American Express credit cards are typically associated with wealth and are generally aimed at people with above average incomes and credit. Apart from credit cards, the company also offers business services aimed at helping small companies get ahead, support for larger corporations, as well as a variety of consumer services.

American Express Credit Cards for Business Use

American Express business cards are a very popular choice because they provide access to one of the very best reward schemes on the Australian card market, the Membership Rewards program. Businesses that regularly use American Express business cards to pay for expenses can quickly build up points to be redeemed for a huge selection of products and services. The program offers a beneficial range of travel rewards and accessories that can be really useful for flights, hotels, rentals and other business trip essentials. American Express offers a selection of different business cards to suit the size of your operation and specific requirements whether you’re a small business or large company.

American Express Credit Cards for Personal Use

Personal American Express cards are designed for individuals who use their cards regularly, covering high volume expenses and keeping on top of monthly repayments. By covering the balance each month American Express cardholders enjoy the benefits of the Membership Rewards program and the company’s world-renowned customer services and support.

AmEx cards are suitable for people with solid credit ratings and high incomes, and good for big spenders and frequent flyers. American Express is generally associated with prestige and exclusivity, but some of their cards are accessible to regular Australians who would qualify for gold cards from other providers. Although American Express cards attract surcharges and don’t always get accepted in all stores, they still offer some of the best rewards big spenders can get.

What You Need to Know About American Express Membership Rewards

Membership Rewards is one of the main reasons for choosing an American Express credit card, giving businesses and individuals the chance to join one of Australia’s most generous and prestigious reward programs. The scheme rewards cardholders who regularly use American Express because the more you spend the more loyalty points you earn. These points can then be used for a huge selection of travel, shopping and entertainment rewards from American Express and Membership Rewards partner companies. Cardholders may also transfer points to other loyalty programs that more closely suit their lifestyle, such as airline rewards for frequent flyers, or for hotel rewards.

Q: Who are AmEx cards best suited to? A: AmEx credit cards are suited to people who like to use their card for plenty of spending, have above average incomes and a solid credit history. They have a more demanding application approval than many other card providers, but if you have good earnings and credit you may find a card to suit your finances. As with all credit cards, it’s important that you can meet monthly repayments, especially if you want to enjoy AmEx’s renowned customer services and get the most out of their generous rewards scheme.

Q: What kind of rewards can be earned? A: The Membership Rewards scheme offers a massive selection of rewards from the program’s partner companies. Travel rewards allow you to redeem points for flights, hotels, foreign currency and other useful travel related benefits. Shopping rewards allow you to choose technology, gifts, homeware, wines and sporting equipment from top brands, with monthly updates and special deals. Points can also be exchanged for a variety of entertainment, dining, leisure and sports options.

Q: When do points expire? A: This depends on how you use your card and whether you keep up with repayments. Points don’t expire as long as you are enrolled on the program as a card member, your credit card account is active and your payments are not overdue. Your points are forfeited if you choose to cancel your subscription to the program, and these points cannot be reinstated if you sign-up again. If your account is 40 days or more overdue for payments your points will also be forfeited, and will expire if you don’t reinstate them within 90 days of your original statement date. As with any credit card, you should always study the small print, terms and conditions for the specific deal before applying.

Q: Are points capped? A: Similarly to point expiry, point capping depends on how you use your AmEx card, whether you maintain your enrolment on the program and if you can keep up-to-date with monthly repayments. Carefully read the small print, terms and conditions before you apply for any credit card so that you don’t get an unexpected surprise.

Q: Is it more difficult to get approved for an American Express card? A: Generally American Express does have a more demanding application process and more limited acceptance than other card providers simply because AmEx cards are designed for people with high incomes, high volumes of spending, disciplined money management and good credit history. Some AmEx cards, however, are more accessible, so check out the various deals on our comparison table and you may be pleasantly surprised to discover what you qualify for.

Q: What do you need to qualify? A: This depends on the card – they each have their own qualification requirements. All American Express credit cards require that you are over 18 years old, a citizen or resident of Australia, and that you have at least a good, if not excellent, credit rating. Importantly, you will also need to meet a certain income to qualify, and the minimum varies between the different cards. The more prestigious cards are designed for very high earners, but some of the deals are aimed at Australians on more modest incomes. Click on the 'Apply’ button for each card and you will be presented with a list of requirements prior to application.

Q: How can I improve my chances of being approved? A: To get approved for a American Express card you need to meet the requirements of the deal you have chosen, and there are was you can improve you chances of applying successfully. A good credit rating is very important, so get a yearly credit report and make sure everything is up-to-date and that there are no mistakes. If you do find anything inaccurate on your report, fix it. Choosing a card that meets your income is also a determining factor in getting approval, so make sure you earn enough and that you have the proof to back it up. When you have selected the card that’s right for you, make sure that you have all the relevant and information at hand; the more clear and correct info you can provide the better your chances of approval. When you are ready, simply click the 'Apply’ button and submit your online application.