Credit score calculated based on the FICO® Score 8 model and is provided for educational purposes. American Express and other lenders may use a different FICO® Score version than FICO® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether, and other information to make credit decisions.
FICO is a registered trade mark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries
Getting approved for an American Express credit card depends on meeting their eligibility criteria, which includes factors like your credit score. But what score does Amex actually use when reviewing your application? Let’s take a closer look.
When you apply for an Amex card they will check your credit report and score to help determine if you meet their standards. However, Amex does not publish the exact credit score requirements for all of their cards. The scores can vary depending on the specific card.
An Overview of Credit Scores
Before diving into Amex’s credit score requirements. let’s review the different scoring models
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FICO Score: This is the most commonly used credit score, created by the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). It ranges from 300 to 850.
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VantageScore: This is another credit scoring model, created by the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The range is also 300 to 850.
So which does Amex use – FICO or VantageScore? Amex relies primarily on your FICO Score when evaluating applications. This makes sense since FICO is the more widely used model.
What is a Good FICO Credit Score?
FICO has defined score ranges to determine your creditworthiness:
- Poor: 300 to 579
- Fair: 580 to 669
- Good: 670 to 739
- Very Good: 740 to 799
- Exceptional: 800 to 850
In general you’ll want a minimum of a good FICO Score for American Express cards. But the recommended score can vary depending on the specific card.
Amex Credit Score Requirements
While Amex doesn’t disclose exact FICO requirements, we can get a good idea based on anecdotal data points and the type of card.
Entry-Level Cards
Amex cards like the Blue Cash Everyday fall on the entry-level end of their lineup. For these cards, the recommended minimum FICO Score is around 670. However, there are reports of applicants getting approved with scores in the mid-600s.
Mid-Tier Cards
The Green Card and Gold Card sit in the middle of Amex’s range. You’ll want a FICO Score of at least 680 for the best approval odds. But scores as low as the mid-600s may work.
Premium Cards
At the top end, the Platinum Card and Delta SkyMiles Reserve are premium products. For these cards, a FICO Score of 700+ is recommended. But you might have luck with a score in the upper 600s.
Business Cards
Requirements for Amex business cards like the Business Platinum seem similar to the premium personal cards – a score of 700+ is best.
Authorized User Accounts
If you become an authorized user on someone’s Amex account, you can get approved with little or no credit history of your own.
Other Factors Beyond Your Credit Score
While your credit score is important, American Express also considers other elements like:
- Your income
- Employment status
- Existing debt and credit utilization
- Number of new accounts opened
- Previous relationship with Amex
Meeting the credit score recommendation doesn’t guarantee approval, as these other aspects come into play.
How to Check Your FICO Score
Since Amex relies on your FICO Score, it’s important to monitor it regularly. Here are some ways to check it:
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Order your full credit report and FICO Score from MyFICO.com.
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Check for free on Credit Karma, but note they show a VantageScore, not FICO.
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Many credit cards now offer free access to your FICO Score through your online account.
By keeping tabs on your score, you can get a sense of when you may be eligible to apply for an Amex card.
Tips for Improving Your Credit Score
If your FICO Score needs a boost before applying for American Express, here are some tips:
- Pay all bills on time – set up autopay if possible.
- Keep credit card balances low.
- Limit new credit applications.
- Correct any errors on your credit reports.
- Become an authorized user on someone else’s account.
Building credit takes patience, but good financial habits will be rewarded.
The Bottom Line
While the exact FICO Scores are unknown, a minimum of 670 is recommended for entry-level Amex cards, while premium cards may require 700+. Factors beyond your credit score also determine if you’ll get approved. Regularly check your FICO Score and work to improve it if needed before applying.
About American Express® MyCredit Guide
MyCredit Guide provides your FICO® Score based on Experian® credit report data. FICO® Scores are updated weekly refreshed upon login. Experian credit reports are updated monthly, or any time a financial institution reports a change to your profile. MyCredit Guide also includes a range of information and tools to help you understand your credit score better and plan for the future. Some of the features include:
- Factors that are impacting your score
- Up to 12 months of score history
- Your detailed credit report provided by Experian
- Alerts about critical changes to your Experian credit report information to help you identify potential fraud
- FICO® Score Simulator which can help you assess the possible impact of financial choices before you make them
- Credit education articles
Your FICO® Score is updated weekly, upon log in.
FICO® Scores take into consideration five main categories of information to determine your score*:
- Payment history (35%)
- How much you owe (30%)
- Length of credit history (15%)
- New credit (10%)
- Types of credit (10%) *percentages are estimates
The FICO® Score Simulator is an interactive tool that shows you how certain actions you might take, like applying for a new credit card or loan, making a late bill payment, or closing out one (or all) of your credit cards, could positively or negatively affect your FICO® Score. NOTE: Results of the FICO® Score Simulator are estimated and don’t necessarily show the exact results a given behavior will have on your score.
The FICO® Score Simulator starts with the information in your current Experian credit report and estimates how changes to the information could affect your score. Please keep in mind, the FICO® Score Simulator is an educational tool and the outcomes are estimated and not predictions. NOTE: Accounts not reported to Experian or subsequently deleted from your credit report will not be reflected in your score.
The FICO® Score Planner (FSP) is a feature created to enhance the FICO® Score experience. FSP allows the individual to set a target FICO® Score and associated time horizon to reach that target FICO® Score. These criteria along with the individual’s credit report data elements will be analyzed to provide potential actions the customer could take to reach that target score.
Yes, you will be able to make adjustments to your target goals by selecting the “Edit Goal” option.
You can view your Experian credit report through MyCredit Guide. If you want to see your credit report from other credit reporting agencies, you may request a free copy of your credit report at annualcreditreport.com. Youre entitled to receive one free credit report each year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies – Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.
You will be automatically enrolled in all available email communications, including for marketing purposes, with your MyCredit Guide enrollment. Your email communication preferences can be adjusted by visiting your “My Account” page in MyCredit Guide.
American Express will review your recent credit history and/or other information to determine your eligibility for pre-qualified American Express Card offers. Pre-qualification does not impact your credit score.
MyCredit Guide is a free tool, available whether you have an American Express account or not. Just enroll in MyCredit Guide and you can check your FICO® Score and Experian® credit report online for free.
FICO® Scores range from 300 to 850 and are categorized as follows:
- Exceptional: 800 to 850
- Very good: 740 to 799
- Good: 670 to 739
- Fair: 580 to 669
- Poor: 300 to 579
Everyone’s credit profile is unique. Your financial behaviors and choices may affect your score differently than it would others. Still, there are a few basic things that everyone can do to help maintain a good credit score:
- Consistently pay the amount due on all your bills, on time
- Regularly monitor your credit report and address any inaccuracies in it
- Don’t accumulate too much debt
- Dont apply for new credit too frequently
Your FICO® Score is visible only to you.
Identity (ID) Monitoring keeps an eye on your personal information across a range of internet sites. MyCredit Guide will monitor for compromise or exposure of your personal information including Social Security Number and email address. If we detect that your information has been exposed or compromised, MyCredit Guide will provide alerts to inform you of the specific accounts exposed, description, and recommendations for actions you can take to help secure your data and identity.
It means that our Identity Monitoring service has found your personal information on one or more of the internet sites being scanned. MyCredit Guide recommends that you consider taking action such as contacting your financial institutions, changing passwords, and reviewing your credit report to ensure that there is no unusual activity. Identity Monitoring Alerts are provided through your existing MyCredit Guide account.
Our Identity Monitoring service scans internet sites on the Surface Web, Deep Web and Dark Web for elements of your identity. The Surface Web is made up of the websites indexed by typical search engines. The Deep Web consists of the part of the internet that isn’t indexed by typical search engines, and the Dark Web consists of websites where IP addresses are encrypted or hidden.
First, check to see if the alert contains a specific recommended action. Additionally, you can help protect yourself from fraud by:
- Placing a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting the national credit reporting bureaus.
- Frequently changing your passwords and using unique passwords. Even though only one account may be referenced in the alert, you might want to consider changing your passwords for other accounts as well – especially if you used the same password for other accounts.
- Checking your credit card and bank statements for unauthorized charges.
About the Data Displayed
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.
The information on your Experian credit report comes from multiple sources. Your credit report contains personal information, credit account history, credit inquiries, and public records. This information is reported by your lenders and creditors to the credit bureaus. Much of it is used to calculate your FICO® Score to inform future lenders about your creditworthiness.
Your credit bureau information is continuously updated. If your FICO® Score shows a change, it could be due to a number of reasons. For example, if you acquired new credit, paid down existing debt, or made a late payment, you may see an effect on your credit score.
If you cannot see your FICO® Score, it may be because there is not enough information in your credit report to calculate a credit score.
This is typical if you have recently enrolled. The FICO® Score history chart will build each month, starting with your first visit to MyCredit Guide.
Your FICO® Score through MyCredit Guide is calculated using credit bureau information from Experian. The score can vary depending on the credit bureau that calculated the score since each credit bureau may have different information about you. It can also vary due to the timing of the calculation, given that your credit report is updated frequently.
MyCredit Guide is a summary of your credit data from Experian. If your information does not look right, we recommend that you review your Experian credit report provided in MyCredit Guide. You can also call Experian from 9:00AM to 10:00PM ET, Monday through Friday at 833-421-3385.
American Express may use the information you provide when you enroll to market American Express products and services to you. For information about your options, and how American Express protects your privacy, please read our Privacy Statement.
American Express Platinum Approval Odds – What Credit Score Needed for Amex Platinum Credit Card?
FAQ
What FICO score model does Amex use?
Credit score calculated based on the FICO® Score 8 model and is provided for educational purposes.
What credit score does Amex require?
Which credit report does Amex use?
How rare is an 800 credit score?
An 800 credit score is considered “exceptional” and is relatively rare. Approximately 24% of Americans have a FICO score of 800 or higher, according to The Motley Fool and CNBC.
What credit score do you need to get an Amex card?
While there is no set score that will guarantee that you will be approved for an Amex card, you generally need good to excellent credit to qualify for the best (premium) American Express cards. Leading credit bureau Experian defines a good credit score as 670 or better and a very good credit score as 740 or better.
What is a good credit score for American Express?
Even for the American Express® Green Card, a more beginner-focused travel card, a score of 670 or higher is probably necessary. For American Express’ entry-level and cash-back cards, you can sometimes get away with a shorter credit history and lower score, though you’ll still want to aim for a decent credit score.
What score do you need to get an American Express card?
In other words, you’ll likely need a score in at least the “good” range to qualify for an AmEx card. Other American Express cards will usually require even higher scores. According to the score ranges from FICO, that means American Express applicants typically have at least a 670 score: Exceptional. 800 and above. Very good. 740-799. Good. 670-739.
Which AMEX cards are best for a good credit score?
Bottom Line: Applicants with good to excellent credit will have dozens of Amex cards from which to select. In addition to Amex consumer and business cards, it can often be easier to get approved for Amex hotel or airline-branded cards such as the Hilton Honors American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles ® Gold American Express Card.
Can American Express help my credit score?
American Express can help your credit score if you are the primary accountholder or an authorized user aged 18 or older on an American Express credit card or charge card account. For an Amex card to be good for your credit score, the account must be kept in good standing with on-time monthly bill payments.
Does American Express use a FICO score?
Yes, FICO scores are one of the many factors American Express uses when evaluating applications. American Express also considers your income, monthly debt obligations, existing Amex cards and other factors. What does American Express use for credit card approval?