The American Express® Centurion Card holds cult celebrity status, even among other premium credit cards. Colloquially known as the “Black Card,” this prestigious credit card is only available to big spenders by direct Amex invitation.
If youre curious about this mythical card wielded by A-list celebrities worldwide, read on to learn more.
Black cards are exclusive credit cards that offer luxury perks and benefits But one of the most intriguing aspects of black cards is their high credit limits So what exactly is the credit limit on a black card? Let’s take a closer look,
What is a Black Card?
A black card refers to an elite, luxury credit card that is usually colored black They are designed for high-net-worth individuals and offer exclusive benefits like airport lounge access, travel credits, and concierge services
The most well-known black cards are
- Centurion® Card from American Express
- JP Morgan Reserve Credit Card
- Citi Chairman Card
- Luxury Card Mastercard® Black Card
These cards have annual fees ranging from $450 to $5000 per year. But they provide cardholders with a level of service and amenities far beyond a regular credit card.
Black Card Credit Limits
One of the most eye-catching features of black cards is their sky-high credit limits. But most issuers do not publish the exact credit limits for their black cards.
Here’s what we know about the credit limits on the top black cards:
Centurion® Card from American Express
The Centurion® Card, also known as the Amex Black Card, is perhaps the most iconic and prestigious black card. According to reports, this card does not have a preset spending limit.
Cardholders are given a spending power that can change from month to month based on their usage, assets, income and other factors. Centurion® members have reported credit limits well over $100,000.
JP Morgan Reserve Credit Card
The JP Morgan Reserve Card also has no preset spending cap. Credit limits are flexible and determined on a case-by-case basis. Based on customer reports, credit limits range from $25,000 to over $100,000.
Citi Chairman Card
As a World Elite Mastercard, the Citi Chairman Card offers a minimum credit limit of $10,000. However, the limit can extend well over $100,000 for some cardholders.
Luxury Card Mastercard® Black Card
The Luxury Card Black Card has a minimum credit limit of $5,000. But many cardholders report receiving limits of $20,000 or more.
What Affects a Black Card’s Credit Limit?
Black card companies use a variety of factors to determine each cardholder’s spending limit:
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Income – Applicants must have a high annual income, usually over $100,000. Higher incomes allow for higher credit limits.
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Assets – Asset levels like investments, real estate, and savings are also considered. More assets means more buying power.
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Credit scores – Excellent credit is required for black card approval. FICO scores of 720+ are generally needed. Higher scores can lead to more credit.
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Existing credit limits – Black card companies will consider the limits on an applicant’s current credit cards when assigning a new limit.
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Utilization – Applicants with low balances and high available credit tend to qualify for higher black card limits.
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Debt-to-income ratio – Lower DTI ratios prove applicants can manage more available credit responsibly.
So in general, the higher your income, assets, credit scores, and available credit, the higher your chances of getting an enormous black card limit.
Is a High Limit Worth the Black Card Annual Fee?
A key consideration is whether the high spending power justifies the hefty annual fee on a black card.
For instance, the Centurion® Card from Amex has a $5000 initiation fee and $5000 annual fee. That’s a steep price just for bragging rights of having a six figure limit.
However, if you frequently spend over $100,000 annually on credit cards, then a black card’s flexible, high limit could make sense – especially if you maximize the card’s luxury perks.
But for most consumers, a premium travel rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum provides sufficient credit for a fraction of the cost.
How to Increase Your Credit Limit
While black cards offer easy access to lofty credit limits, there are also ways to increase your limit on a regular credit card:
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Ask for a limit increase – You can request a higher limit every 6-12 months. Issuers may perform a hard inquiry.
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Have your income re-evaluated – Providing updated income docs can lead to instant limit upgrades.
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Boost your credit scores – Improving your payment history and scores makes you eligible for more credit.
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Become an authorized user – Being added as an AU on a family member or friend’s account can raise your limits.
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Open a new card – Applying for a new card gives you access to new credit, on top of your existing limits.
The Bottom Line
Black cards offer the prestige of ultra-high limits only accessible to the ultra-wealthy. But specific credit limits vary based on income, assets, credit scores and other qualifications. While black card limits can exceed $100,000, always make sure you only take on credit you can realistically afford.
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Do Amex Black Card members receive complimentary hotel upgrades?
Yes, Amex Black (Centurion) Card members receive top-tier or near-top-tier elite status with several major hotel chains, including Hilton, IHG, Jumeirah Sirius, Shangri-La Golden Circle, Radisson Rewards, and MeliáRewards. These elite statuses often make members eligible for complimentary room upgrades, early check-in, late check-out, and other VIP privileges, although upgrades are subject to availability and not guaranteed. Centurion members also receive Delta Platinum Medallion® Status, which provides travel perks like complimentary first-class upgrades and priority services. Terms apply.
Amex Black Card rewards
Amex Black Card members earn Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases, but American Express does not publicly disclose a specific earning structure for the Centurion Card. Unlike cards like the Platinum or Gold, which advertise fixed bonus categories, the Centurion Cards rewards program may vary by individual and is not marketed based on high points multipliers.
That said, the real value of the card comes from its elite travel perks, such as automatic hotel status, international lounge access, and personalized concierge services that enhance the overall rewards experience. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 5 Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. Earn 1 Point on other purchases.
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Statement credits with Saks and Uber (enrollment required)
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an X. Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an X. One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and more.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
- A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your 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.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 per Calendar year in statement credits, when you pay for a CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. Thats up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the worlds most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
- $695 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if youre approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If youre approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
What is the limit on the black Mastercard
FAQ
Who qualifies for a black card?
Black cards, like the Amex Centurion Card, are invitation-only credit cards primarily aimed at ultra-high-net-worth individuals with significant spending habits.
What credit card has a $100,000 limit?
The credit card that gives you the highest available credit is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card because it reportedly offers a maximum credit limit of $100,000. Chase Sapphire Preferred reserves its maximum credit limit for the highest-income individuals with good credit or better, though.
What is the limit on the black bank card?
A credit limit of at least £5000. Manage your card wherever, whenever with the NatWest mobile app (Criteria applies).