Who is Eligible for American Express Cards?

American Express offers a wide variety of credit cards including personal cards, small business cards corporate cards and co-branded cards with hotel chains and airlines. With so many options, many consumers wonder – who is actually eligible to get approved for an Amex card?

The basic eligibility criteria are fairly straightforward, but American Express does have some specific requirements regarding credit score, income, and other factors In this comprehensive guide, we’ll outline everything you need to know about Amex card eligibility

Basic Eligibility Requirements

Here are the baseline criteria you need to meet to qualify for any American Express card:

• Age 18+ – You must be at least 18 years old to apply for an Amex card in your own name.

• Good credit – American Express generally requires a credit score of 670 or higher for approval. Specific credit requirements vary by card.

• Sufficient income – Income requirements also vary by card, but most Amex cards require a minimum annual income between $20,000 to $100,000.

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident – Currently, Amex cards are only available to applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

• No recent bankruptcies – If you have declared bankruptcy in the past few years, you will most likely not qualify for an Amex card.

• Limited Amex cards – American Express typically only approves existing cardmembers for a maximum of 4 credit cards and 10 charge cards.

As long as you meet these basic requirements, you have a good chance of approval for one of Amex’s many card offerings.

Credit Score Requirements

One of the most important eligibility factors for American Express is your credit score. Amex generally requires a minimum score of 670 to 720 to qualify for most of its cards.

Here are some guidelines for Amex credit score requirements:

• Excellent credit (740+) – Best chance of approval for premium cards like the Platinum and Gold cards

• Good credit (670-739) – Decent approval odds for cards like Blue Cash Preferred and Delta SkyMiles cards

• Fair credit (580-669) – Low approval odds, best to build credit first before applying

• Poor/no credit – Very difficult to get approved without an established credit history

It’s important to note that American Express pulls your credit report from Experian when reviewing your application. Checking your Experian score before applying gives you the best sense of your approval odds.

If you don’t qualify due to credit issues, taking steps to improve your credit score can significantly increase your chances for Amex approval down the road. Paying down balances, disputing errors, or becoming an authorized user are a few options.

Income Requirements

For premium cards like the Platinum, Amex wants to see a minimum annual income of around $100,000. But many cards have lower income requirements in the $20,000 to $50,000 range.

Here are the typical minimum income requirements for popular Amex card tiers:

• Premium cards – $100,000+ (Platinum, Gold, Green)

• Mid-tier cards – $50,000+ (Blue Cash Preferred, Delta Reserve)

• Entry-level cards – $20,000+ (Blue Cash Everyday, Delta Blue)

• No preset requirement – Some cards (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors)

For business cards, minimum revenue requirements may apply instead of personal income requirements. Small business cards often require around $50,000+ in annual business revenue.

If your income or business revenue falls short of a card’s requirement, you can list household income or discuss other factors with a reconsideration agent. Approval is still possible in some cases.

Other Eligibility Considerations

Beyond your credit score and income, American Express also evaluates additional elements of your financial profile when reviewing applications:

• Existing Amex cards – Harder to get approved if you already have multiple Amex cards.

• Other credit cards – Lower approval odds if you’ve opened several cards recently.

• Debt-to-income ratio – Amex may deny applicants with high balances and utilization.

• Banking history – Applicants with longer tenure at their bank may have better luck.

• Residence – Available primarily to applicants with a U.S. address.

• Inquiries and new accounts – Too many hard pulls and new accounts can lead to denial.

Meeting all the eligibility criteria is no guarantee of approval, as American Express ultimately makes decisions based on your overall credit profile. But taking steps to optimize these key factors will significantly improve your chances.

Best Amex Cards for Good Credit

If your credit score is 670 or above, you’ll have a decent selection of Amex cards to choose from. Here are some great options for applicants with good credit:

Blue Cash Everyday – Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and 2% back at U.S. gas stations. No annual fee.

Blue Cash Preferred – Earn 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and 3% back on transit and gas. $95 annual fee.

Gold Card – Earn 4x points on dining and groceries (up to $25,000 per year). $250 annual fee.

Green Card – Earn 3x points on transit, dining, and travel. $150 annual fee.

Hilton Honors Card – Earn 7x points on Hilton stays, 5x points at U.S. restaurants and supermarkets. No foreign transaction fee. $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $95.

Building Credit to Qualify

If your credit doesn’t meet Amex requirements yet, the good news is there are many ways to build and improve your credit over time. Here are a few tips:

• Make all credit payments on time each month

• Keep credit utilization low on all cards

• Become an authorized user on a family member’s credit card

• Open a secured credit card if you have no credit history

• Limit hard inquiries by spacing out applications

• Monitor your credit reports and dispute any errors

• Let your credit history age by keeping accounts open

With a little time and effort, you can position yourself to qualify for great rewards cards from American Express. Be sure to check for pre-qualified Amex offers as your credit improves.

The Bottom Line

American Express has card options for a wide range of applicants, but good credit is key for the best approval odds and rewards. Meeting baseline requirements for age, residence, income and credit score is essential. With fair or poor credit, try improving your score before applying again. Check for Amex pre-approvals as your profile strengthens.

To qualify for an American Express card, you generally need a good to excellent credit score (typically 670 or above), though specific requirements vary by card. Other factors like income, employment status, and your history with American Express are also considered.