Mar 30, 2015, 7:53 am
Last edit by: TravelingZoomer
American Express typically allows USA cardholders to have a maximum of four credit cards, plus an unspecified number of charge cards. Personal and Business cards count against this cap. Some individuals have more credit cards if opened before the cap was instituted. Anecdotal evidence indicates the limit may have been raised to five in early 2016.
Edit: As of May 19, 2020, Amex has confirmed the limit is four lending (credit) cards, and ten charge cards. Source
Centurion, Platinum, Plum, Gold, and Green are charge cards.
American Express issues both charge and credit cards for three co-brand partners:
All others are credit cards. This includes all variants of Everyday, Blue, and many discontinued cards. It includes all co-branded cards currently issued for:
Edit: As of May 19, 2020, Amex has confirmed the limit is four lending (credit) cards, and ten charge cards. Source
Centurion, Platinum, Plum, Gold, and Green are charge cards.
American Express issues both charge and credit cards for three co-brand partners:
- Charles Schwab
- Morgan Stanley
All others are credit cards. This includes all variants of Everyday, Blue, and many discontinued cards. It includes all co-branded cards currently issued for:
- Delta
- Hilton
- Lowes
- Marriott
Amex USA 4 or 5 "Credit" Card Limit.
Mar 13, 2013, 1:04 pm
#181
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
I am feeling pretty confident that right now Amex does have a hard and official RULE that you cannot have more than four US American Express issued credit cards. Someone may say "hey I've got five" but you did not get that fifth (or sixth or whatever) in recent (<6 months) history.
I don't believe that has any relation to foreign issued cards though. I still have an old Amex British Airways and Blue credit card in the UK from when I lived there. I still use them from time-to-time. It is clear in considering my applications for US based cards, Amex does not look at my UK issued cards. And as I have not lived in the UL for 7 years now, I have no recent experience of getting multiple cards there and whether Amex UK is imposing any similar limits to it's US cousin.
I don't believe that has any relation to foreign issued cards though. I still have an old Amex British Airways and Blue credit card in the UK from when I lived there. I still use them from time-to-time. It is clear in considering my applications for US based cards, Amex does not look at my UK issued cards. And as I have not lived in the UL for 7 years now, I have no recent experience of getting multiple cards there and whether Amex UK is imposing any similar limits to it's US cousin.
Mar 14, 2013, 12:22 am
#182
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: HNL
Programs: AA Citi Visa and Amex, Citi AA Biz, SPG, Amex Green, Zync, Discover It (Starbucks Gold) HHonors Gold
Posts: 268
If that is the case, I guess I'm getting close to my limit. I have SPG (converted from Delta), Costco and recently Hilton Honors.
Mar 14, 2013, 9:18 am
#183
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Mar 14, 2013, 9:20 am
#184
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Mar 14, 2013, 9:34 am
#185
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
Mar 29, 2013, 9:36 am
#187
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: FLL
Programs: US CP, AA Plat, DL Silver, EY Gold, Kimpton IC, SPG Plat
Posts: 409
AMEX New Rule: Max 4 Personal Credit Cards?
After applying for the SW Preferred AMEX, I received a call telling me that I can only have four AMEX credit cards (charge cards don't count). Fortunately, I had a Blue card that I had no problems canceling.
Does anyone know if this is a new limit for AMEX?
Does anyone know if this is a new limit for AMEX?
Apr 11, 2013, 6:12 am
#189
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 8
Hi folks. Applied for a Platinum Cashback last week and just received this letter back:
So apparently it seems Amex are making up their 'rules' on a whim? Is it worth arguing this if clearly some people have way more than two credit cards?
For the record I have 3 cards direct with Amex: Gold, BA and Nectar. And two with other providers: Avios Duo (Lloyds) and BMI (MBNA).
So apparently it seems Amex are making up their 'rules' on a whim? Is it worth arguing this if clearly some people have way more than two credit cards?
For the record I have 3 cards direct with Amex: Gold, BA and Nectar. And two with other providers: Avios Duo (Lloyds) and BMI (MBNA).
Apr 11, 2013, 7:58 am
#190
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
As discussed earlier in the thread, you have two credit cards and one charge card. I expect they would permit you open the new account if you close the BA or Nectar account. The cards issued by other banks are not relevant. The number of cards held by other customers is not relevant.
Apr 11, 2013, 8:29 am
#192
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 8
As discussed earlier in the thread, you have two credit cards and one charge card. I expect they would permit you open the new account if you close the BA or Nectar account. The cards issued by other banks are not relevant. The number of cards held by other customers is not relevant.
Apr 11, 2013, 9:12 am
#194
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Apr 11, 2013, 9:20 am
#195
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 8
As the poster above you as proven some people have far more than two credit cards (unless he's also counting cards issued indirectly).