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.
Sep 6, 2021, 2:16 am
#557
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Oct 18, 2021, 2:19 pm
#558
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,064
I currently have a mix of 5 personal and small business credit cards, so I am not actively considering additional applications, since I may already be at the limit.
My small business cards were opened as a sole proprietorship, but I also have an LLC.
Does anyone know if Amex allows additional credit cards under an LLC?
Would it be better to apply for a card and wait to see if Amex tells me I need to close an existing account, or proactively call and pose the question?
To go along with my prior question, does anyone know if Amex can transfer sole proprietorship small business credit cards over to an LLC?
My small business cards were opened as a sole proprietorship, but I also have an LLC.
Does anyone know if Amex allows additional credit cards under an LLC?
Would it be better to apply for a card and wait to see if Amex tells me I need to close an existing account, or proactively call and pose the question?
To go along with my prior question, does anyone know if Amex can transfer sole proprietorship small business credit cards over to an LLC?
Oct 18, 2021, 4:14 pm
#559
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
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Business cards are issued to individuals, not to companies. When you apply for a business card you must provide your SSN. (Corporate cards are different.) Remmber, the limit applies only to credit cards, not charge cards.
Oct 20, 2021, 8:24 am
#560
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New York City
Programs: UA: 1K, Hyatt: Explorist and Marriott: LF Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,268
I currently have 4 and they all serve different purpose:
- Personal and Business SPG: 30 night credit
- AMEX Platinum: For lounge access
- AMEX Gold: 4x on grocery and restaurant spend
Oct 20, 2021, 8:33 am
#561
Moderator
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Oct 20, 2021, 9:19 am
#562
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Does Amex's "credit card limit" end up including either of those Amex charge cards if the account member enables pay-over-time or some other borrowing/lending/credit-providing feature for what is otherwise just a charge card product?
Oct 21, 2021, 12:30 am
#563
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I would like to know too, but I think all indication is that it does since it turns the card into a credit product? Quite frankly, I think it's ridiculous that AMEX puts a limit on the number of credit products that one can have.
Oct 30, 2021, 11:08 am
#564
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,714
Just to be totally sure, my corporate Green card doesn't count towards the 5 CC limit, right?
Oct 30, 2021, 12:49 pm
#565
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,
Posts: 2,281
Oct 30, 2021, 12:50 pm
#566
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,
Posts: 2,281
I can confirm this. I have POT enabled because they offered 10k points to activate it a while back and I forgot about it and I called in because they denied me my 5th CC and told me it would be no problem after I deactivated POT
Oct 30, 2021, 2:34 pm
#567
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I had that offer available to me as well, but I never signed up for it. I never had any difficulties getting my 5th CC, though. To be blunt, I think AMEX's CC limits are dumb.
Oct 31, 2021, 10:15 am
#568
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
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Oct 31, 2021, 10:22 am
#569
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I couldn't disagree with you more. I also get the CC for the benefits and not to churn. I haven't churned any card due to the one SUB per lifetime rule. I have indeed signed up for the cards to get the SUB, but it's not churning if I can't get the SUB again in the subsequent years.
Oct 31, 2021, 11:05 am
#570
Moderator
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Originally Posted by lsquare
....I have indeed signed up for the cards to get the SUB....