Last edit by: TheDapperDon
Bonus category spending is now capped at $50k per year for new accounts. For now, this does not apply to existing cardholders, although Amex may continue to close accounts for excessive spend in bonus categories. This card is less viable as an MS instrument. Consider factors that may have led to these closures when sharing personal experiences.
Oct 22, 2014 onwards: Many people getting cancellation email from Amex. As of Dec 13, 2014, shutdown reports continue. Shutdowns appear to be triggered by spending on the card or upon statement closure, but not always
Some who have been shutdown are reporting back that AMEX is declining new non-OBC card applications due to "unsatisfactory relationship". (However, see here for an example where reconsideration was successful.) It is unclear at this time the length/extent of this Adverse Action/Ban.
Others have succeeded in getting new cards, including new OBCs, but consider your relationship with Amex and how much you value that and this card when deciding how to use it.
There might be some impact with other issuers. If AMEX sends you a cancellation it goes on your record as a cancellation by AMEX, not a cancellation by cardholder. While FICO score does not distinguish between closed by issuer and closed by cardholder, on manual review it may raise questions. However, issuers close cards for benign reasons as well (such as non-use) so unless several cards have been closed it probably won't cause a rejection by itself.
So, if you still feel it is worth it:
Application Link: Copy & paste the following link into a incognito window in Chrome or InPrivate Browsing in IE, Private Session in Firefox. There have been reports of people who got the card in the last couple of months getting shut down because of the rush to spend the initial $6,500.
Do NOT post "Link isn't working" until you have tried it incognito/private browsing and it fails there.
Up to 5% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores (Everyday Purchases). Up to 1% Cash Back on other purchases. For your first $6,500¹ spend in a reward year², you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchases³ (5% after 6500⁴), and 0.5% on other purchases (then 1%).
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.
Eligible purchases do NOT include fees or interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, or purchases of other cash equivalents. Additional terms and restrictions apply. (Presume these T&Cs are standard and that all credit cards state this)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
¹ First '$6,500' is spend on all purchases.
² 'Reward year' is the 12 billing periods in a row beginning with the one in which the anniversary of your Card Account occurs.
³ 'everyday purchases' refers to U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores, not all purchases.
* Read the fine print for 'gas' purchases! Right from AMEX T&C's:
...Everyday Purchases are: ... $400 or less of gasoline at gas stations located in the U.S. (superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline are not considered gas stations)... A >$400 purchase at a gas station will get 5% for the first $400 and 1% thereafter. E.g., for something, say, $503.95, you would earn $21.04 CB [($400*5%)+(103.95*1%)].
⁴ 5% kicks in immediately after hitting $6500.(mid-statement). In fact, it will even kick in mid-purchase and a portion of the purchase will credit at the higher rate.
* Reward dollars for the previous statement period show up a day or two after the current statement period closes.
* Most cash back redemptions will be applied to your statement within 2–3 days.
* Helpful post regarding moving CL between cards. Thanks lad2
* How to Visually Distinguish the Three Types of Blue Cash Cards:
Blue Cash (old) has a "<" character to the left of the word CASH
Blue Cash Everyday has a circle to the right of the word CASH, with the "Everyday" wording at the back.
Blue Cash Preferred has the word PREFERRED printed vertically on the extreme left side.
If you get the error message "You cannot be logged in. Please contact the number on the back of your card." when trying to redeem Reward Dollars online, it may be because you have too many closed accounts still showing in your scrolling images of cards. Delete the closed ones, then try to redeem again.
Oct 22, 2014 onwards: Many people getting cancellation email from Amex. As of Dec 13, 2014, shutdown reports continue. Shutdowns appear to be triggered by spending on the card or upon statement closure, but not always
Some who have been shutdown are reporting back that AMEX is declining new non-OBC card applications due to "unsatisfactory relationship". (However, see here for an example where reconsideration was successful.) It is unclear at this time the length/extent of this Adverse Action/Ban.
Others have succeeded in getting new cards, including new OBCs, but consider your relationship with Amex and how much you value that and this card when deciding how to use it.
There might be some impact with other issuers. If AMEX sends you a cancellation it goes on your record as a cancellation by AMEX, not a cancellation by cardholder. While FICO score does not distinguish between closed by issuer and closed by cardholder, on manual review it may raise questions. However, issuers close cards for benign reasons as well (such as non-use) so unless several cards have been closed it probably won't cause a rejection by itself.
So, if you still feel it is worth it:
Application Link: Copy & paste the following link into a incognito window in Chrome or InPrivate Browsing in IE, Private Session in Firefox. There have been reports of people who got the card in the last couple of months getting shut down because of the rush to spend the initial $6,500.
Do NOT post "Link isn't working" until you have tried it incognito/private browsing and it fails there.
Code:
https://www304.americanexpress.com/credit-card/blue-cash/25330
Up to 5% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores (Everyday Purchases). Up to 1% Cash Back on other purchases. For your first $6,500¹ spend in a reward year², you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchases³ (5% after 6500⁴), and 0.5% on other purchases (then 1%).
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.
Eligible purchases do NOT include fees or interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, or purchases of other cash equivalents. Additional terms and restrictions apply. (Presume these T&Cs are standard and that all credit cards state this)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
¹ First '$6,500' is spend on all purchases.
² 'Reward year' is the 12 billing periods in a row beginning with the one in which the anniversary of your Card Account occurs.
³ 'everyday purchases' refers to U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores, not all purchases.
* Read the fine print for 'gas' purchases! Right from AMEX T&C's:
...Everyday Purchases are: ... $400 or less of gasoline at gas stations located in the U.S. (superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline are not considered gas stations)... A >$400 purchase at a gas station will get 5% for the first $400 and 1% thereafter. E.g., for something, say, $503.95, you would earn $21.04 CB [($400*5%)+(103.95*1%)].
⁴ 5% kicks in immediately after hitting $6500.(mid-statement). In fact, it will even kick in mid-purchase and a portion of the purchase will credit at the higher rate.
* Reward dollars for the previous statement period show up a day or two after the current statement period closes.
* Most cash back redemptions will be applied to your statement within 2–3 days.
* Helpful post regarding moving CL between cards. Thanks lad2
* How to Visually Distinguish the Three Types of Blue Cash Cards:
Blue Cash (old) has a "<" character to the left of the word CASH
Blue Cash Everyday has a circle to the right of the word CASH, with the "Everyday" wording at the back.
Blue Cash Preferred has the word PREFERRED printed vertically on the extreme left side.
If you get the error message "You cannot be logged in. Please contact the number on the back of your card." when trying to redeem Reward Dollars online, it may be because you have too many closed accounts still showing in your scrolling images of cards. Delete the closed ones, then try to redeem again.
Old Amex Blue (2013-2014)
#211
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: The Empire State
Programs: CO (RIP), US (RIP), Amtrak. Lots of CC programs.
Posts: 442

#212
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
Yes, happened to me. And if you try earlier you will be prompted to enter info from the card you don't yet have. After about 24 hours, it worked.

#215
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2
Thanks to this thread, I applied for the (old) Blue Cash over the phone and was approved. I'm a current Amex cardholder and when I was transferred to the Blue Cash team I explained I was calling specifically for the Blue Cash from American Express with the 5% cash back after $6,500, not the Everyday or Preferred cards.
The representative also confirmed that the $6,500 threshold can be met by purchasing any goods/services totaling $6,500. So, if one were so inclined, you could kick in the 5% by heading down to the Apple Store and swiping for a new Mac Pro, then stopping by Whole Foods on the way home for 5% back on your groceries...
And if anyone actually does that, you get a 5% bonus for being awesome.
The representative also confirmed that the $6,500 threshold can be met by purchasing any goods/services totaling $6,500. So, if one were so inclined, you could kick in the 5% by heading down to the Apple Store and swiping for a new Mac Pro, then stopping by Whole Foods on the way home for 5% back on your groceries...
And if anyone actually does that, you get a 5% bonus for being awesome.

#216
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA LT Gold 1MM ,Hyatt Explorist,Marriott Platinum,HHonors Diamond
Posts: 364


#217
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 252
Applied for the card. Said I will receive a letter on the mail with the decision. I assumed the worst. However, I got an email telling me that a decision had been made and I could check it online at www.americanexpress.com/myappstatus.
The letter I found at that link said:
"Thank you for applying for the Blue Cash® from American Express. We value your membership and appreciate your interest in another American Express Card. According to our records, you submitted more than one application for this Card so we've cancelled the duplicate request.
However, your original application has been reviewed and we are happy to inform you that you were approved."
Haven't received any more emails or information since Dec. 30. I guess the card is approved, but still don't know the last digits of the account to check the credit limit. I guess I'll have to wait for the package. Hopefully I get 50k
The letter I found at that link said:
"Thank you for applying for the Blue Cash® from American Express. We value your membership and appreciate your interest in another American Express Card. According to our records, you submitted more than one application for this Card so we've cancelled the duplicate request.
However, your original application has been reviewed and we are happy to inform you that you were approved."
Haven't received any more emails or information since Dec. 30. I guess the card is approved, but still don't know the last digits of the account to check the credit limit. I guess I'll have to wait for the package. Hopefully I get 50k


#218
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Gold, US Silver, Starwood Gold, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 329


#219
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 175
Instant approval! It must be my birthday! (Actually, it is in 18 days!)
Thanks OP!
Thanks OP!

#220
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 568


#221
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AA, SPG, MR, UR, Cash Back!
Posts: 606
I received my approval this morning. I had to unfreeze EX before my application would process. I received a low starting limit only $2k.

#222
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Gold, US Silver, Starwood Gold, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 329
Called and found out I was approved for a 15.5k credit limit. May move credit around to up that to 25k so that my card utilization % appears low. Thanks OP and everyone.

#223
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Spokane, WA USA
Programs: Marriott Plat, AS 75K
Posts: 17
Instant approval using chrome on my ipad. Wasn't sure if they'd reject the browser since I'm currently on vacation in Mexico.


#224
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: JFK
Programs: *$ Gold :)
Posts: 1,061
Applied on 31-st. Was Pending.
Decided to call, was connected to representative. After 1 min on hold for checking, was told I am approved.
CL is between my HH and SPG. So definitely something to work with.
Was told without asking that after 60 days of use I can request increase of CL by calling cust service rep...
My total credit will be ~90% of income. Good / bad? Time to close non efficient cards?
Decided to call, was connected to representative. After 1 min on hold for checking, was told I am approved.
CL is between my HH and SPG. So definitely something to work with.
Was told without asking that after 60 days of use I can request increase of CL by calling cust service rep...
My total credit will be ~90% of income. Good / bad? Time to close non efficient cards?

#225
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 53
Anyone able to manage BCE/BCP and this Blue Cash card under the same Amex login?
It looks like some people were able to add it 24 hours later. It prompted me to create a second amex login which I did. I'm wondering if I should ask to have them merged?
Can someone please confirm they have both a BCP or BCE and the Blue Cash managed within the same login? I'd like to move some credit line from the BCP > Blue Cash.
Thanks!
Can someone please confirm they have both a BCP or BCE and the Blue Cash managed within the same login? I'd like to move some credit line from the BCP > Blue Cash.
Thanks!
