Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
This thread includes all posts for 2016 onwards. The previous 2013- 2014 megathread is here. The 2015 thread is here.
This card is no longer available to new applicants!
Bonus category spending is now capped at $50,000 per year.
Oct 22, 2014 onwards: Many people getting cancellation email from Amex.
Amex may continue to close accounts for excessive spend in bonus categories. 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.
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.
Excessive MS on this card may sever your ties with Amex. Consider factors that may have led to these closures when sharing personal experiences.
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.
³ 'everyday purchases' refers to U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores, not all purchases.
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.
This card is no longer available to new applicants!
Bonus category spending is now capped at $50,000 per year.
Oct 22, 2014 onwards: Many people getting cancellation email from Amex.
Amex may continue to close accounts for excessive spend in bonus categories. 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.
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.
Excessive MS on this card may sever your ties with Amex. Consider factors that may have led to these closures when sharing personal experiences.
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.
³ 'everyday purchases' refers to U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores, not all purchases.
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 (2016 onwards)[not taking new applications]
#556
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 299
Hmmmm. I still have mine. Used it with great success before the massacre AND the BB/Serve shutdowns. After that, kept using it with other methods—but they were increasingly time consuming or annoying. Then life changed. A few things happened (family deaths, divorces) and my situation changed. Too much of a pita to use OBC during other issues. Then life changed again, this time for the better. No need or desire to MS any longer-takes too much time from family and travel. But still have the card. Because if life changes again, that option could help. Now I lean on other cards, for daily spend, status boosts, etc. Not much MS nowadays.
#557
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 299
BTW I'm using 2 OBC and this hobby requires having a nice bowl of cash set aside to pay the OBC bill w/o relying on the MO to be deposited immediately. I deposit all my MO via mobile to about 12 different banks. Mobile deposits do take time tho. And Western Union MO works at banks that WMart MO would not. I always have about 12 VGC and 8 MO backlogged on my desk at any time waiting to liquidate/deposit. Takes about 2-3 weeks to catch up. Been doing this for about 12 years. It works!! My 3rd OBC starts in March!!! As long as my family and I are healthy ..I'm good! Lost about 20 months to Covid by not going to stores (I'm 73 y/o) Did buy groceries online which counted as 5% on the obc, but nowhere making up for the MS req. for these cards. Banks that do not accept MO from Moneygram, but accept WU MO for mobile are WFargo/Citizens/M&T/ (BOA does not accept any MO order mobile deposit so I closed that checking acct) All other banks are fine. (Key/Laurel Rd/TD/PSECU/Hudson Valley CU/Presidential/Schwab Money Link and a few others.Alliant CU accepts MO mobile deposits.
#558
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 369
I have a WF branch just down the road, but I didn't think they did MO mobile deposits, as their website states:
The following are not eligible for Mobile Deposit: international checks, U.S. savings bonds, U.S. postal money orders...
So how are you avoiding the monthly checking fee? The website states:
A qualifying direct deposit is an ACH automatic electronic deposit of your salary, pension, Social Security, or other regular income into your bank account. Confirm with your employer or the agency or company making these payments that they use the ACH network. Transfers from one account to another, mobile deposits, or deposits made at a branch or ATM don't qualify as a direct deposit.
#560
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: SLC
Posts: 97
if you have a $0 balance at closing, I agree it is usually only 2-3 days.
I had a statement close on 11/16, and the reward dollars were posted by 11/23 when I checked.
#561
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,273
Really pointless to throw in something extra and think you can fool them. That made no difference for bonus points clawback they did for Hilton/Marriott/Delta cards back in mid 2020. I think as long as you don't do all 50K in a weekend, Amex doesn't really care. I wouldn't be so sure this card is costing Amex a lot, the overall card portfolio may still be profitable for Amex. The regular people that signed up for this card 15-20 years ago are now approaching middle-age and could be carrying more balances.
#562
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 299
no monthly fee on the everday checking if you keep a minimum balance of 500.00 I know it's not free like other banks, but it's a good receptacle for WU MO deposits. I used to make 8 MO mobile deposits per month, but I am down to 6 now. No problems..yet. BTW About 4 years ago I was depositing WM moneygram MO to Webster bank to the tune of 8k per month for years. Then they closed my acct after 10 years for "not being used in the intended purpose." Only bank that closed my accts
#564
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 43
Just checked up on the OBC benefits - I know they took some of the perks off over the past 3 or so years; but they REALLY removed everything except shoprunner (lol) - if I'm reading the details correct. This is unfortunate; just about to start my rewards year over and this will prove a little more difficult to work out.
I don't think I'll ever give this up, but has anyone switched to something similar recently and glad they did?
I don't think I'll ever give this up, but has anyone switched to something similar recently and glad they did?
Last edited by lovesfashion; May 15, 2023 at 11:12 pm
#565
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 202
Just checked up on the OBC benefits - I know they took some of the perks off over the past 3 or so years; but they REALLY removed everything except shoprunner (lol) - if I'm reading the details correct. This is unfortunate; just about to start my rewards year over and this will prove a little more difficult to work out.
I don't think I'll ever give this up, but has anyone switched to something similar recently and glad they did?
I don't think I'll ever give this up, but has anyone switched to something similar recently and glad they did?