You need a credit score of 700 or higher to get an American Express card, along with a steady income that enables you to afford the monthly bill payments. American Express only offers credit cards for people with good credit or better, so you may have to work on improving your credit score before applying for an Amex. You can check your credit score for free, right here on WalletHub.
Credit Score Needed for Notable Amex Credit Cards
You should note that while your credit score is an important factor, there are plenty of other things that will impact your chances of being approved for an American Express credit card, too. Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, number of open accounts, recent credit inquiries, employment status, and housing status.
If you’re not sure whether you will qualify for an American Express credit card, you can check for pre-approval through the issuer’s dedicated webpage. This way, you can quickly see which American Express credit cards will give you the highest odds of approval.
How to Get Pre-Approved for an American Express Card
- Visit the American Express pre-approval page.
- Enter your name, address, income, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Click on “View My Card Offers” to view any pre-approved offers.
Current American Express customers may also receive pre-approved offers periodically by e-mail or when logging into their card’s online account. In some cases, American Express will also send people pre-approved offers for a specific credit card in the mail.
Getting pre-approved for an American Express card indicates that your chances of being approved for an account are very high (80%-90%), should you decide to apply. It does not mean that approval is guaranteed.
How to Improve Your Credit Score Before Applying for an Amex Card
- Check your credit report for errors:If you identify a mistake on your credit reports, you should disputeissues promptly to protect your credit score. WalletHub’sfree credit monitoring tool can help you catch errors or possible signs of fraud on your credit report as they occur.
- Keep open accounts in good standing:Lenders relay account information to the major credit bureaus every month. A good payment history is essential for improving your credit. In order tonever forget a due date, you canset up automatic monthly bill payments from a bank account.
- Keep your credit utilization low:Using more than 30% of your credit limit might damage your credit score.Credit utilization of 1% - 10% is best for your credit score.
To learn more, you can read WalletHub’s guide on how to improve your credit score. You can also get personalized tips on how to enhance your credit with WalletHub’s freecredit analysis.
*All information about the American Express Cash Magnet® Card has been collected independently by WalletHub. The American Express Cash Magnet® Card is no longer available to new applicants through WalletHub, but may be available on the American Express website.
This answer was first published on 10/30/20 and it was last updated on 03/27/24. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
FAQs
Cards such as the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (see rates and fees) usually recommend a 670+ score. However, there is anecdotal evidence of scores in the lower 600s being approved.
What is the minimum FICO score for American Express? ›
In most cases, you need at least good credit to get approved for an American Express card, which FICO typically defines as a score of 670 or higher.
Can I get an Amex card with a 650 credit score? ›
Although American Express doesn't specify any minimum credit score requirements, you'll need good credit (or better) to qualify, which means a FICO score of at least 670. A premium Amex card — say, the American Express Gold Card — likely requires a “very good” FICO score, somewhere in the range of 740 and above.
What is the easiest American Express card to get approved for? ›
The easiest American Express cards to get are those that require a minimum of good credit for approval as opposed to excellent credit only. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the American Express Cash Magnet® Card are two of the easiest Amex cards to get because they only require good credit.
Is 730 score enough to qualify for a gold Amex? ›
However, premium cards like the American Express Gold card generally require good to excellent credit. According to Equifax, one of the three main credit reporting bureaus, that means you'll need a credit score of 670 or higher.
Which FICO score is better 630 or 750? ›
Generally speaking, a good credit score is 690 to 719 in the commonly used 300-850 credit score range. Scores 720 and above are considered excellent, while scores 630 to 689 are considered fair. Scores below 630 fall into the bad credit range.
What Experian score needed for Amex? ›
As a guideline, American Express' MyCredit Guide tool uses FICO's scoring model, which considers a credit score between 670 and 799 to be good or very good, anything below 670 to be fair or poor and anything above 800 to be excellent.
Does American Express give instant approval? ›
Instant approval always is possible when applying for an American Express credit card online, though getting approved for an account immediately is never guaranteed.
What is the hardest American Express card to get approved for? ›
Why it's one of the hardest credit cards to get: The hardest credit card to get is the American Express Centurion Card. Known simply as the “Black Card,” you need an invitation to get Amex Centurion.
What credit card does everyone get approved for? ›
The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is open to applicants with no credit history, including those without a social security number. Instead of requiring a credit score, your banking activity and other financial data can determine your eligibility for the card.
The American Express® Gold Card does not have a traditional credit limit; utilization for this card is not calculated the same as cards with credit limits. Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards. Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards.
What credit score is needed for Chase? ›
Most Chase credit cards are intended for consumers with good to excellent credit scores (FICO® Score of 670 or higher). A score above 700 is even better and gives you a strong chance at approval.
What is the minimum credit limit for American Express? ›
The minimum credit limit is different for every American Express card and usually falls between $1000 and $3000. American Express explains that every credit card comes with a minimum credit limit and a maximum credit limit.
Can I get approved for Amex with a 600 credit score? ›
No, you cannot get an American Express credit card with a 600 credit score, which is considered bad credit. Most Amex credit cards require a credit score of 700 or better for high chances of approval. This means you need to have at least good credit to get an Amex credit card.
What FICO does Amex pull? ›
Where does the data on American Express® MyCredit Guide come from? The data on your MyCredit Guide is based on your Experian® credit report. Your FICO® Score is calculated based on information in that credit report.
Can I get an American Express card with a 580 credit score? ›
Cards such as the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (see rates and fees) usually recommend a 670+ score. However, there is anecdotal evidence of scores in the lower 600s being approved.
Can I get Amex with 700 credit score? ›
Other American Express cards will usually require even higher scores. According to the score ranges from FICO, that means American Express applicants typically have at least a 670 score: Exceptional. 800 and above.
