Full information to Amex’s one-bonus-per-lifetime restrictions

American Specific provides rewards bank cards with beneficiant welcome bonuses and invaluable advantages. Whereas Amex does not comply with an outlined coverage like Chase’s 5/24 rule, it enforces strict software and lifelong bonus restrictions.

Not solely does American Specific restrict the variety of playing cards you possibly can have and the way typically you possibly can apply, nevertheless it additionally restricts candidates to incomes just one welcome supply per card in a lifetime.

This makes it vital to fastidiously select whenever you apply for a brand new Amex card since doing so could disqualify you from receiving a good greater welcome supply sooner or later. This is what you have to learn about Amex’s one-welcome-bonus-per-lifetime coverage.

What’s the Amex once-per-lifetime rule?

Greater than a decade in the past, American Specific would will let you earn welcome provides on the very same card a number of occasions. Nonetheless, since 2014, the issuer has clamped down on purposes and restricted clients to 1 bonus per card per lifetime, no matter how a lot time had handed since they final utilized for that card.

In different phrases, you possibly can apply for The Platinum Card® from American Specific and earn a welcome supply as soon as and solely as soon as. Should you open the supply particulars hyperlink on the cardboard’s software web page, you will see the next language:

You is probably not eligible to obtain a welcome supply when you’ve got or have had this Card, the Platinum Card® from American Specific Completely for Charles Schwab, the Platinum Card® from American Specific Completely for Morgan Stanley or earlier variations of those Playing cards. You additionally is probably not eligible to obtain a welcome supply based mostly on numerous elements, equivalent to your historical past with bank card steadiness transfers, your historical past as an American Specific Card Member, the variety of bank cards that you’ve got opened and closed and different elements. In case you are not eligible for a welcome supply, we are going to notify you previous to processing your software so you have got the choice to withdraw your software.

At the moment, you could find out your supply and see if you’re eligible to earn as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $8,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. (Welcome provides range and also you is probably not eligible for a proposal.)

In consequence, should you apply for the present supply and obtain a better one at a later date, you will virtually actually be ineligible for it.

The knowledge for The Platinum Card from American Specific Completely for Charles Schwab and The Platinum Card from American Specific Completely for Morgan Stanley Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Expanded card household restrictions

An growth to the once-per-lifetime rule is being rolled out throughout some households of Amex bank cards. In follow, should you’ve held a higher-tier card, Amex could disqualify you from receiving the welcome supply on a lower-tier card inside the similar household.

Amex appears to be progressively rolling this out to extra merchandise to forestall individuals who maintain higher-tier playing cards from making use of for lower-tier playing cards in the identical household for the welcome supply.

The latest addition to this record is the American Specific® Inexperienced Card. The welcome supply eligibility phrases state:

You is probably not eligible to obtain a welcome supply when you’ve got or have had this Card, the Platinum Card®, the Platinum Card® from American Specific Completely for Morgan Stanley, the Platinum Card® from American Specific Completely for Charles Schwab, the American Specific® Gold Card or earlier variations of those Playing cards. You additionally is probably not eligible to obtain a welcome supply based mostly on numerous elements, equivalent to your historical past with bank card steadiness transfers, your historical past as an American Specific Card Member, the variety of bank cards that you’ve got opened and closed and different elements. In case you are not eligible for a welcome supply, we are going to notify you previous to processing your software so you have got the choice to withdraw your software.

The knowledge for the Amex Inexperienced Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Equally, in 2023, American Specific launched a restriction on the American Specific® Gold Card. Should you’ve had the dearer Amex Platinum card, you will not be eligible for the welcome supply on the Gold card.

Amex additionally launched a household rule on private Delta bank cards that yr.

For instance, one of many strictest household guidelines may be discovered on the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Specific Card (see charges and charges): You is probably not eligible to obtain a welcome supply when you’ve got or have had the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Specific Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Specific Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Specific Card or earlier variations of those playing cards.

Caveats

There have been experiences of individuals getting authorised and incomes the welcome supply once more a number of years later. Moreover, you could be authorised for the bonus if the supply phrases do not embrace the above language about beforehand having the cardboard.

Lastly, American Specific warns you throughout the on-line card software course of. If Amex determines that you’re not certified for the cardboard’s welcome supply, you’ll seemingly see a pop-up field stating so.

Usually, although, the issuer’s one-bonus-per-lifetime rule was carried out to discourage candidates from making use of for Amex playing cards solely for the welcome bonuses.

Associated: The most effective time to use for these in style American Specific playing cards based mostly on supply historical past

What playing cards are affected by this rule?

This rule applies to all Amex playing cards. American Specific maintains a strict rule of 1 bonus per card for all times, whatever the household of playing cards (cobranded lodge and airline, enterprise, cash-back and rewards playing cards).

Though this rule covers all Amex playing cards, you possibly can earn a welcome supply on private and enterprise playing cards of the identical kind.

For instance, the American Specific Gold Card and American Specific® Enterprise Gold Card are from the identical card household, however one is a private card and the opposite a enterprise card. Amex permits you to earn the welcome supply for every card — so long as you have got by no means been a cardholder of both card up to now.

Nonetheless, this is applicable to rebranded or up to date playing cards. For a few years, the Amex Gold was known as the Premier Rewards Gold Card. New Amex Gold cardholders is probably not eligible for the bonus on the cardboard if they’d the Premier Rewards Gold Card.

You is probably not eligible to obtain a welcome supply when you’ve got or have had this Card, the Premier Rewards Gold Card.

The knowledge for the Premier Rewards Gold Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Associated: Bank card showdown: Amex Gold vs. Amex Enterprise Gold

What number of Amex playing cards can I’ve?

Formally, American Specific doesn’t have a cap on the variety of playing cards you possibly can have. Nonetheless, the unofficial coverage from Amex says that the majority cardmembers will probably be restricted to at most 5 Amex client and enterprise bank cards.

They’re going to even be restricted to 10 Amex playing cards with no preset spending restrict. This class contains the Amex Gold and Amex Platinum. No preset spending restrict means your spending restrict is versatile, in contrast to a conventional card with a set restrict. The quantity you possibly can spend adapts based mostly on elements, equivalent to your buy, cost and credit score historical past.

For instance, TPG senior editorial director Nick Ewen has the next American Specific playing cards presently open:

The knowledge for the Hilton Honors Aspire has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Since 5 of the seven are bank cards, he has reached his cap on bank cards with Amex.

Associated: Chase’s 5/24 rule: All the pieces you have to know

How do I do know if I qualify for an Amex welcome supply?

Monitoring which Amex playing cards you have got utilized for up to now will provide you with a greater concept of whether or not you’re eligible for a sure card’s welcome bonus or not. In case your organizational expertise aren’t as much as par, don’t fret — American Specific has a welcome bonus qualification device to warn candidates if they’re ineligible for one. This is the way it works:

Once you apply for an American Specific card that you have already had up to now, you will obtain the next message earlier than your credit score is pulled:

As a result of you have got or have had The Platinum Card, you aren’t eligible to obtain the welcome supply.

We’ve not but carried out a credit score test. Would you continue to prefer to proceed?

In essence, should you assume you had a card earlier than and thus aren’t positive should you’re eligible for the welcome supply, Amex ought to provide you with a warning with a pop-up message whenever you apply.

There’s a attainable exception to the rule for Amex welcome provides. Sometimes, you will see the verbiage famous above on the touchdown web page of an software:

Welcome supply not accessible to candidates who’ve or have had this Card.

In case your card software doesn’t embrace this restrictive language, however you have got had the cardboard up to now, this might imply that you have been focused for the cardboard by American Specific and are eligible for the supply. Verify your electronic mail for focused provides or log into your American Specific account and search for preapproved provides with no lifetime language.

Earlier than submitting your software, test for the Amex pop-up alerting you to welcome supply ineligibility. Taking a screenshot simply earlier than clicking apply can be a good suggestion. That might assist should you run into points receiving the bonus after you meet relevant spending necessities.

Different Amex welcome supply restrictions

Though American Specific has restricted welcome provides to 1 bonus per lifetime per card, cardholders can nonetheless apply and get authorised for a card with out the welcome supply. The language within the supply phrases highlights the ineligibility of the welcome supply, nevertheless it usually does not prohibit approval.

Nonetheless, it is also price declaring the extra verbiage from the above screenshot:

You additionally is probably not eligible to obtain a welcome supply based mostly on numerous elements, equivalent to your historical past with bank card steadiness transfers, your historical past as an American Specific Card Member, the variety of bank cards that you’ve got opened and closed and different elements. In case you are not eligible for a welcome supply, we are going to notify you previous to processing your software so you have got the choice to withdraw your software.

This overly broad assertion retains Amex’s capability to make use of further elements out of your credit score report and historical past with the issuer to find out should you qualify for a proposal. This should not impression most candidates, however should you’ve proven a sample of opening playing cards, incomes welcome bonuses after which canceling these playing cards after only one yr, that could possibly be a purple flag.

Given the wide selection of American Specific card choices and once-per-lifetime restrictions, it is best to time your purposes strategically to make sure you get the very best attainable welcome bonus.

Associated: The last word information to bank card software restrictions

Backside line

American Specific has a formidable portfolio of playing cards with beneficiant welcome provides for first-time candidates. Whereas Amex’s lifetime rule is restrictive, sure exceptions and focused provides should will let you earn repeat bonuses.

Together with the welcome bonus qualification device, Amex makes it simple for candidates to trace and perceive their eligibility for welcome bonuses on American Specific playing cards.

Associated: American Specific Gold vs. American Specific Platinum

For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Amex Blue Card, click on right here.