The American Express Gold Card is one of the most sought after cards by those looking to use a great card in everyday purchases and still accumulate points with high exchange value.
In a few minutes you will understand why the American Express Gold Card stands out in the market, knowing all its benefits, as well as the points accumulation rates and even the limit you can get as soon as you have the card approved.
At the end of the reading, you will know if the American Express Gold Card is the most suitable for your consumption profile, optimizing your spending and making the most of the available benefits. Let’s go!
Benefits of the American Express Gold Card
1. Earn up to 60,000 Welcome Points (American Express Gold Card)
First, with the American Express Gold Card, new cardholders receive up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points when they spend $6,000 in the first six months after opening their account.
These points can be worth $600.00 in potential value, depending on the redemption method you choose, such as travel, purchases, or statement credits.
This initial bonus is one of the biggest attractions and will help you a lot, especially if you want to use the card to travel.
2. Earn up to 4 points per dollar on purchases
The American Express Gold Card has one of the most interesting points programs on the market, with generous bonuses in several spending categories. The chances of getting the points are as follows:
- 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants, both in the U.S. and abroad, up to a limit of $50,000 per year;
- 4 points per dollar in supermarkets in the US, up to $25,000 per year.
- 3 points per dollar on airline tickets purchased through the American Express website;
- 2 points per dollar on hotels and prepaid travel in the amextravel.com.
- 1 point per dollar on all other qualifying purchases.
Each point earned is worth 1 cent if redeemed as credit or simple rewards, but can be worth more when transferred to partner airline mileage programs.
How to redeem points?
American Express Membership Rewards points can be redeemed in different ways. Let’s look at the main ones:
- Trips and tickets: This is the most advantageous way. When to use points to book flights, hotels, cruises or car rentals on the AmexTravel.com portal. As a rule, you can get 1 cent per point, and you can earn even more in specific promotions;
- Gift cards: Another way to use points is to exchange them for gift cards from partner stores. The value is usually 0.7 to 1 cent per point;
- Credit on the invoice: If you prefer, you can use the points to deduct expenses directly on the invoice. However, this option offers the lowest redemption value: about 0.6 cents per point.
Other interesting benefits (American Express Gold Card)
The American Express Gold Card offers a number of additional benefits that amplify the value of the card. Among them, the following stand out:
- $120 per year in restaurants, awarded in monthly credits of $10. Valid at partners such as The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, among others;
- $100 in Resy credits, with $50 per semester to be used toward dining experiences booked through the Resy platform;
- $84 at Dunkin’, with $7 a month in credits, to be consumed frequently at the chain’s cafes and restaurants.
Requirements to order or American Express Gold
To apply for the American Express® Gold Card, it is essential to meet some basic criteria required by the institution. First, the applicant must be at least 18 years old and have a physical address in the United States, as the company does not accept PO boxes as a valid address. Additionally, it is necessary to provide a Social Security Number (SSN) or a Tax Identification Number (ITIN) for the credit analysis to be conducted.
Another determining point is the annual income. Which must be sufficient to meet the financial commitments related to the use of the card. Finally, it is important that the applicant has a solid credit history, with a score usually equal to or greater than 700, which considerably increases the chances of approval. These criteria ensure that the holder is able to responsibly enjoy the benefits offered by the card.
Step by Step to apply for the American Express Gold card
Follow the complete guide and get the card with ease:
- Go to the Official Website of American Express: Visit the link: americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/gold-card and carefully read all the details of the card;
- Check Pre-Approval (optional, but recommended): Use the pre-qualification tool to check if you’re eligible without impacting your credit score. We recommend that you use WalletHub;
- Fill out the Request Form: Have at hand:
- Full name and date of birth;
- U.S. residential address;
- Social Security Number (SSN) or ITIN;
- Gross annual income and source;
- Email, phone and employment data.
- Submit the Request: Review all the data carefully and submit the online form.
- Wait for the Response: The analysis can be immediate or take a few days. If approved, you will be able to use the virtual card instantly in digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Is TD FlexPay Credit Card better than American Express Gold?
The TD FlexPay Credit Card and the American Express Gold Card serve very different consumer profiles. Saying which is “better” depends directly on your goal.
It is worth mentioning that TD FlexPay is ideal for those who value payment flexibility. This is because it allows you to skip one payment per year without suffering any penalty. If this card has caught your attention, we recommend that you check out the TD FlexPay Credit Card review, and understand exactly if this card is really worth it.
Conclusion
The American Express Gold Card is an excellent choice, with a high return on purchases and benefits that really make a difference in everyday life.
With up to 60,000 welcome points, 4 points per dollar in strategic categories and a series of useful monthly credits, the card is undoubtedly a worthwhile option.
Despite the higher annuity, the value can be compensated by those who use the resources offered well. Especially for those who travel.