What credit score is needed for American Express cards?

The credit score needed for an American Express card ranges from 700 to 750+, depending on the card. That means people with good to excellent credit have the best chance to get approved for an American Express credit card.

You can check your credit score for free, right here on WalletHub. If your credit score is below the threshold needed for a credit card from American Express, you can work to improve your score before applying. The personalized credit-improvement advice you’ll get from your free WalletHub account will help with that.

Credit Score Needed for Notable Amex Credit Cards

• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: 700+ (Good credit or better)
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: 700+ (Good credit or better)
• American Express Cash Magnet® Card: 700+ (Good credit or better)*
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: 700+ (Good credit or better)
• American Express® Gold Card: 700+ (Good credit or better)
• American Express® Green Card: 700+ (Good credit or better)
• The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express: 700+ (Good credit or better)
• Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card: 700+ (Good credit or better)
• Centurion® Card from American Express: 750+ (Excellent credit or better)

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

1. Visit the American Express pre-approval page.
2. Enter your name, address, income, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
3. 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 dispute issues promptly to protect your credit score. WalletHub’s free 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 to never forget a due date, you can set 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 free credit 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.