American Express® Green Card
Balance must be paid in full each month
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Review: American Express® Green Card
The Amex Green Card’s revamp included several important changes, from higher rewards-earning rates on purchases and new opportunities to earn bonuses to a new fee structure. The Green American Express Card now offers 3 points per $1 spent on all travel purchases as well at restaurants worldwide, in addition to 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Cardholders can also take advantage of an initial bonus, as well as bonus credits each year.
One of the biggest downsides of the American Express Green Card is its hefty annual fee: $150. At least the new version no longer charges a foreign transaction fee for international use. Amex Green does still generally require payment in full each billing period, except for the transactions eligible for the Pay Over Time feature, which allows you to carry an interest-accruing balance. Eligible charges will be included in a Pay Over Time balance, up to the Pay Over Time Limit. That’s why people who need help with financing should explore other options.
Keep reading below to learn more. You’ll find all the key data points you’ll need to determine whether submitting an American Express Green Card application is the right move in your situation.
American Express Green Card Review Highlights
Initial Bonus: 45,000 points
The American Express Green Card’s initial bonus is worth roughly $360, based on the average redemption value of Amex Membership Rewards points. The average credit card welcome bonus equals roughly 23,405 points/miles or $198.78 cash back. To earn the bonus, you need to spend $2,000 in the first 6 months.
Regular Rewards Rate: 1 - 3 points / $1
Amex Green gives 3 points per $1 spent on all travel-related purchases. A purchase simply has to be made from a travel-focused company to qualify, but some examples that Amex gives include airfare, hotel reservations, ridesharing, and public transit. Accommodations booked on third-party travel comparison websites count, too. Purchases made at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) also yield 3 points per $1 spent. And unlike the restaurant rewards on some other American Express cards, the bonus earning rate applies to dining worldwide – not just at restaurants in the U.S.
All purchases that fall outside of those two bonus rewards categories get you 1 point per $1 spent. To put things in terms of actual currency, 3 points per $1 spent is roughly equal to 2.4% cash back, while 1 point per $1 is worth less than 1% cash back – the baseline for most rewards cards.
Annual Fee: $150
The American Express Green Card’s annual fee is nearly eight times higher than the average credit card’s membership charge. So, you have to ask yourself, will Amex Green turn out to be eight times more rewarding than the best credit cards with no annual fee, based on your particular spending habits? For most people, the answer will be no.
Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%
Amex Green won’t cost you extra when making purchases processed internationally, whether you are traveling abroad or buying from internationally based merchants while in the U.S. That hasn’t always been the case.
Credit Limit: No Preset Spending Limit (NPSL)
The American Express Green Card’s limit varies based on each cardholder’s spending and payment habits as well as overall economic conditions. That’s because the card has a feature known as No Preset Spending Limit, which is common among charge cards. You generally won’t know exactly what your spending power is when using this card, which can create some practical problems for people.
Credit Score Needed: 700+ (Good credit or better)
The American Express Green Card’s credit score requirement is standard for an American Express credit card, all of which require a minimum of good credit for approval, if not excellent credit outright. Although it’s possible to get approved with a lower score, we recommend a credit score of 700+ for the best odds of success.
Other Requirements: SSN & U.S. mailing address
In addition to a good or excellent credit score, the American Express Green Card’s requirements for approval include being 18+ years old, having a Social Security number, living in the U.S., and earning much more income than you spend on debt payments and other major expenses.
Travel Benefits & Other Perks: Up to $200 in annual credits
Cardholders enjoy up to $100 per year in credits for membership in the biometric airport screening service CLEAR. They also get up to $100 per year in credits for LoungeBuddy purchases in order to save on airport lounge access.
Card Material: 70% recycled plastic
The new Amex Green Card is not made of metal. Rather, it lives up to its name by helping to promote clean oceans. The recycled plastic that the Green Card is now constructed of was taken from oceans, beaches and coastal areas.
Bottom Line: Is the Amex Green Card Worth It?
The Amex Green Card is worth it if you have a 700+ credit score, spend a lot on travel and dining out, and don’t need to carry a balance from month to month. In that situation, the card should save you a lot more than it costs you at the end of the day.
However, if you only plan on having one card in your wallet, choosing Amex Green probably would not be worth it. That would mean missing out on some of the best rewards credit cards on the market, which have similar approval requirements.
Oct 20, 2020
American Express® Green Card's Rewards
- Earn 45,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $2,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel, from subway swipes and window seats to hotel stays and city tours.
- Earn up to $100 in annual statement credits to help you get through security faster with CLEAR®.
- Earn up to $100 in annual statement credits to access 750+ airport lounges globally through LoungeBuddy.
- Terms Apply.
American Express® Green Card's Key APRs & Fees
|
Purchase Intro APR
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Transfer Intro APR
|
Regular APR
|
|---|---|---|
| Not Offered | Balance Transfers Not Allowed | See Pay Over Time APR |
|
Purchase Intro APR
|
Not Offered |
|---|---|
|
Transfer Intro APR
|
Balance Transfers Not Allowed |
|
Regular APR
|
See Pay Over Time APR |
American Express® Green Card's Additional Info
| MAX LATE FEE |
$40 |
|---|---|
| MAX OVERLIMIT FEE |
Not Applicable |
| MAX PENALTY APR |
See Rates & Fees |
| GRACE PERIOD |
25 days |
| ONLINE RESPONSE |
Yes |
| CASH ADVANCE APR |
25.24% (V) |
| CASH ADVANCE FEE |
5% (min $10) |
| FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE |
0% |
| SMART CHIP |
Yes, chip-and-PIN |
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $150 Annual Fee.
- This American Express Card has no preset spending limit, giving you purchasing power that adjusts with your use of the card. No preset spending limit does not mean unlimited spending. Your purchases are approved based on a variety of factors including spending patterns, your payment history, your credit history, and financial resources known to us.
- Last updated on 10/20/2020
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Customer Questions and Answers
Don't see what you're looking for? Submit your question about American Express® Green Card to our community.
Is the Amex Green card worth it? Reply 1
The Amex Green Card is worth it for frequent travelers with above-average credit who buy airport lounge day passes and prefer expedited airport security. Customers with enough dining expenses to help offset the card’s $150 annual fee may also find the Amex Green Card worth applying for.
Aside from offering 3 points per $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and an initial bonus of 45,000 points, what makes the Amex Green Card particularly worthwhile is an annual $100 credit toward the cost of a yearly CLEAR membership (currently $179 per year), which provides faster security screening at airports and other venues. There’s also a yearly $100 LoungeBuddy credit that offsets the cost of airport lounge day passes purchased with the LoungeBuddy app. By making the most of these travel-friendly perks, the Amex Green Card’s annual fee will easily pay for itself.
However, the card most likely won’t be worth it if you’re unable to pay the balance in full and on time every month. The interest you’ll pay on the balance will cut into the card’s overall value.
What changed with the American Express Green Card update? Reply 1
The American Express Green Card update, which took effect in October 2019, changed the card’s rewards rates and fees. The updated Amex Green Card rewards are 3 points per $1 spent on dining, travel and transit purchases, plus 2 new annual statement credits, while the annual fee jumped from $95 to $150. The card’s 2.7% foreign transaction fee also dropped to 0%.
Other updates include the addition of Amex’s Pay Over Time feature - which allows you to use the card to finance certain approved purchases over a period of time - and a mobile assistant to help with account-related questions, flight and hotel bookings, and more.
One other American Express Green Card update is to the physical card itself. The new eco-friendly card is made of 70% recycled plastic recovered from oceans, islands and coastal communities worldwide.
How much is the American Express Green Card foreign transaction fee? Reply 1
The American Express Green Card foreign transaction fee is 0%. While the Amex Green card used to charge 2.7% for these purchases, its foreign transaction fee changed to 0% when the card revamped its features in 2019.
Aside from the American Express Green Card’s 0% foreign transaction fee, there are plenty of other reasons the card is good for travel. It offers ample rewards on travel purchases and dining worldwide, along with statement credits for CLEAR (expedites airport security) and airport lounge access.
Keep in mind that even though the American Express Green card has a 0% foreign transaction fee, it does have a $150 annual fee. So make sure you take advantage of enough of the card’s perks to justify the cost.
How do you earn points on American Express Green Card? Reply 1
To earn points with the American Express Green Card, make purchases with the card anywhere Amex is accepted. Cardholders earn 3 Amex Green Card points per $1 spent on dining, travel and transit, as well as 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. There’s also an initial bonus of 45,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months.
Restaurant purchases worldwide, including takeout and delivery, all earn the 3 points per $1 rewards rate. Eligible travel purchases are airfare, hotel stays, car rentals and booking on third-party travel websites, including Amex Travel. And transit-related purchases include taxicab fare, rideshare services, parking fees, tolls, and more.
Amex Green Card bonus points are credited to your Membership Rewards account once a month, within 24-72 hours after Amex posts your on-time monthly payment. Initial bonuses will be added to your points balance in 8 to 12 weeks after you meet the spending requirement. After your points post, you can redeem them for statement credits, gift cards, travel bookings, merchandise or charitable donations.
Amex Green Card points are worth between 0.6 of a cent and 1 cent apiece, depending on how they’re redeemed. Cardholders can also transfer points to more than 20 affiliated airline and hotel loyalty programs. Amex points never expire, as long as your account is open and in good standing, but you’ll forfeit any unredeemed points if you or Amex close the account.
What does preset spending limit mean? Reply 1
A preset spending limit is your credit limit, or the amount of money you can spend on your credit card.
American Express® Green Card Reviews
Share your insights and review the American Express® Green Card.
I try not use credit cards very much, but I must say when a sudden expense appears it is very comforting to know I have credit to cover. The extra time to think and rearrange the budget is invaluable.
I had gotten into substantial debt with credit cards in the past, but I learned my lesson. The American Express is world wide and well established so, I also have been able to use it trouble free in foreign countries. I would recommend this card for peoples who are in control of their finances.… show more
So what cards will give you more green than the Amex Green Card? When it comes to charge cards, the Amex Gold and Platinum Cards offer much better rewards, but also come with steeper annual fees, so you would have to determine how much practical benefit you’d get from these rewards and how much it’d be worth to you. When it comes to credit cards, it really depends on your biggest expenses, but cards like the Capital One Cash Credit Card, which offers 1.5% cash back across all purchases, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which offers a $500 initial rewards bonus, 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, and 1 point on everything else, would both be better options than the American Express Green Card.… show more
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Last updated on: October 20th, 2020 at 05:52
If you are interested in the American Express® Green Card, check out the following credit cards as well:
American Express® Green Card is related to the following categories:
WalletHub is an independent comparison service.
We work hard to show you up-to-date product terms, however, this information does not originate from us and thus, we do not guarantee its accuracy. When you click "Apply Now" you will be directed to the offering institution's website. In addition, keep in mind that actual rates and other information may vary for a number of reasons including the applicant's' creditworthiness and differences between an individual's situation and the criteria/assumptions used to generate the information displayed. Before submitting an application, always verify all terms and conditions with the offering institution. Please let us know if you notice any differences.
Ad Disclosure: Offers originating from paying advertisers are noted as “Sponsored” at the top of this page. Advertising may impact how and where offers appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.
Irrespective of whether an offering institution is a paid advertiser, the presence of offer information on WalletHub does not constitute a referral or endorsement of the institution by us or vice versa. Furthermore, offers have not been reviewed or approved by the offering institution. Information is displayed first and foremost to help consumers make better decisions.
Editorial Disclaimer: Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. In addition, it is not issuer’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Offer last updated: Oct 20th, 2020 at 05:52 ET