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 would not observe an outlined coverage like Chase’s 5/24 rule, it enforces strict utility and lifelong bonus restrictions.

Not solely does American Specific restrict the variety of playing cards you possibly can have and the way usually 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 rigorously select whenever you apply for a brand new Amex card since doing so could disqualify you from receiving an excellent larger welcome supply sooner or later. This is what you must 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 help you earn welcome provides on the very same card a number of occasions. Nevertheless, since 2014, the issuer has clamped down on functions and restricted prospects to at least one 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 utility web page, you will see the next language:

You will not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply you probably have 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 will not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply based mostly on numerous components, similar to your historical past with bank card stability transfers, your historical past as an American Specific Card Member, the variety of bank cards that you’ve opened and closed and different components. In case you are not eligible for a welcome supply, we’ll notify you previous to processing your utility so you have got the choice to withdraw your utility.

At present, you will discover out your supply and see in case you are eligible to earn as excessive as 175,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. (Welcome provides fluctuate and also you will not be eligible for a proposal.)

In consequence, for those who 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 supplied 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 apply, for those who’ve held a higher-tier card, Amex could disqualify you from receiving the welcome supply on a lower-tier card throughout the identical household.

Amex appears to be progressively rolling this out to extra merchandise to stop 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 newest addition to this checklist is the American Specific® Inexperienced Card. The welcome supply eligibility phrases state:

You will not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply you probably have 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 will not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply based mostly on numerous components, similar to your historical past with bank card stability transfers, your historical past as an American Specific Card Member, the variety of bank cards that you’ve opened and closed and different components. In case you are not eligible for a welcome supply, we’ll notify you previous to processing your utility so you have got the choice to withdraw your utility.

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 supplied 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 will be discovered on the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Specific Card (see charges and charges): You will not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply you probably have 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 reviews of individuals getting authorized and incomes the welcome supply once more a number of years later. Moreover, you could be authorized for the bonus if the supply phrases do not embrace the above language about beforehand having the cardboard.

Lastly, American Specific warns you in the course of the on-line card utility course of. If Amex determines that you’re not certified for the cardboard’s welcome supply, you’ll possible 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 very best 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 means that you can earn the welcome supply for every card — so long as you have got by no means been a cardholder of both card previously.

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

You will not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply you probably have 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 supplied 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. Nevertheless, the unofficial coverage from Amex says that almost all cardmembers might be restricted to at most 5 Amex shopper and enterprise bank cards.

They will 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, not like a standard card with a set restrict. The quantity you possibly can spend adapts based mostly on components, similar to your buy, fee and credit score historical past.

For instance, TPG senior editorial director Nick Ewen has the next American Specific playing cards at the moment 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 supplied 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 things you must know

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

Monitoring which Amex playing cards you have got utilized for previously gives you a greater thought of whether or not you might be eligible for a sure card’s welcome bonus or not. In case your organizational abilities aren’t as much as par, don’t fret — American Specific has a welcome bonus qualification instrument 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’ve got already had previously, 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 have now not but carried out a credit score test. Would you continue to prefer to proceed?

In essence, for those who assume you had a card earlier than and thus usually are not certain for those who’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 potential exception to the rule for Amex welcome provides. Sometimes, you will see the verbiage famous above on the touchdown web page of an utility:

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

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

Earlier than submitting your utility, test for the Amex pop-up alerting you to welcome supply ineligibility. Taking a screenshot simply earlier than clicking apply can also be a good suggestion. That would assist for those who 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 at least one bonus per lifetime per card, cardholders can nonetheless apply and get authorized for a card with out the welcome supply. The language within the supply phrases highlights the ineligibility of the welcome supply, nevertheless it sometimes would not prohibit approval.

Nevertheless, it is also price mentioning the extra verbiage from the above screenshot:

You additionally will not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply based mostly on numerous components, similar to your historical past with bank card stability transfers, your historical past as an American Specific Card Member, the variety of bank cards that you’ve opened and closed and different components. In case you are not eligible for a welcome supply, we’ll notify you previous to processing your utility so you have got the choice to withdraw your utility.

This overly broad assertion retains Amex’s skill to make use of extra components out of your credit score report and historical past with the issuer to find out for those who qualify for a proposal. This should not influence most candidates, however for those who’ve proven a sample of opening playing cards, incomes welcome bonuses after which canceling these playing cards after only one yr, that may very well be a purple flag.

Given the big selection of American Specific card choices and once-per-lifetime restrictions, you must time your functions strategically to make sure you get the very best potential welcome bonus.

Associated: The final word information to bank card utility restrictions

Backside line

American Specific has a powerful 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 still help you earn repeat bonuses.

Together with the welcome bonus qualification instrument, 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.