American Express Adds Signup Bonus Restrictions
Updated: 2/8/24 to add American Express Green Updated: 10/19 to add Everyday PreferredThe quickest way to add tons of points to your balance is by new credit card signup bonuses. We see good bonuses of anywhere between 60,000 and 150,000 points after spending a certain amount of money within a set timeframe.
It looks like American Express has implemented new restrictions on who can get a signup bonus for the Amex Gold card as well as the Everyday and Green. Historically, you weren’t eligible for the signup bonus on the Gold card if you had or currently have this card, or the older version which used to be known as the Premier Rewards Gold. That makes a lot of sense. American Express doesn’t want to let people keep signing up for this card and getting huge bonuses each year.
Amex Gold New Restrictions
In the past few days American Express has added the following restriction to the signup bonus for the Gold card:
You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Premier Rewards Gold Card, the Platinum Card®, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley or previous versions of these Cards.
So if you have had any version of the Platinum card you are not eligible for the bonus on the Gold card. This doesn’t mean that you can’t apply for and be approved for the Gold card, you just won’t receive the signup bonus.
Is the Amex Gold Dead?
Just because there are new restrictions on the Amex Gold card I do not think this card should be overlooked. There is a ton of value to be had with this card especially if you spend money on food, which is hard not to do. This card still offers 4x points on Dining (up to $50,000 a year) and 4x points on Grocery Stores (up to $25,000 in spending a year). There are tons of other benefits to having this card. Read my full review here: Amex Gold Review
What Should I Do?
If you haven’t jumped in the American Express family of cards that earn Membership Rewards points then you should think about your strategy in applying. American Express has essentially told us that they want you to start with their lower annual fee cards and work your way up to the Platinum. Frankly, I think that’s a good strategy anyway as the Platinum has a $695 annual fee and a pretty poor rewards structure that only earns 5x on flights and 1x on everything else. Granted, the card is a keeper due to all the perks you get but it is not a card I carry in my wallet everyday.
The Gold on the other hand is a card that stays at the top of my wallet because of its excellent points earning structure. These cards really compliment each other and I will most likely hold both cards for the foreseeable future.
Especially with these new restrictions in place, I would apply for the Gold first before applying for the Platinum so that you can ensure you receive the signup bonus on both.
Now with the new restrictions in place for the Green, you’ll want to start with the Green, then get the Gold, then the Platinum to ensure you get each signup bonus which can be worth a total of 280,000 Membership Rewards points with the right referral links.
Will They Restrict the Bonus on Other Cards?
TLDR: Yes they did
Update: 2/8/24 They added the Green card to the list. You are no longer eligible for the Green card’s signup bonus if you have or previously had any version of the personal Platinum or any version of the Gold card.
Update: 10/19 They did but its not a huge deal. The Amex Everyday and Everyday Preferred have new restrictions on the signup bonus. Both of these cards have never historically had a huge signup bonus. I think I’ve only ever seen at most 15,000 points on either. These cards are extremely compelling for everyday purchases and aren’t cards to pick up for the sign up bonus alone. If you have received the bonus on the Everyday Preferred, you cannot receive one on the Everyday card.
I really don’t know and I’m sure they won’t say. The only other Membership Rewards earning card that I don’t have is the Amex Green which earns 3x on travel, transit and dining. I currently have other cards that match or beat those bonus categories so I’ve never thought about picking it up. The Green’s signup bonus is only 40,000 points after spending $4,000 in 6 months. While not the biggest, its certainly not something to ignore. I may start thinking about adding the Green just out of fear that I won’t be able to ever get a signup bonus on the card if they implement similar restrictions. While the Green card does have a $150 annual fee, the 40,000 point signup bonus is worth $680 to me so it could make sense to grab it.
The other card that earns Membership Rewards is the Everyday and Everyday Preferred which have a 10,000 and 15,000 point signup bonus respectively. These cards are unique in that you earn more rewards when you make a certain number of transactions each month. These are both entry level cards and I’d be surprised if American Express instituted restrictions on them. Whelp, I was wrong about this.
Bottom Line
It is not ideal that American Express implemented this new restriction and am not sure why they did. I still think it makes sense to get the Gold if you don’t have it. If you don’t have the Platinum card currently, just think about the order in which you apply for these cards to ensure you get the signup bonus on all of them.
Green, then Gold, then Platinum.
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