What score do i need for american express

Q: Can I get an Amex card with a 650 credit score?

Although American Express doesnt specify any minimum credit score requirements, youll need good credit (or better) to qualify, which means a FICO score of at least 670. A premium Amex card — say, the American Express Gold Card — likely requires a very good” FICO score, somewhere in the range of 740 and above.

Q: What is a good credit score for American Express?

As a guideline, American Express VantageScore tool considers a credit score between 661 and 780 to be a good score, anything below 661 to be fair or poor and anything above 780 to be excellent.

Q: Is it hard getting American Express card?

Its generally harder to get an American Express card than it is to get a credit card from many other major issuers simply because all of Amexs credit card offers require good or excellent credit for approval.

Table of Contents Show

There’s no minimum credit score needed for getting a credit card. Whatever your credit score, you’re likely to have multiple options to get a card.
At-A-Glance
Can I get an Amex card with a 650 credit score?
Can I get an Amex with a 600 credit score?
What is a good credit score for American Express?
Is it hard getting American Express card?

Credit Intel
Credit Score
What Credit Score Is Needed for a Credit Card?

There’s no minimum credit score needed for getting a credit card. Whatever your credit score, you’re likely to have multiple options to get a card.

By Julie Anderson | American Express Credit Intel Freelance Contributor

5 Min Read | June 14, 2021 in Credit Score

At-A-Glance

Even with poor or no credit scores, there are usually still options for getting a credit card.

With average credit, credit terms and perks usually improve.

With excellent credit, you’ll likely have your choice of many cards with perks galore.

What Credit Score Do You Need to Get Your First Credit Card?

Even with no established credit – and, therefore, no credit score – you can still get a credit card. Three first-time credit card options are:

Being added as an additional card member on someone else’s credit card.
A secured credit card.
A student credit card.

Being an additional card member can help you build credit. As an authorized user on another person’s card, you get a card with your name on it and the ability to charge purchases. But as an additional card member, you’re not responsible for making the payments. That rests with the main card member. This option helps your credit score increase over time, provided that the main card member makes on-time payments.

A secured card uses your deposit as a credit limit. With a secured credit card, the card issuer offsets its risks by requiring you to pay a deposit, usually between $200 and $3,000. The deposit amount then becomes your credit limit. The annual fees, if any, on these cards are usually lower than average, but the APRs are usually higher than credit cards for people with established credit. As you use the card for purchases, you’re obligated to pay at least the minimum payment each month. If you miss a payment, the card issuer dips into the deposit to pay the amount you owe. If you consistently make on-time payments and keep your balances low, in time you can earn a credit score that qualifies you for a regular, unsecured credit card.

The student option. Another category of credit cards is designed specifically for, and limited to, college students. Student credit cards generally have good perks but come with lower credit limits and high APRs on unpaid balances – from 13% to as high as 24%. And because many credit card companies no longer accept co-signers, to qualify for a student credit card you must have a sufficient income. The income can be from a job, scholarship, or grant.

With Low Credit Scores, You Still Have Credit Card Options

If your past payment history includes missed or late payments, bankruptcies, or foreclosures, you may have a low credit score. A credit score between the minimum score of 300 and 579 is considered “very poor,” and a credit score between 580 and 669 is considered “fair.”1 If your credit score falls into those ranges, your credit card options are limited but still available – in other words, you may not yet qualify for credit cards with the most valuable benefits and lucrative rewards. You may, however, be eligible for a no annual fee credit card with limited rewards, in addition to the secured card and authorized user approach described above.

With a low credit score, you may also qualify for a retail credit card designed for large purchases, such as furniture, bedding, or appliances. Retail stores tend to have more relaxed credit score requirements but high APRs to compensate for the risk. You might be able to avoid interest charges by paying the balance in full within a promotional period, though if the balance isn’t fully paid by the deadline you’ll usually owe the full amount of deferred interest.

Being an additional card member can help repair a low credit score because your payment record is reported as that of the main card member. Thus, aligning with a main credit card member who has good to excellent credit habits can help improve your credit score.

Better Credit Scores Yield Better Credit Card Options

As your credit score improves, the types of credit cards available to you increase. The better your credit score, the more favorable the card terms. A credit score between 670 and 799 is considered “good” to “very good,” and 46% of people fall into one of these two categories.2

With good or very good credit, you could find a card with no annual fee and a 0% introductory APR. You’ll want to check how long the introductory period lasts and what the APR will be after the introductory period ends. If you plan to pay the balance in full each month, the APR may be less important than the perks. Examples of perks offered at this level are 2% to 5% cash back on purchases, travel credits, or early access to event tickets.

If you’re uncertain whether you could be approved for a particular credit card, look for pre-qualified credit card offers on the lender’s site. For a pre-qualification, the lender does only a “soft check” on your credit, which does not affect your credit score the way a “hard” credit check does.

Excellent Credit Opens the World of Credit Cards

With exceptional credit – a rating of 800 or above – you’re considered the lowest risk and have virtually your choice of cards with relatively low APRs. Your choice may boil down to which perks are most important to you. Some card companies offer elite-level cards to those with an excellent level of credit. These cards can carry annual fees up to $550. The perks, however, are substantial and can include travel insurance and complimentary visits to airport lounges. Credit limits vary depending mainly on your income.

The Takeaway

There’s really no credit score at which you can’t get a credit card. Even with no credit, you could qualify for a secured credit card, student credit card, or as an additional card member. The better your credit score, the more options you have for obtaining a credit card with a low APR and annual fee, as well as perks such as cash back or points toward travel. Elite-level cards can carry a higher annual fee but deliver many benefits, especially to travelers.

Julie Anderson is a freelance writer with extensive experience writing and teaching in the technology field.

All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.

The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.

Can I get an Amex card with a 650 credit score?

Although American Express doesn't specify any minimum credit score requirements, you'll need good credit (or better) to qualify, which means a FICO score of at least 670. A premium Amex card — say, the American Express Gold Card — likely requires a “very good” FICO score, somewhere in the range of 740 and above.

Can I get an Amex with a 600 credit score?

To be approved for the Amex Platinum, you need to have a good or excellent credit score. This means you need a credit score of at least 700. If you're hovering around the 700 mark, it may be best to wait to apply when your score increases as the average applicant has a score of 715.

What is a good credit score for American Express?

As a guideline, American Express' VantageScore tool considers a credit score between 661 and 780 to be a good score, anything below 661 to be fair or poor and anything above 780 to be excellent.

Is it hard getting American Express card?

It's generally harder to get an American Express card than it is to get a credit card from many other major issuers simply because all of Amex's credit card offers require good or excellent credit for approval.