The American Express Rewards Credit Card has a simple rewards plan so you can redeem your points in a large range of high street and online stores.
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American Express® Rewards Credit Card review 2023
By Chris Lilly
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 31% APR (variable).
- Earn rate
- 1 point per £1 spent
- Intro bonus
- Up to 10,000 points
- Account fee
- £0
Our verdict
A simple rewards credit card with no annual fee and an appealing welcome bonus.
Finder Awards 2023 winner
Customer Satisfaction Award
With no annual fee, you’re free to use the Amex Rewards card as little or as much as you wish. As you'd expect, the more you use it, the better the rewards. You'll earn Membership Rewards points on all your purchases, plus a tasty welcome bonus that's subject to a minimum spend (which – by Amex standards at least – is easily-attainable).
As with any rewards card, if you carry a balance from month to month, what you'll pay in interest will almost certainly outweigh what you'll earn in rewards. Clear your balance in full each month, however, and you'll take advantage of the card's interest-free grace period on purchases – meaning it doesn't have to cost you a penny.
The perks aren't limited to just points with this deal – you'll also benefit from travel accident insurance (subject to enrolment) plus automatic access to the American Express Invites programme, with entertainment offers like pre-sale gig tickets, access to the private American Express Lounge at The O2 and 2-for-1 drinks at The National Theatre.
As a major player in the rewards card game, Amex offers a range of cards to suit different needs. If you're a frequent traveller and you'd expect to spend enough on the card to justify an annual fee, then the Preferred Rewards Gold Card would potentially offer greater returns. Otherwise, the Amex Rewards card makes a very respectable first foray into the world of rewards cards.
Pros
-
Customers report excellent customer service when dealing with American Express
-
Earn points on day-to-day spending
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Up to 10,000 points introductory bonus
-
No annual fee
Cons
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The card doesn’t come with as many perks as other American Express cards, you'll need to pay an annual fee to get more cashback.
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Foreign exchange fees charged on transactions abroad
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Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
Details
Product Overview
| Issuer | American Express |
| Network | Amex |
| Representative APR | 31% APR (variable) |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Loyalty scheme | Points |
| Incentive | Earn £5 statement credit when spending £15 or more at participating Shop Small retailers between 1.12.23 and 3.12.23. Valid up to 3 times, once per card location, offer must be saved to card. Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point for every £1 spent thereafter. Earn up to 90,000 bonus points per year through refer a friend, 4,000 points awarded for every friend approved. 1 point = 0.45p (min 1,000 points) to shop, other rewards have differing conversions. |
| Incentive on opening | Earn 10,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points when you spend £2,000 in first 3 months of cardmembership |
| Additional Rewards Info | Refund Protection - provides refunds to cardmembers in the event of any retailer, online or offline, refusing to refund the value of any goods taken back within 90 days of them being purchased, maximum £200, max £750 per annum. Global Assist - 24/7 help available when travelling outside the UK. Access to tickets for must-see music, theatre and film events, often before they go on sale to the general public with American Express Experiences. Eligible for American Express Connect where cardmembers can choose offers from selected retailers to obtain discounts or cashback. |
| Purchases | 31% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 56 |
| Balance transfers | 31% |
| Potential costs | ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | ★★★★★ |
| Extras | ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder rating | ★★★★★ |
| Overall customer rating | ★★★★★ |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 2% or £25 (whichever is greater) or the total of any interest, default fees and charges, 1/12th of annual fee plus 2% of the outstanding balance. |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2.99% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2.99% |
| Cash advance fee | 3% (min. £3) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Replacement card fee | £0 |
| Duplicate statement fee | £2 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £0 |
| Additional card fee | £0 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
Application Requirements
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Residency | UK resident and has a UK bank or building society account. |
| Availability | Available to new customers |
How does it compare with other Amex rewards deals?
Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through American Express's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0800 917 8047). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates as a result.
You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.
Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:
| Minimum amount | Fixed amount | Fixed percentage | Full amount |
|---|---|---|---|
How to apply
First, you can use Finder's eligibility checker to find out if you'd be likely to get approved for the American Express® Rewards Credit Card. This won't impact your credit score. If it's good news, you can then proceed to American Express's online application, which takes 10–15 minutes to complete.
The bottom line
If you’re after a straightforward rewards programme, the American Express Rewards credit card offers a more-than-decent deal. With an introductory bonus points scheme, no annual fee and additional incentives, it’s one of the better everyday reward cards on the market.
Of course, if you’re likely to carry a balance from month to month, you’ll probably ending up paying more in interest than the value you’ll get out of the rewards programme, so make sure you’re vigilant about paying off your monthly statement on time.
Frequently asked questions
How many reward points can I earn with the American Express Rewards Credit Card?
There's no limit on the amount of reward points you can earn, and you'll receive 5,000 bonus points if you spend at least £2,000 using your card in the first 3 months. You'll then get 1 point for every £1 you spend with your card.
What fees do I need to pay on the American Express Rewards Credit Card?
While you won't pay an annual or monthly fee on theAmerican Express Rewards Credit Card, there are a couple of other fees you may have to pay. If you fail to make your balance payment on time, you will be charged a late fee, and will also pay fees for cash advance and foreign usage.
What is my minimum monthly payment on the American Express Rewards Credit Card?
While you are not required to pay off your entire balance each month, most credit cards have a minimum amount that you'll need to pay. With the American Express® Rewards Credit Card, you'll need to pay either 2% of your outstanding balance or £25, whichever is higher.
How do I know if I'm eligible for the American Express Rewards Credit Card?
You can use Finder's eligibility checker to confirm if you're likely to be able to get this Amex credit card. You'll need to be at least 18 years old and a UK resident to be considered. Find out how to increase your chances of getting approved for a credit card here.
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Our experts score rewards credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like welcome bonuses, introductory and ongoing earn-rates, any caps or restrictions on the points you can earn, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.
You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.
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