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American Express Rewards Low Rate Credit Card review

This card is no longer available, but you can use this page to compare alternatives.

As of October 2019, this card has been discontinued and is no longer available. However, this information has been kept for historical purposes. You can use this page to find a good alternative.

You say: ★★★★★We say: ★★★★★

Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 9.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 9.9% APR (variable).

9.9%

Representative APR

£0

Account fee

Up to 2,500 points

Intro bonus

Earn 1 point

per £1 spent

Details

IssuerAmerican Express
NetworkAmex
Representative APR9.9% APR (variable)
Annual/monthly fees£0
Loyalty schemePoints
IncentiveEarn 2,500 bonus Membership Rewards points when you spend £1,000 in your first 3 months, and 1 point for virtually every £1 spent thereafter.
Additional Rewards InfoRefund Protection (90 days to return, receive max £200 per item, 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.
Purchases9.9%
Purchases interest-free period (days)56
Potential costs★★★★★
Doing its job★★★★★
Extras★★★★★
Overall Finder rating★★★★★

Review by


Chris Lilly is a publisher at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more.

Expert review

With a low ongoing rate (albeit variable) rather than an attention-grabbing 0% introductory offer, you won’t have to set any reminders to switch with the American Express Rewards Low Rate Credit Card.

For those looking to spread the cost of an upcoming large upcoming expenditure, there are better deals out there (check out our comparison of 0% purchase deals). But if you simply want to earn rewards on your spending and expect that you’ll more often than not be able to clear your balance each month, this deal is worth a closer look.

With its low rate, a straightforward but flexible rewards scheme and no annual fee, this card could be a decent option for credit card newbies. Like all Amex cards, it comes with access to the American Express Experiences programme – offering exclusive entertainment offers, discounts and benefits galore for regular gig-goers.

How does this card compare with others that earn Amex reward points?

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Name Product Max. intro bonus Default earn-rate Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Link Incentive Representative example
The American Express Rewards® Credit Card
10,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
£0
28.8% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
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 1000 points) to shop, other rewards have differing conversions
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 28.8% APR (variable).
American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
20,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum
72.4% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
2 points earned per £1 spent on travel related purchases and spending abroad. 3 points for every £1 spent when booking through American Express Travel.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum, your representative rate is 72.4% APR (variable).
American Express The Platinum Card
30,000 points
1 point per £1 spent
£575 per annum
458.2% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Earn 2 points per every £1 spent on amextravel.co.uk and 1 point per every £1 spent elsewhere.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.8% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £575 per annum, your representative rate is 458.2% APR (variable).
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How does this card compare with other low-rate deals?

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Name Product Ratings Customer rating Finder rating Purchases Balance transfers Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Incentive Link
The Co-operative Bank 3 Year Fixed Rate Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
Not yet rated
★★★★★
Expert analysis
8.9%
8.9%
(0% fee)
£0
8.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 8.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 8.9% APR (variable).
Tesco Bank Low APR Clubcard Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
User survey
★★★★★
★★★★★
User rating
★★★★★
Expert analysis
10.941%
11.457%
(3.99% fee)
£0
10.9% APR (variable)
1 point per £4 spent (£4 minimum) in Tesco and 1 point per £8 spent (£8 minimum) outside Tesco, must have available credit to earn points. Card can also be used as a Clubcard to collect standard points at 1 point per £1 spent on shopping and an enhanced rate of 1 point per £1 spent on fuel. Points are converted to Tesco vouchers which can be used towards shopping or exchanged for Partner Rewards. 1 point = 1p (min 250pts)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 10.941% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 10.9% APR (variable).
Lloyds Bank Platinum Low Rate Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
User survey
★★★★★
★★★★★
User rating
★★★★★
Expert analysis
10.94%
10.94%
(5% (0% fee if transfer is completed within the first 90 days) fee)
£0
10.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 10.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 10.9% APR (variable).
Halifax Credit Card Mastercard
Finder score
★★★★★
User survey
★★★★★
★★★★★
User rating
★★★★★
Expert analysis
10.94%
10.9%
(5% (0% fee if transfer is done within the first 90 days) fee)
£0
10.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 10.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 10.9% APR (variable).
Bank of Scotland Platinum Low Rate Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
Not yet rated
★★★★★
Expert analysis
10.94%
10.94%
(5% (0% fee if transfer is completed within the first 90 days fee)
£0
10.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 10.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 10.9% APR (variable).
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Approval for any credit card will depend 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

If you’re ready to apply for the American Express Rewards Low Rate Credit Card, you can do so by clicking “Go to site” at the top of this page. Before you apply, confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements and have all the information and documents you’ll need to make the process as hassle-free as possible.

Frequently asked questions

What is considered a low interest rate for a credit card?
This will depend on what type of credit card you’re after and how you plan on it, but a rate below 10% would generally be considered low. You can compare other low rate credit cards here.
How do I earn reward points?
For every £1 you spend using your card, you’ll receive 1 reward point. With the American Express Rewards Low Rate Credit Card, you’ll also receive bonus reward points if you spend at least £1,000 in the first 3 months.
What is American Express Experiences
American Express Experiences is an exclusive program offered to Amex cardholders. You can get discounts and pre-sale tickets to sports, music and entertainment events, as well as entry into Amex competitions.
Is it possible to pay no interest on my credit card?
Yes, you can avoid paying interest altogether as long as you pay off your entire balance on time each month, or within the 56 day interest-free period.

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Our team evaluates credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market.

We look at the how good the card is for its designated purpose – spending abroad, clearing debt, earning air miles etc. – how costly it is to use day-to-day and whether it offers much in the way of extras. Learn more about our credit card rating methodology.

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2 Comments

    Default Gravatar
    Laura
    June 10, 2019

    What does the following mean:

    Purchases 9.9%
    Purchases interest-free period (days) 56

      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      Chris
      June 10, 2019

      Hi Laura, thanks for getting in touch.

      With almost all UK credit cards, if you pay-off your full balance on time each billing period, you won’t pay interest on your purchases. So if you made a purchase on the first day of the billing period, and then paid off your full outstanding balance when your bill came through, you would have benefitted from up to 56 interest-free days on that purchase.

      If you don’t pay off your balance in full each month, then you’ll pay the card’s standard purchases rate.

      Please note that cash advances (withdrawing cash from the card) and money/balance transfers don’t benefit from this perk, unfortunately.

      We’ve written a handy guide to this feature here: https://www.finder.com/uk/what-does-up-to-55-days-interest-free-really-mean

      Hope that helps!

      Chris

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