In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Details
    • Product Overview
    • Fees and charges
    • Application Requirements
  • Your reviews
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American Express® Rewards Credit Card review

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American Express® Rewards Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
Finder score
Representative example:
When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 30.7% 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.
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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
  • Up to 10,000 points introductory bonus
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • 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.
  • Foreign exchange fees charged on transactions abroad
  • Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Details
    • Product Overview
    • Fees and charges
    • Application Requirements
  • Your reviews

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.

Details

Product Overview

Issuer American Express
Network Amex
Representative APR 30.7% APR (variable)
Annual/monthly fees £0
Loyalty scheme Points
Incentive 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 30.7%
Purchases interest-free period (days) 56
Balance transfers 30.7%
Potential costs 3.8 ★★★★★
Doing its job 3.8 ★★★★★
Extras 4.7 ★★★★★
Overall Finder Score 3.9 ★★★★★

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?

American Express's card

1 - 1 of 1
Name Product UKCCF Finder Score Finder score Rewards earn rate Max. intro bonus Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Link Incentive Representative example
American Express® Rewards Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
1 point per £1 spent
10,000 points
£0
30.7% 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 1,000 points) to shop, other rewards have differing conversions.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 30.7% APR (variable).
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Other popular Amex rewards deals

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
1 - 11 of 11
Name Product UKCCF Finder Score Finder score Rewards earn rate Max. intro bonus Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Link Incentive Representative example
American Express® Rewards Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
1 point per £1 spent
10,000 points
£0
30.7% 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 1,000 points) to shop, other rewards have differing conversions.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 30.7% APR (variable).
British Airways American Express® Credit Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
1 point per £1 spent
5,000 points
£0
30.7% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
New Cardmembers collect 5,000 bonus Avios when you spend £2,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 30.7% APR (variable).
Amex® Cashback Everyday Credit Card
3.8
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
1% cashback
£125
£0
30.7% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Welcome offer: Get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £125) for the first 5 months of Cardmembership. Terms and minimum spend apply. 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 30.7% APR (variable).
Amex® Cashback Credit Card
3.7
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
1.25% cashback
£125
£25 per annum
36.3% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
New Cardmembers get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £125) for the first 3 months of Cardmembership. T&Cs apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £25 per annum, your representative rate is 36.3% APR (variable).
Nectar Credit Card
3.8
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
2 points per £1 spent elsewhere
20,000 points
Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £30 per annum
37.5% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
New welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus Nectar points when you spend £2,000 in your first 3 months. Earn a minimum of 3 Nectar points for virtually every £1 spent at Nectar partners, and 2 Nectar points for virtually every £1 spent elsewhere.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £30 per annum, your representative rate is 37.5% APR (variable).
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
2 points per £1 spent elsewhere
20,000 points
£95 per annum
54.5% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Earn 20,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy ® points when you spend £3,000 in the first 3 months of Cardmembership. 18+, subject to status. Terms apply.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £95 per annum, your representative rate is 54.5% APR (variable).
American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
1 point per £1 spent elsewhere
20,000 points
Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £195 per annum
88.3% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
New Cardmembers earn 20,000 Membership Rewards® points when you spend £3,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Terms Apply. 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £195 per annum, your representative rate is 88.3% APR (variable).
British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
1.5 points per £1 spent elsewhere
30,000 points
£300 per annum
139.2% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
New Cardmembers collect 30,000 bonus Avios when you spend £6,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £300 per annum, your representative rate is 139.2% APR (variable).
The Platinum Card® by American Express
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
1 point per £1 spent elsewhere
50,000 points
£650 per annum
701.4% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points, when you spend £6,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. 18+, subject to status. Terms Apply.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £650 per annum, your representative rate is 701.4% APR (variable).
Vitality American Express® Credit Card (Vitality Members only)
3.3
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0.5% cashback
N/A
£0 (but £4.75 fee for the Vitality programme)
46.8% APR (variable)
0.5% on £1 to £10,000 of yearly spend and 1% thereafter. Paid on anniversary. Must spend £3,000 annually to earn cashback. Earn up to 2% additional cashback on first £1,000 spend each month based on Vitality products held and monthly activity points earned. New cardmember offer: earn £100 statement credit when £2,000 spent in first three months.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £4.75 per month, your representative rate is 46.8% APR (variable).
American Express Basic Charge Card
3.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
N/A
£0
N/A (this product is a charge card).
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.
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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. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.

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.

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.

A close-up of an Amex rewards card
The Amex Rewards credit card in all its gloryFinder UK

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.

Finder credit card scores

★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor

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.

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.

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