A Complete Guide to American Express® Green Card Benefits
Review
Updated
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Information about the American Express® Green Card has been gathered independently by Motley Fool Money and does not come from the issuer. Some information may be out of date. See issuer's web site for more details.
If you're looking for top-of-the-line travel perks without a huge financial commitment, check out the American Express® Green Card. There are many American Express® Green Card benefits, from its high earning potential and welcome offer to lost baggage insurance and extra purchase protections.
Its annual fee of $150 (see rates and fees) compares well to many other travel credit cards that charge more. This makes it a good card for someone who travels frequently but doesn't want to pay for a premium card. That way the benefits will outweigh the cost of the card.
Here is how the American Express® Green Card stacks up against other American Express cards.
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| American Express® Green Card | The Platinum Card® from American Express | American Express® Gold Card |
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Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
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Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
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Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
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Welcome Offer: Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points |
Welcome Offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points |
Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points |
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Rewards Program: 3X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery. 3X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel, from subway swipes and window seats to hotel stays and city tours. The 1x points on other purchases. 1x - 3x points |
Rewards Program: Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply. 1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points |
Rewards Program: Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases), and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. 1X-4X Membership Rewards® Points |
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Intro APR: Purchases: n/a Balance Transfers: n/a |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
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APR: See Pay Over Time APR |
APR: See Pay Over Time APR |
APR: See Pay Over Time APR |
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Annual Fee: $150 |
Annual Fee: $695 |
Annual Fee: $325 |
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Highlights:
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Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
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The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Motley Fool Money and not provided by the issuer. Therefore, some terms may be out of date. Visit the issuer's website for more information. • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • Car rental loss & damage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip delay and cancellation insurance and cell phone protection underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Extended warranty, purchase protection, car rental insurance, and baggage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. • Trip delay insurance underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. • Extended warranty, baggage insurance plan, car rental loss & damage insurance, and purchase protection warranty underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
The American Express® Green Card is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a card with a reasonable annual fee and will make the most of its rewards. Here are some American Express® Green Card benefits that might interest you:
As a new cardholder, you can earn a welcome offer of 40,000 bonus Membership Rewards points if you spend at least $3,000 in the first 6 months of membership. That's a good amount of bonus points for a relatively low fee. Each membership reward point could be worth between $0.01 and over $0.03. Terms apply.
If you're a foodie, you'll be happy to know this card earns 3 points per $1 at restaurants, including takeout and delivery. That compares well with other cards for dining and restaurants. You can also earn 3 points per $1 on travel, which we'll discuss later. All other American Express® Green Card purchases earn 1 point per $1. Terms apply.
You may be wondering what all those Amex points will be worth. It depends on what redemption method you use. For example, you can redeem your points for gift cards or a statement credit, but these may not give you as much value. Your points may be be worth more if you use the American Express Travel portal to book airline tickets or transfer them to a travel partner.
One big benefit of Amex points is that there are lots of travel partners in the American Express Membership Rewards program. Terms apply.
You'll also get purchase protection with your American Express® Green Card. If something you bought using the card gets damaged or stolen soon afterward, you'll be covered. Purchase protection* is valid for up to 90 days, and you can't claim more than $1,000 per covered purchase. Plus, the benefit is capped at $50,000 each calendar year. Be sure to check the full terms to know what qualifies. Terms apply.
As an American Express® Green Card holder, you can also benefit from extended warranty coverage.** Assuming the manufacturer's warranty is for five years or less and you use your card to make the purchase, you can add an extra year to your warranty. That means if your washing machine breaks down three months after the manufacturer's warranty expires, it's still covered. Be sure to check the rules and restrictions in your card's terms. Terms apply.
The American Express® Green Card is known for its travel perks. You can earn rewards on travel spending, get travel-related statement credits, and avoid foreign transaction fees.
As you'd expect from a travel rewards card, your travel-related spending will earn good rewards. The 3 points per $1 is comparable to other travel and airline cards, even those with higher fees. Terms apply. So, what counts as travel or transit? You'll get extra rewards for:
Most travel cards avoid foreign transaction fees, and it's good to see the American Express® Green Card follows suit. Some cards charge around 3% for any international spending you do. Those fees can add up across a trip, and you won't have to worry about them with this card. See rates and fees
The perks don't stop there. An American Express® Green Card gives you a $199 annual statement credit towards a CLEAR membership you enroll in when paying with this card. Terms apply.
CLEAR is a touchless security and venue entrance tool that can save you time. It's a bit like TSA PreCheck, but where TSA PreCheck speeds you through the security screening, CLEAR can whizz through the document and identity verification process. It works at over 50 participating airports, stadiums, and other venues. You might want to find out if it works at locations you use regularly, though.
LoungeBuddy lets you buy one-time lounge access at around 170 airports worldwide. A trip to an airport lounge can make your trip much more enjoyable and relaxing. This travel card gives you $100 in statement credits a year towards airport lounge access when you enroll in the LoungeBuddy program. Terms apply.
If you book your round-trip with your American Express® Green Card, you'll qualify for trip delay insurance ***. That means you'll be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses if your trip gets delayed for more than 12 hours. This includes costs such as lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. You can't claim more than $300 per trip, and you can't make more than two claims per 12-month period. Terms apply.
If you rent a car and pay the cost with your American Express® Green Card, you'll be eligible for car rental insurance ****. It is secondary insurance, which means it covers you only after your primary auto coverage has paid on the claim, or if you don't have existing car insurance. But this can provide an extra layer of security if you need to rent a car.
You'll also need to decline the collision damage waiver offered by the rental company.
This insurance covers damage or theft to your rental vehicle, and the maximum coverage amount is $50,000. Terms apply.
If your bags are lost, damaged, or stolen while traveling, baggage insurance* can help. Assuming you're traveling on a common carrier -- such as a plane, train, or bus -- you'll be able to claim back some expenses you face. It's worth checking you understand exactly what's covered and how to file your claim. This card provides a maximum coverage of:
American Express has a wide range of cards available at different price points. As you can see, there are many American Express® Green Card benefits, especially if you'll get enough value out of the card to cover the annual fee. The mix of restaurant, shopping, and travel perks could make it a great addition to your wallet.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | 2% cash rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. |
Intro: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR |
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Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
25,000 points 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | 1.5-3 points per dollar Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. |
Intro: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America. Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) |
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Some other questions we've answered:
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
** When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty§ can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
*** Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
**** Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc
For rates and fees for the American Express® Green Card, click here.
For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card, click here
For rates and fees for the American Express® Green Card, click here
For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.
