Amex Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley Review: A Feature-Packed Travel Card With Unique Extras
Review
Updated
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The information for the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley has been collected independently by Motley Fool Money. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley is a version of the card issuer's popular Platinum Card. It's available if you have a Morgan Stanley brokerage account, and offers the same card features plus a few new ones. Eligible clients can get an annual fee credit if they meet certain requirements (see rates and fees). Read our full Amex Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley review to find out more.
Good (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
APR
19.74% to 26.74%, variable
Rewards 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel; 5x points on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com; 1x points everywhere else.
1x - 5x points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer 125,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
125,000 Reward Points
The many travel and lifestyle benefits are hard to beat, but come with a costly annual fee. This card also provides additional benefits so Morgan Stanley clients can save more.
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 |
|
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. |
This credit card is a good fit for: Morgan Stanley investing clients who want high-end perks and savings on luxury travel. Platinum CashPlus clients can also get a sizeable annual engagement credit.
The Amex Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley includes one of the deepest benches of perks we've seen from any card.
The welcome offer for this American Express card is 125,000 Reward Points for spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. That's one of the biggest bonus offers currently available.
SEE MORE BIG BONUSES: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards
The Amex Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley earns:
Airport lounge access is a strong point with every version of The Platinum Card® from American Express, and this one is no exception. It includes access to multiple types of lounges, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Delta Sky Clubs, and several others. Terms apply.
Of all the travel credit cards we've reviewed, we haven't found any with access to so many lounge programs. And the American Express Centurion Lounges are some of the most luxurious.
SEE MORE: Best Credit Cards With Airport Lounge Access
An exclusive benefit for Morgan Stanley card members is the option to add one additional Platinum Card to your account for no additional fee. That means you can add an authorized user to your account and they get their own Platinum Card, free of charge.
With the standard version of The Platinum Card® from American Express, it costs $195 total for up to three additional Platinum Cards (see rates and fees). If you plan to add one person to your account, such as your spouse, the Morgan Stanley version of this card saves you money.
A big selling point of the Amex Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley card is that it offers a $695 annual engagement bonus, which is equal to the annual fee. Terms apply.
To qualify, you must have a Platinum CashPlus account with Morgan Stanley. This is a brokerage account designed for cash management. As of May 2022, it charges a monthly fee of $55, unless you meet the following monthly account fee avoidance criteria:
You need to tie up quite a bit of cash to meet the criteria. But if you don't mind doing that, it's a great way to get a free Platinum Card.
This card earns Membership Rewards points, which are some of the most flexible rewards. American Express has over 20 airline and hotel partners where you can transfer points, including Delta Air Lines, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines, to name just a few.
When you transfer your points, you can make an award booking with that travel provider. It's often possible to get a value of $0.03 per point or more this way. American Express also lets you redeem points at a fixed rate for purchases made through American Express Travel.
LEARN MORE: A Complete Guide to American Express Membership Rewards Points
You can use points earned on this card for deposits by Morgan Stanley into your qualifying brokerage account. Rewards are worth $0.01 per point when you redeem them like this. Transferring points to travel partners is usually a better deal, but it's still nice to have this option.
It'd be hard to find a card with more spending credits than this one (trust us -- we've looked). Here are the annual spending credits you get as a Platinum card member:
As a Platinum card member, you get Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. These elite statuses include several perks that can save you money and improve your stays with each hotel chain. Enrollment required.
SEE MORE: Best Hotel Credit Cards
American Express cards are known for offering great protections on eligible purchases. Here are the travel and purchase protections this card offers:
READ MORE: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
If you need help with anything from concert tickets to restaurant reservations, you can call the number on the back of your card for Platinum Concierge assistance. Terms apply.
LEARN MORE: Best Credit Card Concierge Service
Purchases you make abroad won't carry an additional charge, as this card doesn't have a foreign transaction fee (see rates and fees).
For all the features this American Express card offers, it also has a few notable drawbacks.
The Amex Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley is significantly more expensive than most credit cards, with a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). However, it's at least possible to get a $695 annual engagement bonus if you have a Morgan Stanley Platinum CashPlus account. In that case, the card becomes an incredible deal.
If you don't have that type of account, carefully consider how much value you'll get from this card. All its spending credits and other perks can certainly make up for the annual fee, but only if you use them. If not, check out credit card reviews to find a more suitable card option.
A common criticism of The Platinum Card® from American Express is that the benefits aren't easy to use. Some have even compared it to a coupon book, with all the different spending credits.
For example, a $240 digital entertainment credit every year looks great on the surface. But let's be honest -- it loses a bit of luster when you see that it's a $20 monthly credit for a limited number of services. Terms apply. Look at the details of each benefit to see if it's actually a money-saver for you, or if it's just window dressing.
For such a high-end card, the Platinum Card doesn't exactly offer high-end rewards. Its bonus categories (flights booked directly with airlines and through American Express Travel, and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel) are limited, and terms apply. There are plenty of rewards cards that cost much less and offer far better bonus categories.
COMPARE CARDS: Best Credit Cards
A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is recommended to apply for the Amex Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley. As one of the top cards on the market, it's targeted at consumers who have scores in the good credit or excellent credit ranges.
GET EXCELLENT CREDIT: How to Increase Your Credit Score
To get the Amex Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley, you must have an eligible Morgan Stanley brokerage account. An eligible account is a brokerage account that fits one of these conditions:
You have a Morgan Stanley brokerage account, you travel often, and you want a card packed with premium benefits.
If you have a Platinum CashPlus account with Morgan Stanley, you should definitely get this American Express card. The annual engagement bonus is equal to the cost of the annual fee (see rates and fees). That's an incredible deal you won't find anywhere else.
KEEP READING: Best Rewards Credit Cards
At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
** 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 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.
**** 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.
For rates and fees for the Amex Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley, click here
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