Credit Cards
Explore Credit Cards and the world of opportunities they offer. Find out more about exclusive benefits and rewards and pick the right American Express product for your needs and lifestyle.
What is a Credit Card?
A Credit Card lets you borrow money up to a certain credit limit to make online or in-store purchases. You’ll then need to repay the amount owed in full before the due date, to avoid interest charges and fees.
Also, some Credit Cards charge an annual fee in return for richer rewards, features and benefits. The amount, as well as the value of the rewards, varies from Card to Card.
Credit Card fees may also refer to amounts added to your balance in certain situations, like if you withdraw cash, miss a payment or only make the minimum payment at the end of the month.
To find out more, navigate to the How do Credit Cards Work section.
How do Credit Cards Work?
When you use your Card to make purchases, your credit provider lends you money and pays the merchant on your behalf. This means you owe your credit provider the amount spent. We wont charge interest on the balance you owe us, provided you pay the full amount you owe on or before each statement date, every month. Otherwise, we’ll charge interest daily from the date an amount is due on your Account, until it’s paid in full.
You can see your monthly interest rates at the top of your monthly statement, or in your Cardmember Agreement. You’ll also see an estimate of the interest that will be applied to your Account, assuming you can only pay the minimum amount due. Click here to find out more about interest rates.
APR is the annual percentage rate that always includes the purchase rate and for Amex® Cards with an annual fee, also their fee. This fee varies from Card to Card and depends on the benefits they offer.
How to pick the right Credit Card
To choose the right Credit Card, carefully consider your financial habits and goals. You’ll also need to:
Check Credit Limits
Your Credit Card has a limit, which is the maximum amount of money you can borrow. Knowing your credit limit is the first step to keeping your balance under control. You can also make regular payments on your balance to avoid going over your limit.
Review Fees and Charges
The charges you pay partly depend on the type of Card you have and how you use it. For example, some of our Cards have no annual fee. Read your Card's terms and conditions to understand the interest rates and fees associated.
Learn more about Interest Rates
To find the right card for your needs, familiarise yourself with Annual Percentage Rate (APR) to understand how interest is calculated.
How to Apply for an American Express® Credit Card?
Thinking about submitting an application? Check out our guide to get the best tips on how to apply for a Credit Card, what information to have ready to hand and what to expect after your application is submitted.
Eligibility Criteria
As well as using our Eligibility Checker to find out if you’re eligible for an Amex Card, you can use the following checklist:
- I am aged 18 or over
- I have no history of bad debt
- I have a permanent UK home address
- I have a current UK bank or building society account
You may also need to provide your employment, income and bank account information for some of our Cards, that have additional specific eligibility criteria.
FIND OUT IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE WITH OUR ELIGIBILITY CHECKER
Only takes a couple of minutes to complete
Will not impact your
credit rating
Allows you to apply
with confidence
Multi Card Carousel
-
-
The Platinum Card®
Tap into a breadth of travel and lifestyle benefits including £400 worth of annual dining credits1, global lounge access and worldwide travel insurance for you and your family.2
Representative Example
Purchase Rate: 29.4% p.a. (variable)⁷
Annual Fee: £650 ⁸
Representative APR: 688.5% APR variable⁹
Assumed Credit Limit: £1,200 ¹⁰
Credit limit and interest rates depend on our credit assessment of you and may differ from those shown.
-
American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
Make the most of your spending by using points towards purchases made on your Card. From a trip away, to dining out, you can pay for it with your points. 25,000 points is worth up to £125 in gift card redemption.
Representative Example
Purchase Rate: 29.4% p.a. (variable) ⁷
Annual Fee: £195 (£0 in your first year)¹¹
Representative APR: 86.3% APR variable⁹
Assumed Credit Limit: £1,200 ¹⁰
Credit limit and interest rates depend on our credit assessment of you and may differ from those shown.
-
British Airways American Express® Credit Card
Add value to your travel with a Card that allows you to collect Avios on purchases you are already making, with no annual fee. Collect 1 Avios for every £1 spent on purchases.3
Representative Example
Purchase Rate: 29.4% p.a. (variable)⁷
Annual Fee: No annual fee
Representative APR: 29.4% APR variable⁹
Assumed Credit Limit: £1,200 ¹⁰
Credit limit and interest rates depend on our credit assessment of you and may differ from those shown.
-
Amex® Cashback Everyday Credit Card
Enjoy a simple, straightforward way to earn cash rewards, The more purchases you make on your Card, the more cashback you could earn.
Representative Example
Purchase Rate: 29.4% p.a. (variable)⁷
Annual Fee: No annual fee
Representative APR: 29.4% APR variable⁹
Assumed Credit Limit: £1,200 ¹⁰
Credit limit and interest rates depend on our credit assessment of you and may differ from those shown.
-
The American Express® Rewards Credit Card
Redeem points you earn for a wide range of retail and travel purchases with our great partners, including Amazon, Boots and Currys PC World. Earn one Membership Rewards® point for every full pound you spend on purchases.4
Representative Example
Purchase Rate: 29.4% p.a. (variable)⁷
Annual Fee: No annual fee
Representative APR: 29.4% APR variable⁹
Assumed Credit Limit: £1,200 ¹⁰
Credit limit and interest rates depend on our credit assessment of you and may differ from those shown.
-
Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card
Earn Marriott Bonvoy points with every purchase with the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card and receive automatic Silver Status5 and 15 Elite Night Credits.6
Representative Example
Purchase Rate: 29.4% p.a. (variable)⁷
Annual Fee: £95 ⁸
Representative APR: 52.9% APR variable⁹
Assumed Credit Limit: £1,200 ¹⁰
Credit limit and interest rates depend on our credit assessment of you and may differ from those shown.
-
Multi-Card Carousel
-
-
Premium Cards
Receive a variety of premium benefits such as airport lounge access or 2-4-1 travel vouchers on top of earning points for your everyday spend.
-
Travel Rewards Cards
Enjoy all the benefits, convenience and security of an American Express® Card when travelling, with the added bonus of earning points when you make purchases at home and abroad.
-
Cashback Credit Cards
American Express® Cashback Credit Cards give you all the benefits and convenience of an American Express® Credit Card, whist earning you cashback on your purchases.
-
Rewards Credit Cards
Enjoy all the benefits, convenience and security of an American Express Card – with the added bonus of accumulating Rewards points which offer you the flexibility to redeem for flights, hotels, Gift Cards and more.
-
Business Credit Cards
Access cash flow, features to support your Business and rewards on all eligible Card spend with Amex® Business Cards.
-
No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Enjoy all the benefits, convenience and security of an American Express Card - with the added bonus of accumulating rewards.
-
Manage your Account any time, anywhere
With American Express you can manage your Account online for more control and convenience.
From temporarily freezing your Card to checking out Amex Offers, manage your Account safely and securely anytime, anywhere with the American Express® App.
Getting a Supplementary Card
Adding a Supplementary Card to your Account lets you share the benefits and convenience of your American Express® Card with your family, close friends, or partner.
You'll share one Account, and all rewards earned from Additional Card spend will go into your primary Account.
A Credit Card limit is the maximum amount of credit you can use on your Card, set when your application is approved. Get tips to stay within your credit limit.
You can find businesses that accept your American Express® Card here.
You can use your Card for any online or in-store purchases, to pay your bills, book flights, hotels and more. Using your Card responsibly could also be a good way to build a positive credit history and improve your credit score.
Increased buying power, cashback, and purchase protection are just some of the advantages of American Express® Credit Cards - as long as you use them responsibly. Find out more about the pros and cons of Credit Cards.
If your application is approved, you'll receive your new Card by post within the next 10 business days.
USEFUL LINKS
Find the Amex® Card that fits your lifestyle and see what other benefits await year-round.
1. Terms and conditions apply and are set out here.
2. Subject to enrolment, for more information click here. Terms and Conditions apply. Full details of the travel protection benefits currently available can be found in the Terms and Conditions available at Platinum Insurance.
3. 1 Avios will be earned for every £1 spent and charged per transaction. Avios are not earned on Balance Transfers, Cash Withdrawals, American Express Travellers Cheques purchases, Foreign Exchange, interest, any spending in excess of your credit limit, charges for returned payments, late payment or referral charges and American Express Credit Card finance charges. Written details available on request.
4. You earn Membership Rewards points for every full pound of eligible spend on your Card. Simply use your American Express Card for your everyday purchases and watch your points add up.
Please note that the following are not eligible spend, so will not earn Membership Rewards points:
- Interest;
- All fees (including annual membership fees and default fees);
- Balance transfers; Cash advances (including transactions treated as cash);
- Loading of pre paid cards;
- American Express Travellers Cheque purchases;
- Foreign exchange transactions; and
- Any amounts that are subsequently credited to your Card Account by way of refunds or other types of credits. Find out more here.
5. To be eligible, a valid Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty ID needs to be entered on the application form. The application form must be in the same name as held with the Marriott Bonvoy programme. All Marriott Loyalty Member Accounts are individual Accounts and no joint Accounts are permitted.
6. To be eligible to receive the 15 Elite Night Credits with this Card, you must be the Basic Cardmember, your Card Account must be in good standing at the time of the 15 Elite Night Credit deposit, and you must have an active Marriott Bonvoy programme account. To receive the 15 Elite Night Credit deposit, your Card Account must be linked to a Marriott Bonvoy programme account in your name. You will receive a maximum of 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year even if you have more than one Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Account or have more than one Marriott Bonvoy programme account. American Express is not responsible for fulfilment of this benefit. It will take approximately 8 weeks from Card Account approval date for the credits to be applied to your loyalty account.
7. Purchase Rate
This is the annual interest we charge when you use your credit card for purchases. If you pay off your balance in full each month, you won’t pay any interest on
purchases. Rates can vary for several reasons. Your purchase and cash interest rates will move up and down in line with the Bank of England Base Rate. For more information
click here. Rates may also vary based on your individual circumstances, either when you apply for a product or afterwards.
8. Annual Fee
We charge an annual fee in return for rewards, features and benefits.
Unless we tell you otherwise, we’ll charge it once a year starting on the date of your first statement.
9. Representative APR
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. It is designed to help you compare and understand the cost of credit. The Representative APR Includes the Purchase Rate and the annual Card fee.
The Purchase rate is the annual interest rate we charge when you use your credit card for purchases. If you pay off your balance in full each month, you won’t pay any interest on purchases.
Rates can vary for several reasons. Your purchase and cash interest rates will move up and down in line with the Bank of England Base Rate. For more information click here.
Rates may also vary based on your individual circumstances, either when you apply for a product or afterwards.
10. Assumed Credit Limit
£1,200 is the amount used by all lenders to calculate the Representative APR and make it easier to compare interest rates.
It doesn’t relate to the credit limit we will offer you.
11. Annual Fee
The annual fee is £195. With this offer you will receive the first year of Cardmembership with £0 annual fee. From year two of
your membership, a £195 annual fee will automatically be charged to your Account on or after the anniversary of your Account opening date.
We charge an annual fee in return for rewards, features and benefits.
Unless we tell you otherwise, we’ll charge it once a year starting on the date of your first statement.