How Do I Sign Up for American Express Credit Card?

You've done your research and decided American Express has the best card for your needs. Applying online, over the phone or by responding to an offer in the mail will help you add American Express to your credit card portfolio. Apply today and start earning rewards from a card with a high customer satisfaction rating.

Dec 9, 2022

You've done all your research. You've compared credit card companies and decided American Express has the best card to meet your needs. Now you want to take the next step and apply. How do you sign up for an American Express credit card? You can get assistance and information from American Express customer support here, and you can keep reading on how to apply for one of its many credit cards.

Picking the Right American Express Credit Card

First, you want to make sure you are getting the right American Express card for you. American Express has cards with rewards points, cards that offer cash back, and secured credit cards. Depending on what your needs are will determine the exact card you will apply for. For example, if you travel a lot, you will want to consider the American Express Platinum Card, which offers $200 in hotel credits each year for qualifying purchases. For cash back, the Blue Cash Preferred Card may be best for you. Once you've narrowed it down to the specific American Express card you want, you're ready to submit your application.

How To Apply

You can apply for an American Express credit card in one of three ways: online, over the telephone, and by responding to a pre-qualification offer in the mail.

Online

Applying online is the quickest method to sign up for an American Express credit card. Submit your online application by doing the following:

  1. Open the American Express website
  2. Click on "Cards" at the top of the page.
  3. From the drop-down menu, select if you are applying for a personal card, business card or prepaid debit card.
  4. Choose "View All Cards" under the section you wish to explore.
  5. Under the card you want, click on "Apply Now."
  6. Enter all the requested information (listed below).
  • Full legal name
  • Email address
  • Date of birth
  • Mobile phone number
  • Home address
  • Social Security number
  • Total taxable annual income
  • You can also include non-taxable income but including this income is optional.
  • Income source (employment, retirement account, or other source).
  • Click on "Continue to Terms."
  • Review and accept terms and submit your application.
  • You will get a decision in minutes notifying you if you have been approved (and your credit limit when you are approved).
  • When you get your card in the mail, activate it immediately to protect your card and purchases.
  • Applying Over the Phone

    You can also apply for an American Express credit card over the phone by contacting customer support here. You will need to provide the representative with the same information outlined above for online applications. The representative will process your application and let you know if you have qualified.

    Mail in the Application

    If you have received a notification in the mail that you pre-qualify for an American Express card, you can fill out and return the application in the envelope provided. This will be the slowest process to apply for an American Express card.

    You have several options when applying for an American Express credit card. Whether you apply online, over the phone, or through the mail, you will be getting the best card for your needs. Contact customer support here for more information.

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