What should my credit score be for american express

Preapproval involves a credit card issuer asking a credit bureau for a list of those who meet the specific factors they have in mind. Preapproved consumers are then typically contacted by the card issuer and invited to apply. In either case, the card issuer will run a soft credit check , which doesn't impact your credit score. That check will allow the issuer to see which credit cards you have a good chance of getting approved for if you were to apply.

Of course, prequalification doesn't mean you're guaranteed to get approved for an American Express credit card. If you decide to submit a formal application, the card issuer will perform a hard credit inquiry , and may or may not approve you based on what it sees. Things to Keep in Mind When Applying for an American Express Card If you're thinking about applying for an American Express credit card, there are some things to understand before you start the process.

How to Apply The application process can vary a bit depending on which credit card issuer you're applying with. However, you'll generally need to provide more information than you would during prequalification. If you want to add an authorized user, you'll also typically indicate that in the online application. Once you submit the application, you'll typically get one of three responses within seconds: an approval, a denial or a pending decision.

Keep in mind that identity theft prevention measures such as a frozen or locked credit file can prevent an immediate decision from being made, but can't prevent you from being approved. If you're notified that the card issuer's decision is pending, you'll typically get an answer within seven to 10 business days. It's important to avoid applying for just any credit card.

If your credit score isn't considered good or better, you'll have a hard time getting approved for a card directly from American Express. As such, it's best to avoid the unnecessary hard credit inquiry and apply for a card with better approval odds.

Before you apply for a credit card, check your credit score to see where you stand. CreditMatch can pair you with cards suitable for your unique credit profile, so it's a great resource if you're unsure where to start. Like many other credit card issuers, American Express provides upfront incentives called welcome offers to new cardholders.

These initiatives allow you to earn a bonus when you meet a minimum spending requirement in the first few months. Terms apply. However, American Express only allows you to earn a card's welcome offer once. This means that if you've had a certain American Express card before and canceled it, you can't get its welcome offer ever again.

Other card issuers may have similar restrictions, so make sure you do your research before applying. Regardless of where you get your credit card, it's crucial that you develop good credit card habits. For starters, it's important to pay your bill on time every month to avoid missing a payment, which can hurt your credit score and result in a fee.

Also, make it a goal to pay your balance in full every month, which will ensure you never pay interest. If you can't pay back what you charge to your card, consider using cash or a debit card to avoid overspending. Finally, it's critical that you keep your credit card balance as low as possible. Your credit card balances affect your credit utilization , which is an important factor in your credit scores. If you're constantly bumping up against your credit limit, that could be seen as risky behavior by lenders and credit scoring models, even if you pay your bill in full every month.

There's no hard-and-fast rule, but the lower, the better. Even if you meet the minimum requirements to get an American Express credit card—or any other card for that matter—it's still usually a good idea to work on your credit score for a better chance of approval, or better terms such as a lower interest rate.

Here are some things you can do to improve your credit :. When you apply for credit, lenders look at your credit report to evaluate your creditworthiness and make a decision. They can also see if you pay bills on time and whether you can manage debt responsibly. Credit reports mostly focus on your past few years of credit behavior, where missed or late payments will roll-off with time.

Given that, if you want to make significant strides in building or improving your credit score, you will need at least a few years of positive payment history, where there are no missing or late payments. If you are just starting to build your credit history, you could team up with someone with a good credit score who is willing to cosign a loan with you.

Get a copy of your credit report and analyze your spending patterns. You can then determine where to focus on to help build credit faster. If you keep missing paying bills, you could try automating your bill payments. Too many hard credit inquiries on your report? Wait a period of time before applying for new credit. If your credit utilization ratio the total amount of your outstanding credit balances divided by the total amount of your credit limits is high, you will want to work on paying down your debt to lower it.

If you work on boosting your savings and showing a positive history in the meantime, you can work towards repairing your credit. There are several types of products that can help you build your credit history. Consider the following four options:. A credit card can be a great tool for building up credit.

Every time you pay off your monthly balance, it is reported to the credit bureau and becomes part of your positive credit history. To do this, consider applying for an installment loan. If you can demonstrate a history of on-time monthly payments and a diversity of credit on your file, this could make you appear more creditworthy. If approved, you could receive the funds directly in your bank account within business days. This applicant reports rebuilding their credit score for 5 years before getting above FICO to try.

Mav reports an instant approval in February shortly after getting approved for the Amex Platinum. This decision comes after getting declined for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. This is a healthy credit score and annual income but both credit factors can be higher.

However, many of the best rewards cards require a FICO score in the high s to have the best approval odds. If you can qualify for many of the other travel cards, you may qualify for the Amex Gold. Then, you can enjoy all the perks that come with this card. People who want an American Express credit score but have a score below , may try to prequalify for card offers first. The prescreened offers have the best approval odds with the current credit history, but you can still try for similar cards without an offer and may get approved.

Applicants can have the best approval odds for American Express cards with a credit score above Ideally, you will try for Amex cards with a credit score. This credit limit can fluctuate monthly.

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Josh Patoka April 27, I'm a freelance writer specializing in personal finance and travel credit card rewards. Knowing the credit score needed for the Amex Gold can help you increase your chances of getting this benefit-rich card.

Amex Gold Welcome Offer Before we dive in, we wanted to make sure you were aware of the exciting welcome offer available one of the best in Amex Gold Card history! Now, onto what credit score needed for the Amex Gold. Amex Gold Credit Score Needed?

Minimum Income The only minimum requirement that American Express publicly discloses is being at least 18 years old to try for the Gold Card. American Express Application Rules Like other banks, American Express discourages trying for new cards if you have several new accounts.

Getting prescreened offers can supersede the typical application restrictions. One Welcome Offer The American Express cards only let cardholders earn one welcome offer per card per lifetime.