American Express makes major change to credit card eligibility – are YOU affected?

By HELEN KIRRANE

Updated: 12:48 BST, 18 June 2025

American Express is changing the minimum income requirements for three of its most popular credit cards.

The credit card giant reintroduced minimum income requirements for its cards in 2023, having scrapped them in 2016.

American Express is now tweaking the income requirements for three of its credit cards so they have a lower threshold.

The minimum income requirement for the British Airways American Express credit card is now £15,000 where previously it had been £20,000.

The minimum income requirement for both the American Express Rewards credit card and the Amex Cashback Everyday credit card has also dropped to £15,000 from £20,000.

The popular American Express Gold and Platimum cards’ minimum income requirement remains unchanged at £20,000 and £35,000 respectively. The Platinum card’s minimum income requirement was £40,000 in 2016.

Credit card giant American Express is lowering thr minimum income requirement on three of its cards to £15,000 down from £20,000

The only card which has seen a jump in the minimum income requirement since 2016 is the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card. It was available on a £20,000 income in 2016 but now requires £35,000.

Rob Burgess, editor of frequent flyer website Head for Points, said: ‘The previous limits were not exactly tough for anyone in a full time job. 

‘Someone on minimum wage doing 40 hours per week would qualify for every American Express card except The Platinum Card and the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card.’

‘The winners from these changes are probably the retired or part-time workers, who may now find they earn enough to apply for specific products.’

Income for the purpose of an American Express card is your personal annual pre-tax income, this can include wages and savings. 

The minimum income requirements for other credit cards American Express offers have not changed. These are: 

• Amex Cashback Credit Card – £20,000 
• Nectar Credit Card – £20,000 
• Marriott Bonvoy American Express – £20,000 
• The American Express Business Gold Card – £20,000 
• British Airways American Express Accelerating Business – £20,000 
• British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card – £35,000 
• The American Express Business Platinum Card – £35,000 

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American Express makes major change to credit card eligibility – are YOU affected?

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