American Express Company is an American bank holding company and multinational financial services corporation that specialises in payment cards. It is headquartered at 200 Vesey Street in the neighbourhood of Lower Manhattan. It offers many products and services, one of which is Amex Credit Card. Some of the Amex cards are the Amex Platinum Card, Amex SmartEarn Credit Card, Amex Membership Rewards Card, and many more. In this article, we will be discussing the Amex Gold Card.

Perks and Privileges

Mentioned are the perks and privileges of the Amex Gold Card:

• Earn reward points of up to 5X on your selected purchases. Below mentioned are its details:

1. Get 5X membership reward points on all purchases made through Reward Multiplier.
2. Get 1 Membership Reward Point for every INR 50 spent except for insurance expenses and transactions made via cash.
3. Get 1 Membership Reward Point for every INR 50 spent on fuel and utility.

• Get 24,000 Points / 24 Karat Gold Collection (you can choose from any one of them):

1. Taj Voucher worth ₹14,000
2. Tanishq Voucher  worth ₹10,000
3. Flipkart Voucher worth ₹9,000
4. Amazon Voucher worth ₹9,000
5. Shoppers Stop Voucher worth ₹11,000

• Get 18,000 Points / 18 Karat Gold Collection Collection (you can choose from any one of them):

1. Taj Voucher worth ₹9,000
2. Amazon Voucher worth ₹7,000
3. Flipkart Voucher worth ₹7,000
4. Shoppers Stop Voucher worth ₹8,000
5. Myntra Voucher worth ₹8,000

• Get a discount of up to 20% when dining at select restaurant partners.
• Get a room upgrade and US $100 hotel credit for 2 consecutive nights. This is applicable to over 400 hotels worldwide.
• Get a waiver on fuel surcharge as per the below-mentioned details:

1. 1% convenience fee on fuel purchases of INR 5,000 and above at HPCL Petrol Pumps
2. 0% convenience fee on fuel purchases less than INR 5,000 at HPCL Petrol Pumps

Whether to Consider an Amex Gold Card or Not?

One should consider an Amex Gold Card if:

• If one desires to earn a decent quantum of rewards along with a few travel-related benefits.
• If one is looking for reward points on fuel-related expenses.
• If one is a frequent traveller and wants to avail of benefits on travel and stays.
• If one can afford fees as high as INR 5000.
• If one incurs most of his expenses via credit card.
• If one is more interested in rewards than cashback.

One should consider a card other than an Amex Gold Card if:

• If the expenditure incurred on fuel is high and one is looking for a fuel card.
• If one is interested in earning direct cashback apart from reward points.
• If one is looking for a card that provides the benefit of complimentary lounge access.
• In case you don’t want to incur a fee as high as INR 5000.

Fees and Charges

Mentioned below are the fees and charges associated with the Amex Gold Card:

Type of Fee or Charge	Amount
Joining Fee	INR 1,000 + Applicable Taxes
Annual/ Renewal Fee	INR 4,500 + Applicable Taxes
Cash Advance Fee	3.5% (Minimum of INR 250)

Eligibility Criteria

Mentioned below are the eligibility parameters to be met in order to apply for Amex Gold Card:

• The minimum age of an applicant should be 18 years.
• In the case of a self-employed applicant, the company should be in trading for more than 12 months.
• An applicant should have a decent credit history and no default in payments.
• In the case of a salaried applicant, the annual income should be INR 6 lakhs and above.
• An applicant should have an Indian or Multinational savings or current bank account in India.
• An applicant should have a current residential address in India.
• An applicant should be a Resident Indian as mentioned in the Income Tax Act, 1961 of India.
• The card should be issued to the residents of Delhi/NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata, Indore, Coimbatore, Chandigarh/Tricity, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Jaipur, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Ernakulam, Vijayawada, Ludhiana, Nasik, Nagpur, Trivandrum, Mysuru, Lucknow, Cuttack &Vizag subject to condition.

Steps to Activate the Amex Gold Card

Mentioned below are the steps to activate the Amex Gold Credit Card:

Via American Express App:

Step 1: Download the American Express App.

Step 2: Provide your credit card details.

Step 3: Next, create your User ID and password.

Step 4: Set the desired PIN and get the card activated.

Step 5: Once the app is launched, go to the tab “Accounts”.

Step 6: Now, select the “Activate and Add Card to your Account” option.

Step 7: The app provides quick and secure access with the help of biometrics.

Step 8: One can also set up notifications/alerts, get the account statements, redeem the reward points, etc.

Step 9: It allows you to view, change, and unlock the PIN.

Step 10: Also, it gives a Chat Support option on the app for quick resolution of your problem.

Via Online Account:

Step 1: It allows the cardholders to register for online services at www.americanexpress.co.in/activate

Step 2: Set the desired PIN and get the card activated.

Step 3: It allows you to view the bank account balance and pay utility bills online.

Step 4: One can set up notification alerts via SMS and email to get updates.

Step 5: It allows you to view, change, and unlock the PIN.

Step 6: Also, one can track the membership rewards points balance.

Via American Express Helpline:

Step 1: Call the customer care number printed on the back side of your card.

Step 2: Follow the IVR instructions to set a PIN so as to set the desired PIN and get the card activated.

Steps to Apply for the Amex Gold Card

Mentioned below are the steps to apply for the Amex Gold Credit Card:

Step 1: Visit the American Express Gold Card Page.

Step 2: Go to the tab “Apply Now”.

Step 3: Fill out the Amex credit card application form with all the personal details required.

Step 4: Click on “Save and Continue”.

Step 5: Provide all the financial and additional information required.

Step 6: Click on “Submit” to get the form reviewed.

Step 7: The bank will then verify the details provided.

Step 8: Post verification, the bank can either “Accept” or “Reject” the application.

Step 9: Also, the credit card application status can be checked either online or by calling the customer care number.