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PROGRAMME PROFILE
The American Express® Rewards Credit Card: UK guide
The American Express® Rewards Credit Card is a UK consumer credit card that earns Membership Rewards® points and charges no annual fee. [3] It earns one Membership Rewards point for every full pound spent on eligible purchases. [3] This profile covers the UK Rewards Credit Card only; other American Express UK cards are linked separately.
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- As of 18 October 2026 the card has no annual fee, a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) and a representative APR of 29.1% APR variable. [3]
- Eligible purchases earn one Membership Rewards point per full pound; interest, fees, balance transfers, cash advances, prepaid card loading, Travellers Cheque purchases and foreign exchange transactions are excluded. [3] [6]
- Points can be redeemed with American Express and with partners including Amazon, Boots and Currys PC World. [3]
- Applicants must be 18 or over, hold a UK bank or building society account, have a permanent UK home address and no history of bad debt, and earn at least £15,000 a year. [3]
How do you earn Membership Rewards points with the UK Rewards Credit Card?
The card pays one Membership Rewards point for every full pound of eligible spend, so ordinary day-to-day purchases build the balance. [3] [6] American Express also lists complimentary Supplementary Cards, which can be added for family members or a partner; all rewards earned from Additional Card spend go into the primary Account. [3] [6]
| Activity | What you earn |
|---|---|
| Eligible purchases | 1 Membership Rewards point per full £1 spent [3] [6] |
| Referrals | At least 4,000 points when an invited friend is approved, up to 90,000 points a year [3] |
The referral reward is paid on approval of the invited person's application and is capped at 90,000 points a year. [3] Points earned this way can be put towards flights, Amazon purchases or paying off the balance, according to American Express. [3]
What does the American Express® Rewards Credit Card cost?
American Express publishes the following representative example for the card. [3] [6]
| Purchase rate | 29.1% p.a. (variable) [3] |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee [3] |
| Representative APR | 29.1% APR variable [3] |
| Assumed credit limit | £1,200 [3] [6] |
Both the credit limit and the interest rates depend on American Express's credit assessment and may differ from the figures shown. [3] The £1,200 figure is the amount all lenders use to calculate the representative APR and does not reflect the limit that will be offered. [6] No interest is charged on purchases when the full balance is paid on or before each statement date; otherwise interest is charged daily from the date an amount is due until it is paid in full. [6] Purchase and cash rates move up and down in line with the Bank of England Base Rate and can also vary with individual circumstances. [6]
Purchases of £100 or more can be spread into monthly instalments through Plan It™, which charges a fixed monthly fee shown upfront, carries no interest on the instalment plan balance and requires no additional application or extra credit checks. [3] Rewards are still earned on those purchases in the usual way. [3]
What can you redeem Membership Rewards points for?
Points can be redeemed with American Express and with partners including Amazon, Boots and Currys PC World. [3] At PayPal, cardholders can choose to pay with points, with the card, or with a combination of both on eligible purchases. [3] American Express describes the following as representative examples of redeeming Membership Rewards points. [3]
| Points | Example redemption |
|---|---|
| 5,000 | £25 M&S gift card [3] |
| 10,000 | £50 Selfridges gift card [3] |
| 20,000 | £100 Amazon gift card [3] |
| 40,000 | £200 Selfridges & Co gift card [3] |
| 40,000 | One return economy flight to Dubai with Virgin Atlantic [3] |
Who can apply for the UK Amex Rewards Credit Card?
American Express asks applicants to confirm the following before applying. [3]
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 or over [3] |
| Banking | A current UK bank or building society account [3] |
| Address | A permanent UK home address [3] |
| Credit history | No history of bad debt [3] |
| Income | At least £15,000 a year [3] |
UK personal cards generally follow the same four core checks — age, credit history, UK address and UK bank account — and some cards add further criteria, with employment, income and bank account information requested where relevant. [6] Anyone who holds or has held any personal American Express Card in the past 24 months is not eligible for any Welcome Bonus award on this card. [3] If an application is approved, the card arrives by post, which American Express puts at within the next 10 business days for approved credit card applications. [3] [6]
What protections and benefits come with the card?
Alongside the rewards, American Express lists travel accident insurance of up to £150,000 cover on public transport when the ticket is bought with the card, and Global Assist® help available 24/7 when travelling outside the UK. [3] Refund Protection covers eligible items a UK retailer will not refund, up to a maximum of £200, and Purchase Protection covers items bought on the card that are stolen or damaged within 90 days, up to £2,500 per eligible item. [3] Cardholders also get access to American Express Offers and American Express Experiences®. [3]
Exceptions and limits
- Spend that earns nothing. On UK American Express credit cards, Membership Rewards points are not earned on interest, any fees including annual membership and default fees, balance transfers, cash advances including transactions treated as cash, loading of prepaid cards, American Express Travellers Cheque purchases, foreign exchange transactions, or amounts later credited back as refunds or other credits. [6]
- Welcome bonus restriction. The 24-month rule covers any personal American Express Card held currently or at any point in the previous 24 months, so a previous card can rule out a Welcome Bonus award even where the application is otherwise approved. [3]
- Referral cap. Referral points are limited to 90,000 points a year, and the minimum reward per approved friend is 4,000 points. [3]
- Rates and limits are individual. The 29.1% purchase rate, 29.1% APR and £1,200 figure are a representative example; the actual credit limit and rates depend on the credit assessment. [3] [6]
- Interest applies to carried balances. Interest is avoided on purchases only when the full balance is paid on or before each statement date. [6]
Frequently asked questions
Is there an annual fee on the UK Amex Rewards Credit Card?
No. American Express lists the annual fee as "No annual fee" and shows a representative APR of 29.1% APR variable. [3]
How many Membership Rewards points do you earn per £1?
One point for every full pound of eligible spend, with certain transaction types excluded from earning. [3] [6]
What income do you need to apply?
At least £15,000 a year, alongside the other criteria: age 18 or over, a UK bank or building society account, a permanent UK home address and no history of bad debt. [3]
Can you get a welcome bonus if you already hold an Amex card?
Not if you hold or have held any personal American Express Card in the past 24 months; in that case you are not eligible for any Welcome Bonus award. [3]
What are 20,000 Membership Rewards points worth in gift cards?
American Express gives 20,000 points for a £100 Amazon gift card as one representative example of a redemption. [3]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Other American Express UK cards, including the Preferred Rewards Gold and British Airways American Express® cards, and other UK card programmes are not covered here; the Membership Rewards programme page and the transfer partners guide cover the wider scheme.
- American Express UK — The American Express® Rewards Credit Card, checked 18 October 2026
- American Express UK — Credit cards overview and card footnotes, checked 18 October 2026
The American Express Rewards Credit Card on Flyerfolio
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- Transfer ratio calculatorConvert points to partner miles at a ratio you enter or a sourced ratio with its official link and check date, with optional bonus and minimum block.
- Points value calculator
- Award vs cash calculatorCompare paying with points and paying cash using your own point value, including points the cash booking earns, and see the break-even value.