Whether you’re a millionaire, a credit-cards geek, or you’ve spent a free afternoon watching the Real Housewives of New Jersey, you’re likely familiar with the term “Black Card.”
When someone refers to the Black Card, they’re usually referring to The Centurion Card from American Express. This card is perceived to be a symbol of wealth and status. And because of its tough (and largely mysterious) approval criteria, it does symbolize exclusivity because, for real, the card is extremely difficult to get.
There are other black credit cards, but none of them suggest the same prestige. Let’s take a look at what you’ll get with the Black Credit Card, how to get it, and some alternatives that are almost certainly better suited for you.
How to get a black credit card
American Express doesn’t make public the mathematical rubric they use to approve customers for the Centurion Card. In fact, you aren’t even allowed to apply. Amex will observe your spending habits, consider your income, etc. and then invite you to open the card if they think you’re a good fit.
Data points indicate that you’ll need to:
- Already hold card_name.
- Routinely spend (and pay off) at least $250,000 on your current Amex credit cards each year.
- Have an annual income of at least $1 million.
- Have excellent credit.
Again, this is only what’s reportedly necessary to qualify for the card. Even if you meet these criteria, Amex may still never reach out to offer you the card.
While applying for the card is impossible, you can visit the Centurion website and let American Express know that you’re interested in the card. This may at least prompt them to take a look at your profile if you weren’t on their radar before, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be invited to join the club.
Is it worth getting a black card?
The American Express Black Card comes with some extremely worthwhile benefits, significantly more useful than most other “exclusive” cards issued by other banks. But it’ll cost you. Be forewarned: the benefits we list here are surmises taken from hearsay and reporting based on interviews with Centurion holders. Because you can’t apply for this card, Amex also doesn’t advertise its features.
Benefits
The Amex Centurion Card is reputed to offer perks such as:
- The best airport lounge access you can get on a card. You can access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), and Delta Sky Clubs (when you have a same-day Delta ticket).
- Elite status with major travel brands, such as Delta, Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Hertz. Enrollment is required for some benefits.
- Up to $1,000 in Saks credits each year (doled out in $250 increments each quarter). Enrollment is required.
- Up to $189 in annual credits to offset Clear® Plus membership. Clear allows you to skip the long lines at domestic airport security checkpoints (and some stadiums and event venues) when you input biometric data into a Clear kiosk.
- Equinox all-access membership, which otherwise costs well over $3,000 per year. Enrollment is required.
There are various other exclusive benefits, as well, such as wine consultations and an in-person concierge to escort you through immigration whenever you return to the U.S. from an international first or business class flight booked via Amex Travel.
Another perk that will likely come in handy if you’re a millionaire is the fact that this card has no preset spending limit. You can buy expensive items that may be impossible to place on a competing credit card. Just note that the Black Card doesn’t allow you to carry a balance, so you’ll need to pay off your balance each billing cycle.
Fees
It’s possible to squeeze potentially thousands of dollars in value from the Black Card. But you’ll still have a tough time recouping the money you spend each year to hold it.
If you’re approved for the card, you’ll incur a whopping $10,000 initiation fee — followed by a $5,000 annual fee.
That’s virtually unprecedented, and it accentuates the point that this card is first and foremost a financial flex on your circle of friends, the Burger King drive-thru employee, and anyone else who might catch a glimmer of its anodized titanium frame.
In actual fact, you can get similar benefits from card_name, which is far less difficult to open and charges a much lower $695 annual fee (See Rates). Still eye-watering, but far more reasonable for the average person. card_name comes with benefits like:
- The same airport lounge access as the Centurion Card*
- Up $100 in Saks credits each year*
- Up to $189 statement credit to offset CLEAR® Plus, a program that lets you cut in line at TSA checkpoints*
- Up to $300 in Equinox credit each year*
Plus, you’ll get other benefits like:
- Up to $200 in Uber Cash each year (distributed in monthly $15 increments and $35 in December), which can be used for rides or food via Uber Eats*
- Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits*
- Up to $200 in annual credits toward prepaid hotel reservations made with The Hotel Collection (minimum two-night stay) or Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts
- Up to $240 digital entertainment credit (up to $20 per month for eligible services)
*Enrollment is required for these benefits
Other Black Credit Cards
There are other black-colored credit cards available to a less affluent market which offer less niche value than you’ll find on the Amex Centurion Card. Let’s take a look at a few.
card_name
If you don’t meet the requirements for the Amex Black Card, your friends will probably be equally impressed if you unsheath the card_name when the server brings the check.
This card incurs a annual_fees annual fee and is essentially designed to intimate wealth. It brandishes the words “BLACK CARD” in bold lettering on the front of its 22-gram metal body. However, it doesn’t offer quite enough in terms of rewards and benefits. You’ll get:
- 1 point per dollar (redeemable for 2% back on airfare via the Luxury Card rewards portal and 1.5% back for cash).
- An annual $100 credit to be used toward airfare, baggage fees, upgrades, etc.
- Priority Pass Select airport lounge access, which costs over $400.
- Luxury Card Travel program that gives you elite-like benefits at over 3,000 hotels around the world.
- Middle-of-the-road travel insurance.
These benefits aren’t bad by any means — but you can get similar benefits with a credit card that charges significantly less than annual_fees per year.
card_name
The card_name is a black, metal credit card. In my opinion, it’s the most worthwhile of any black card on the market.
This card is hyper-valuable for fans of Marriott or anyone who travels regularly. For a annual_fees annual fee, you’ll get:
- An annual free night certificate with Marriott, worth up to 85,000 points. This can easily save you $500 per year, depending on how you use it.
- Priority Pass Select membership, with no limit on how many guests you can bring. This otherwise costs over $400 per year.
- Free authorized users (who also receive their own full-fledged Priority Pass Select membership)
- Up to $300 in annual credit toward airline incidentals (baggage fees, seat upgrades, and sometimes even airfare)
- Top-tier travel insurance equal to the industry-leading Chase Sapphire Reserve®
card_name is not available to new applicants — but you can still get it if you know the trick.
First, you must open a Chase Marriott credit card (such as the card_name) and keep it in good standing for at least one year. Then, you can contact Chase and ask them to “product change” your current Marriott card into card_name.
The one caveat is that your Marriott card’s credit line must be at least $10,000. If it’s less, it isn’t eligible to be changed into card_name. However, if you’ve got other Chase credit cards, you can ask Chase to reallocate some credit from your other cards to your Marriott credit card to reach the $10,000 threshold.
RBC Bank Visa Signature Black Plus
Banks know that you recognize the “black card” as being something really, really good. And sometimes, you’ll find it attached to cards that are not exclusive at all.
Case in point: The RBC Bank Visa Signature Black Plus. This card comes with a $75 annual fee and offers:
- 1.00 RBC Rewards points per dollar
- 1.00% cash back per point
- Fair-to-decent travel insurance
The RBC Bank Black Plus card is just fine for some customers, but anyone googling “black card” is going to be disappointed when they find this card among the results.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Who qualifies for a black card?
American Express plays close to the vest when it comes to applicant requirements for the Centurion Card. Data points suggest that you’ll need an income of at least $1 million and spend at least $250,000 on your Amex credit cards each year. You’ll also need to be have card_name.
What is a black credit card limit?
The Amex Black Card doesn’t have a preset spending limit. It is not a credit card which extends a finite credit line to you. Instead, the amount your card will be approved for will change with your monthly spending habits.
What does a black card do for you?
The Black Card offers various annual statement credits and travel benefits such as airport lounge access, up to $189 in Clear® Plus credits, up to $1,000 in Saks credits, etc. But above its tangible benefits, the card differentiates you from others. Its $5,000 annual fee (and $10,000 initiation fee) mean very, very few people have the card.
How rare is a black card?
There are reportedly 20,000 Amex Centurion Card members in the U.S. That means about one in 13,000 people have the card.
How hard is it to get a black card?
Again, you are unable to apply for the American Express Centurion Card. You must be invited. And because Amex doesn’t reveal exactly how they decide who to invite, the card is extremely difficult to get.
