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The Amex Centurion Card

Made of titanium and offering no pre-set spending limit, this famous Amex black card is so exclusive you can only get it by invitation.

The American Express Centurion Card is one of the most exclusive and mysterious cards in the world – it's only available by invitation from American Express. It is technically a charge card, rather than a credit card, and offers valuable travel and lifestyle perks, as well as generous rewards for your spending.

It was one of the first metal cards to ever be released, originally in black anodised titanium, and now offers 2 metal designs.

What are the features and benefits of the Amex Centurion Card?

The American Express Centurion Card has become a status symbol for the elite. Informally called the "Amex black card", this card has held a high position among ultra-premium cards since its launch.

  • Credit limit. This card doesn't have a pre-set credit or spending limit. As a charge card, you're required to pay the balance in full each month.
  • Personal or business use. The card can be used for personal as well as business use. You can also request additional cards for family members or employees.
  • Rewards points. The Amex Centurion doesn't have a publicly listed earn rate but is reported to earn 2.5 Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible spending. In comparison, the American Express Platinum Card (which is often used as a point of reference) offers 2.25 points per $1 on eligible purchases and 1 point per $1 spent with government bodies.
  • Metal card. One of the most iconic features of the Centurion Card is that it is made of metal. But you can still use it with contactless and mobile payment services.
  • Travel benefits. Some of the travel benefits you could enjoy with this card include complimentary flights, a dedicated travel-booking service, airport chauffeur service, Priority Pass membership, Virgin Lounge and Qantas Club Lounge benefits and cruise company credits. You can also access the Centurion airport lounges in Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Seattle and San Francisco with the card.
  • Hotel perks. As well as a complimentary hotel stay and upgrades at many locations, exclusive privileges and hotel reward program benefits are available with partners including Hilton Honors, Starwood Preferred Guest and InterContinental Hotels.
  • Complimentary insurance. The Amex Centurion offers a suite of complimentary insurance covers including international travel insurance, card purchase cover, card refund cover and extended warranty cover.
  • Mobile contactless payments. Whether you have an Android, Apple or Samsung device, you can save time at the cash register and pay with the convenience of your smartphone with Google Pay, Apple Pay or Samsung Pay.
  • Prada x Amex Centurion bracelet. You can request 2 of these contactless wearables per account, with a design from Prada that looks similar to a classic black watch strap.

american express centurion card

How much does the Amex Centurion cost?

In Australia, the card charges a $6,500 annual fee with a one-off establishment fee of $5,000.

This means you'd pay $11,500 in the first year and $6,500 per year after that. Other American Express cards have annual fees ranging from $0 to $1,750. As the Centurion is a charge card, it doesn't charge interest but you're required to pay your balance in full each month.

How can I get an Amex Centurion Card?

This is an invitation-only card, so there are no specific eligibility criteria available for the Amex Centurion Card. But if your aim is to get this card, there are a few steps that could help you get an invitation:

  • Build a relationship with Amex. American Express only sends out a limited number of Centurion invitations to its existing customers. So you can work towards getting this card by using other premium American Express products.
  • Pay off your account regularly and on time. If you want an Amex Centurion invitation, you'll also need to show that you can afford to use it by making account repayments regularly.
  • Make use of your current extras. The Amex Centurion is reported to have an extensive suite of complimentary extras and benefits that cater to premium card members. So using the perks available on your current card could help show American Express that you are the type of person who appreciates and benefits from these features.
  • Meet the financial requirements. Although there are no official financial requirements listed for this card, it's clear that the Amex Centurion is designed for big spenders and earners. It's been said that cardholders need a five-figure monthly spending bill per month to get this card.

Can I register my interest for the Amex Centurion?

While this card is by invitation only, the US American Express Centurion login page has an option for people to submit their details to Amex for consideration.

A screenshot of the US American Express Centurion login page. At the bottom of the page it says

As this is a US website, there's no guarantee it would work for someone in Australia and the website notes that submitting your information "is not an application for credit and does not obligate American Express to invite you to apply for the Centurion Card."

A cropped screenshot from the US American Express Centurion website, showing the details needed to register interest in the card.

Compare other credit cards from American Express

Name Purchase rate p.a. Bonus points Points per $ spent Interest-free period Balance transfer rate p.a. Annual fee
Qantas American Express Ultimate Card
Qantas American Express Ultimate Card image
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Purchase rate p.a.
23.99%
Bonus points
50,000
Points per $ spent
1.25
Interest-free period
Up to 44 days on purchases
Balance transfer rate p.a.
N/A
Annual fee
$450
Go to siteMore Info
Get a yearly $450 Travel Credit and 50,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months.
American Express Explorer Credit Card
American Express Explorer Credit Card image
Membership Rewards
Purchase rate p.a.
23.99%
Bonus points
50,000
Points per $ spent
2
Interest-free period
Up to 55 days on purchases
Balance transfer rate p.a.
N/A
Annual fee
$395
Go to siteMore Info
Get 50,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months.
American Express Essential Rewards Credit Card
American Express Essential Rewards Credit Card image
Membership Rewards
Purchase rate p.a.
23.99%
Bonus points
80,000
Points per $ spent
1
Interest-free period
Up to 55 days on purchases
Balance transfer rate p.a.
N/A
Annual fee
$108
Go to siteMore Info
Offers up to 80,000 bonus Membership Rewards Points (20,000 points each month when you spend at least $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 120 days). Ends 15 October 2024.
American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card
American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card image
Qantas Business Rewards
Purchase rate p.a.
0%
Bonus points
130,000
Points per $ spent
1.25
Interest-free period
Up to 51 days on purchases
Balance transfer rate p.a.
N/A
Annual fee
$450
Go to siteMore Info
(ABN holders w/ $75k revenue). Earn 130,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 in the first 2 months.
American Express Velocity Business Card
American Express Velocity Business Card image
Velocity Frequent Flyer
Purchase rate p.a.
0%
Bonus points
150,000
Points per $ spent
1
Interest-free period
Up to 51 days on purchases
Balance transfer rate p.a.
N/A
Annual fee
$249
Go to siteMore Info
ABN holders w/ $75,000 revenue. Get 150,000 bonus Velocity Points when you spend $5,000 in the first 2 months. Plus, a $250 Virgin Australia Business Flyer Travel Bank credit.
American Express Platinum Business Card
American Express Platinum Business Card image
Finder Award
Membership Rewards Ascent Premium
Purchase rate p.a.
0%
Bonus points
350,000
Points per $ spent
2.25
Interest-free period
Up to 55 days on purchases
Balance transfer rate p.a.
N/A
Annual fee
$1,750
Go to siteMore Info
ABN holders w/ $75,000 revenue. Get 350,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points when you spend $12,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months.
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Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald. See full bio

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