AmEx Gives New Cardholders More Time to Earn Welcome Bonuses
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American Express — noting the economic hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic — is extending the amount of time that new cardholders have to earn a welcome bonus on eligible credit cards.
The issuer is phrasing the three-month extension offer this way:
"Due to the impact of COVID-19, for eligible card accounts approved from December 1, 2019, through May 31, 2020, for which you are eligible for a welcome offer, the period to make eligible purchases to earn your welcome bonus will be extended for an additional 3 months. Eligible cards are U.S. consumer and business cards issued by American Express National Bank to a basic card member." Terms apply.
That’s double the amount of time typically offered to earn a bonus, and it could be beneficial to recent applicants who'd hoped to snag a pile of rewards upfront through normal spending but ended up having to change their budgets dramatically in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Eligible cards include American Express' co-branded hotel and airline cards. Cardholders will receive more information from American Express about this extension. If you already have a card that qualifies, or your application for a new card is approved by May 31, 2020, there’s no action for you to take. The additional time to earn the welcome bonus will be automatically granted to your card account.
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