On August 16, 2021, the Amex Choice Card was transformed into the American Express Green Card. Not much changed except for how points are redeemed.
One of the top no-fee travel credit cards, the Amex Green Card has lots of potential and may be a great choice for you if you love to travel and eat out.
This American Express Green Card review covers the many benefits, a few downsides to the card, how to apply, and some alternative rewards credit cards.
American Express Green Card – At a Glance
- No annual fee
- 20.99% interest rate on purchases
- 21.99% interest rate on funds advances
- Earn 1x points on everyday purchases
- 1 additional point earned on Amex Travel Online (eligible hotel or rental car bookings)
- Transfer points 1:1 to frequent flyers and other loyalty programs
- Redeem Membership Rewards points on gift cards, merchandise, travel, or Amazon.ca purchases
- The card is made with 99% recycled plastic
American Express Green Card
Rewards: Earn 1x pts per $1 spent on all purchases.
Welcome offer: Get 10,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.
Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases and 21.99% on cash advances.
Annual fee: $0
American Express Green Card Benefits
The American Express Green Card offers a welcome bonus to new cardholders.
You can get 12,500 Membership Rewards points when you spend $1,250 with your card in the first 3 months of using it.
Other American Express Green Card benefits include:
Earn Points
Earn 1x the points on everyday purchases using the card.
Earn 1 additional point for every $1 charged to your American Express Green Card on eligible car rental or hotel bookings at americanexpress.ca/travel.
When you fully charge eligible items to the Green Card, your insurance coverage can automatically extend the manufacturer’s original warranty up to one additional year.
Redeem Points
Redeem your points towards purchases on eligible items such as groceries, food and drinks, streaming subscriptions, and travel.
You can also redeem points on travel purchases booked on the American Express Travel portal through the Flexible Points Travel Program, eligible Amazon.ca purchases, and gift cards and merchandise through membershiprewards.ca.
You can transfer your points to a few different loyalty or frequent flyer programs, like Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, and Avios.
You must redeem a minimum of 1,000 points per redemption.
All Eligible Purchases: 1,000 points = $10 statement credit.
American Express Experiences and Events
Access Front Of The Line Presale tickets to concerts, theatre productions, restaurants, and special events.
Access Front Of The Line Reserved tickets for a few selected seats reserved exclusively for Cardmembers during public ticket sales.
Get a variety of special events and offers, such as advance movie screenings and theatre packages.
Get special access to food festivals and curated events, as well as curated private shopping experiences and exclusive online offers.
Shopping Coverage
Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan – When charging eligible items to your American Express Green Card, your coverage can automatically extend the manufacturer’s original warranty up to one year.
Purchase Protection Plan – You will be insured for eligible items for 90 days from the date of the purchase if accidental damage or theft occurs (up to $1000).
World-Class Service
American Express offers 24/7 customer service for Green Card members.
You will not be held responsible for any fraudulent charges, and you can get an emergency replacement card if yours gets lost or stolen.
Manage your account with Online Services from American Express or via the American Express App.
Downsides of the American Express Green Card
The American Express Green Card has an interest rate of 20.99% on everyday purchases and 21.99% on funds advances; however, it is subject to approval.
If you miss any payments, the interest rates will rise to 25.99% and 28.99%, which are quite high.
Another downside is that American Express cards are not always accepted everywhere.
Retailers like Loblaws, Costco, and many independently owned stores do not accept Amex due to the higher merchant fees.
There is also no preset American Express Green Card credit limit, which can make it easy for some people to overspend without realizing it.
How To Apply for the American Express Green Card
To apply for this card, click here.
American Express Green Card requirements:
- You must be the age of majority in your province or territory
- You must be a Canadian resident
- You must have a Canadian credit file
The American Express Green Card credit score requirement is 700+, similar to other American Express cards.
You should have at least good standing credit for approval.
How To Redeem AMEX Membership Rewards Points
To redeem AMEX Membership Rewards points, follow the steps below:
- Use your card to purchase eligible items.
- Log into your account online and click “Use points for eligible purchases.”
- Choose the purchase you want to redeem points for and submit.
Statement credit will be applied to your account within 48 hours.
Remember that you must redeem a minimum of 1,000 points ($10) and that only eligible purchases posted to your card within the last three months (up to 150 purchases) will be available for redemption.
Alternatives to the American Express Green Card
Other credit cards that are great for earning points and cashback include the following.
American Express Green Card vs. American Express Gold Rewards Card
American Express Gold Rewards Card
Rewards: Earn 2x the points on travel, gas, drugstore, and grocery purchases; 1x point everywhere else.
Welcome offer: Get up to 60,000 bonus points in the first year.
Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases and 21.99% on cash advances.
Annual fee: $250
The American Express Gold Rewards Card has a $250 annual fee and the same interest rates as the Green Card.
You earn 2 points for every $1 in card purchases at eligible gas stations, drugstores, and grocery stores in Canada, as well as eligible travel purchases.
You also get unique travel benefits, such as out-of-province emergency medical insurance, trip interruption, and cancellation insurance, lost or stolen bag insurance, and airport lounge access with this card.
American Express Green Card vs. SimplyCash Card From AMEX
SimplyCash Card from American Express
Rewards and benefits: Earn up to 2% cash back on gas and groceries; 1.25% cash back on all other purchases; travel accident insurance.
Welcome offer: Earn a $10 statement credit each month you spend $300 in purchases on your Card in the first 10 months (up to $100 value).
Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases and 21.99% on cash advances.
Annual fee: $0
The SimplyCash Card from AMEX has no annual fee, a 20.99% interest rate on purchases, and 21.99% on funds advances.
You earn 2% cash back on groceries and gas ($300 annual cash back cap at this rate) and 1.25% cash back on all other purchases, with no limit to the amount of cashback you can earn. Cashback is applied as a statement credit annually.
A few other perks of this card include $100,000 travel insurance, a Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan, and a Purchase Protection Plan.
American Express Green Card vs. Tangerine World Mastercard
Tangerine World Mastercard
Rewards: Earn up to 2% unlimited cash back in up to 3 spending categories and 0.50% on all other purchases; VIP perks.
Welcome offer: Get an extra 10% cash back on up to $1,000 in spending in the first 2 months ($100 value).
Interest rates: 19.95% for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances.
Annual fee: $0
The Tangerine World Mastercard has a $0 annual fee and a 19.95% interest rate.
You can earn 2% Money-Back rewards in two 2% Money-Back Categories of your choice and 0.50% Money-Back Rewards on all other everyday purchases.
Within your first two months of using the card, you can earn an extra 10% cashback worth up to $100.
You can transfer your balances from other high-interest credit cards to the Tangerine World Mastercard for six months with only a 1.95% balance transfer.
Other benefits of this card include rental collision/loss damage insurance, mobile device insurance, and extended warranty and purchase protection.
You also get a complimentary membership to exclusive offers in over 400 airports and 1,000 lounges provided by Loungekey, as well as access to Boingo wi-fi for Mastercard.
Is the American Express Green Card For You?
The American Express Green Card is worth considering if you love to travel and redeem rewards on travel, movie and concert experiences, and everyday purchases such as groceries, food, and drinks.
You only need a credit score of 700+, and there aren’t too many eligibility requirements to apply for the card.
It is not a traditional credit card; however, which means you must generally pay the bill in full by the due date, or the minimum amount every month.
Overall, if you have a good credit score, don’t carry a balance from month to month, and spend a lot on dining and travel, this card may be a good option for you.
AMEX Green Card FAQs
Yes, the AMEX Green Card is available in Canada. You can view and apply for it here.
If you have a good credit score, meet the age of majority in your province or territory, are a Canadian resident, and have a Canadian credit file, you may be eligible for the American Express Green Card.
Conclusion
Compared to similar cashback and rewards credit cards, the American Express Green Card has many benefits, such as earning and redeeming points, shopping coverage, and travel perks.
It is a great credit card to use alongside the existing ones in your wallet, but if you only use the Amex Green Card, you may be missing out on the benefits other cards have to offer.
Related:
- RBC Credit Score: Get Your Free Credit Score
- Best RBC Secured Credit Cards In Canada
- Tangerine Cash Back Card Vs BMO Cash Back Mastercard
- Best TD Secured Credit Cards And Alternatives
American Express Green Card Review
Overall
Summary
The American Express Green Card is one of the best no-fee travel credit cards in Canada. This American Express Green Card review covers how it works, pros, cons, and alternatives.
