American Express Black Card - Centurion

Elite & Exclusive - The American Express Black Card

The American Express Black Card, officially called the Centurion Card is one of the most difficult to obtain credit cards (technically, a charge card), and also one of the most expensive credit cards. While most credit cards come with no annual fee, the Centurion Card has a $2,500 annual fee and a one time $5,000 initiation fee for the first year. And if you ever hold one, you'll know immediately since the card is made of titanium, not plastic.

So what's so great about being an American Express Black Card holder? 1) The perks and 2) the prestige (it's a bit of a status symbol). Anyway, let's talk about the perks you get by being a card holder. This card is great for people

The Centurion Card (made out of Titanium)

who travel. First of all you get a dedicated concierge and travel agent with the card. You also get complimentary companion airline tickets on international flights with certain airlines. There's also access to airport clubs and first class flight upgrades. There are also several high end retailers where the card will get you a personal shopper, and many upscale hotels will give you a free night at their hotel each year.

How to qualify

The American Express Black Card is available by invitation only. You can't just hop online and find a Centurion Card application. If you'd like to get the invitation for the black card, then you need to spend $250,000 over a 12 month period. Also, you need to have excellent credit history. If you meet those requirements (it will take at least a year), then all you need to do is wait for the invitation to arrive in the mail.

How to get one

In order to get that elusive invitation for the Centurion Card, you need to be a card holder of the American Express Platinum Card. The Platinum card is your stepping stone to the black card. Once you've got the card it's time to start spending. If you are a business owner, you can start running your advertising expenses through the card. For many businesses, that alone will run up the required $250,000/yr tab.

Please note that the Platinum card does come with an annual fee of it's own. However, if you truly want a Centurion Card, the annual fee of the Platinum card shouldn't bother you as it's far lower than the Centurion's annual fee.

Click Here For The Application For The Amercian Express Platinum Card.

Not quite ready for the Platinum Card? Click here to check out some of my favorite other travel rewards cards including the Chase Sapphire Card and Escape by Discover Card.

Pre Disclaimer: The following legalize and excessively wordy disclaimer comes to your courtesy of the suits at the FTC, American Express, Visa, and me. The big words and unintelligible gobbledygook... that's how the suits write (no offense intended if you are wearing a suit right now or have to wear one when playing a grown up at work) - the mocking, sarcastic tone - I did that.

Disclaimer: The content on this page has not been provided or commissioned by American Express. Centurion is a registered trademark of American Express. BlackCard is a registered trademark Black Card LLC. The Visa Black Card is issued by Barclays Bank Delaware and is not related to American Express. Yeah, Visa has their own fancy pants credit card officially called the Black Card. It's made of carbon. The card featured on this page is unofficially called the black card, but is officially referred to as the Centurion and is made of Titanium. The information and opinions expressed on this site are mine and mine alone - not those of American Express. American Express has not reviewed*, approved or otherwise endorsed this site. This site may be compensated when you click on any of the advertising on this site, including compensation from, but not limited to, the American Express Affiliate program.

*Part of my agreement says I have to write exactly that. However, it's a lie. They HAVE reviewed this site... and my account rep has told me they don't like it and do NOT approve of it.

This information on this site is for educational purposes only... nothing on this site should be taken as the gospel truth, and please don't carve any stone tablets with these instructions. The process for getting a Centurion card may be different than explained here or they may have changed. The powers that be can change the requirements at any time it pleases them.

Post Disclaimer A Proud Centurion Carrying Capitalist Will Appreciate: Bottom line - this site was built to make money. If you don't like it, you can leave... move to France or something.