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[Expired] The Amex Platinum Card – How To Use the Monthly $30 PayPal Credits [2021]

BY 

Christine Krzyszton

- UPDATED: July 1, 2021   |    8

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Note: The offer below has ended and is no longer available.

If you’re a cardmember of The Platinum Card® from American Express, you’re sure to have found value in the card’s ongoing statement credit benefits and its most recent offerings. Statement credits for specific purchases have included monthly credits for streaming purchases, Uber and Uber Eats, Saks Fifth Avenue, and more.

While statement credits are normally only worthwhile if you can utilize the specific benefits, the Amex Platinum card’s latest value proposition is a sure winner for every cardmember. Effective January 2021, Amex has added a $30 per month statement credit for PayPal purchases through June 2021.

Even if you’re currently not a PayPal user, setting up an account is simple and certainly worth the time and effort to do so, if only for this statement credit offer.

Let’s take a look at some ideas on how to use the offer, how to add your card to your PayPal account, and everything else you need to know to maximize the deal.

How To Use the PayPal Statement Credit

Hundreds of online retailers accept PayPal, so you won’t have any trouble utilizing the $30 monthly statement credit. Plus, there is no registration required — a PayPal purchase will trigger the credit.

Additional online merchants accepting PayPal include:

Prior to shopping, you must first add your Amex Platinum card to your PayPal account. Log in to your PayPal account and under the Money section, you will see the option to link your card to your PayPal Wallet.

Once you’ve visited the online merchant and chosen the items you’re going to purchase, you can select PayPal as your method of payment. You will then be taken to your PayPal account and can select the Amex Platinum card.

The purchase will code as a PayPal purchase and you will receive the $30 statement credit for purchases $30 or greater.

Bottom Line: To utilize the $30 monthly PayPal statement credit, simply add your Amex Platinum card to your PayPal account, select PayPal when checking out at an online retailer, then chose your Amex Platinum card as the payment method once you’re directed to your PayPal account by the merchant. 

Everything Else You Need To Know

Let’s wrap up with some additional information that will help you understand the Amex PayPal statement credit benefit.

• A person to person payment is not a valid purchase for the purpose of obtaining the statement credit.
• The $30 credit is valid once during each calendar month through June 2021.
• A purchase that is greater than $30 will trigger the credit and any amount over $30 will be charged to your Amex Platinum card.
• If a purchase is less than $30, the statement credit you receive will be for the actual amount of the purchase. You will be able to make another purchase to utilize the remainder of the statement credit.
• The purchase must be made with a U.S. merchant in U.S. dollars.
• Credits do not carry over from 1 month to the next, you must use the entire credit within the calendar month or it will be gone.
• If you return an item, the statement credit could be reversed.

Amex Platinum Card

If you don’t already have the Amex Platinum card, it’s certainly a card to consider. Plus, you still have time to take advantage of the most recent statement credit offer if you apply early in 2021.

We like the Platinum for its long list of premium benefits, the fact that it earns valuable Membership Rewards points, and that it comes with a nice collection of travel insurance benefits.

Amex Offers

In addition to Amex statement credit offers, you may find valuable offers on your Amex Platinum card via Amex Offers. The latest offers have included $50 back on a $50 purchase at The Home Depot, $50 back on a $50 Home Chef purchase, and $30 back on a $30 Wine Insiders purchase.

Log in to your online Amex Platinum card account and scroll down the homepage to find up to 100 Amex Offers. Add the offers for which you’re interested to your card by clicking on the “add to card” button. You’ll receive a statement credit automatically, normally within a few days of when the affiliated purchase shows as a purchase on your account.

Final Thoughts

This statement credit offer will be easy for cardholders to use as so many merchants accept PayPal. Even if you don’t have a PayPal account, setting 1 up is free, simple, and certainly worth $180 (6 months x $30) if you get started in January.

For now, the PayPal statement credit is only for the consumer personal version of the Amex Platinum card, but Amex has been on a roll with statement credit offerings. It would be wise to keep an eye on your email for additional offers.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.