Why I Added My Brother as an Amex Gold Card Authorized User

We all remember what it was like to start building a credit history. At first, qualifying for credit cards was tough — options often came with high interest rates or required a cosigner. Even with these hurdles, we were usually left with subpar loan or basic credit cards with no rewards.

That’s why, when my youngest brother recently became a legal adult, I decided to help him bypass years of below-average credit building strategies — just like I did with my younger sister.

A few months ago, I added him as an authorized user of my American Express® Gold Card at no extra cost (rates & fees). Here’s a look at the 4 key advantages of this approach.

1. Help Establish Credit

I’ve been considering adding my brother as an authorized user for a while now. Many card issuers, like American Express, allow cardholders to add authorized users as young as 13. While that may seem like a recipe for disaster given their underdeveloped frontal lobes, it’s actually incredibly helpful for a number of reasons.

Although authorized users aren’t the primary cardholders, their names are reported to credit bureaus. Interestingly, they don’t even need to use the card for their credit score to improve — just being added to the account is enough to help build their credit profile.

For both of my younger siblings, I used this technique to help establish their credit. I did this for my sister first with the The World of Hyatt Credit Card. (These days, my sister has moved on and opened her own travel credit cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card.)

As such, I took a similar approach for my brother by adding him as an authorized user on my Amex Gold card. I’m the primary user, so I pay a $325 annual fee (rates & fees). However, I can add up to 5 authorized users for no added annual fees (rates & fees).

BEST FOR DINING

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American Express^® Gold Card

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This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

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American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

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Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

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2. Earn Bonus Points

Sure, I didn’t need to give my brother his authorized user card to help build his credit, but I wanted to encourage responsible spending. And it’s working — though it’s fascinating to see what kinds of things teenagers these days spend their money on. I chose the Amex Gold card for him above any other card in my wallet for a few reasons.

First, I talked to him about how he spends his money. After all, adding him to my Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One. was also a viable option with, and an easy one given that it earns a flat 2x Capital One Miles per dollar spent everywhere.

However, it was clear that he spends most of his disposable income on dining (college kids, am I right?), so I decided that the Amex Gold card would be a better fit. Namely, the card offers 4x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide — up to $50,000 per year, then 1x points).

To help teach him about rewards cards and the benefits they can have on your life, I also told him he could keep any of the Amex Membership Rewards points he earned via his spending. I know, I’m generous.

Best of all, my brother received a fancy Amex Gold card in the mail — and who doesn’t want a metal credit card?

3. Spend Statement Credits

I recently wrote an article about why I don’t mind embracing the coupon book mindset, as most American Express cards offer statement credits to cardholders.

That’s especially true for the Amex Gold card, as the issuer offers perks like a monthly Dunkin’ credit and monthly dining credit, upon enrollment.

It’s important to know that authorized users won’t get their own set of credits. While I don’t always use all of mine, you know who’s the perfect person to benefit from these monthly credits? My brother — the perpetually hungry college student who could definitely use a little extra caffeine (or food). I let him know that they’re up for grabs, and I’m happy that if I can’t use them, they’re at least not going to waste.

4. Snag Extra Benefits

Although I don’t receive many additional benefits right now by adding my brother to my Amex Gold card, it doesn’t mean I won’t gain more in the future — or that I haven’t already enjoyed some advantages.

Since adding my sister to my World of Hyatt card, she’s helped me rack up elite night credits toward Hyatt Globalist status from her credit card spend.

In the future, I’m considering adding my brother to my Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card, since he spends enough that I’d easily earn the free night certificate you receive after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.

Final Thoughts

Adding an authorized user to your credit card can be a smart move in various situations, particularly if you’re looking to help someone build their credit. This was my motivation as well, and I’m glad to know that my brother will have a solid credit score when he’s ready to open his own rewards cards in the future.