How I Scored Nearly 500K Points from Amex’s Targeted Welcome Bonus Offers

Over the past few months, American Express has introduced unprecedented welcome bonus offers on some of its most popular cards within the Membership Rewards program. However, many of the best-of-the-best welcome offers are actually targeted, meaning not everyone can apply for them.

If you do come across an elevated welcome offer, you have the opportunity to receive an even higher payout of points while still meeting the standard minimum spending requirements.

With a few strategies under my belt, I’ve managed to find and apply for Amex cards with targeted welcome offers, accumulating half a million points over the past year. Here’s the scoop on how you can potentially uncover these exclusive American Express welcome offers.

Targeted offers are discussed in the article below. Please note that these offers are not available to all applicants. Any information related to targeted offers has been independently collected and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Best American Express Card Welcome Offers

Although American Express charges higher annual fees than most issuers, there are excellent welcome bonus offers available to new applicants. I’ve detailed some of the most popular Amex cards under the Membership Rewards family, along with their current welcome offers:

Don’t get me wrong — those are great welcome offers. But targeted opportunities allow you to earn even more bonus points than are publicly available.

Here’s a look at some of the ones the team at Upgraded Points has spotted recently:

How I Found Targeted Welcome Offers

I’ve owned my own business for nearly 2 years, but it wasn’t until I came across the amazing 250,000-point welcome bonus offer on the Amex Business Platinum card that I took a much more serious look at it.

First, I checked the American Express website directly and initially saw the standard welcome offer, so I closed out of the browser. But, I made it a point to check back at Amex’s website directly over recent months until I was finally targeted for the 250,000-point welcome offer.

Here’s an example of a targeted welcome offer the team at Upgraded Points recently found:

There are other ways to find targeted offers. In fact, Upgraded Points Senior Editor Nick Ellis told me he recently received a targeted letter in the mail for the same 250,000-point welcome offer on the Amex Business Platinum card.

And, funny enough, American Express recently sent me a targeted mailer welcome offer to earn 200,000 bonus points on the Amex Business Gold card, so it was my chance to take the leap.

Other strategies for finding targeted welcome offers include using the CardMatch tool, which completes a soft credit check to see if you’re eligible for any elevated welcome offers across a wide variety of cards. It won’t count against your credit to check, so it never hurts to see what’s out there.

Last but not least, you may want to ask your friends and family for targeted referral offers on their existing Amex cards to see if they’re able to send personal links to apply. Ultimately, waiting for the right moment to apply scored me 450,000 bonus points after meeting minimum spend requirements within the stated time frame.

Of course, those minimum spending requirements are nothing to scoff at, so it’s important to only apply if you’re confident you can meet them. After all, these Amex business cards are designed for applicants who can handle high annual fees and charge significant amounts every month.

Whenever I’m working toward a welcome bonus offer, I redirect all of my business expenses to that card to meet the spending criteria, including business-related travel, technology upgrades, and quarterly tax payments — even if that card doesn’t necessarily offer the best rewards for purchases in those categories. For me, hitting the welcome bonus offer to earn a large sum of rewards by the deadline takes priority.

Why I Applied for Amex Business Cards

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$3,300

Annual Fee

$695

APR

18.99% - 27.99% Variable

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 Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)

Cons

• High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 5X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card^®, here.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card^®.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Business Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

American Express^® Business Gold Card

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*

100,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$2,200

Annual Fee

$375

APR

18.99% - 27.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening

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^® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.

The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year in purchases; categories include:
  • Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
  • U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
  • Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
  • U.S. purchases at gas stations
  • U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
  • Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
• 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
• Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection

Cons

• $375 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
• 0% Intro APR ¤ for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 18.99% to 27.99% variable APR.*
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
• Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
• Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.*
• The Business Gold Card now comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and Limited Edition White Gold. White Gold design is only available while supplies last. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
• *Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.99% - 27.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Amex Membership Rewards points are the most valuable rewards currency, with nearly 2 dozen transfer partners. Our latest valuations estimate Amex points to be worth to be 2.2 cents apiece, but I’ve redeemed them for much higher value countless times. From Iberia’s business class to Spain to a luxurious beachfront resort in Anguilla booked through Hilton, I’ve often scored 3 to 6 cents per point in value.

Therefore, the 250,000-point targeted welcome offer on the Amex Business Platinum card, which is worth $5,500 in our book, was too hard to pass up. Once I was also targeted for the Amex Business Gold card with a 200,000-point welcome offer worth $4,400, I soon amassed an enormous haul of Membership Rewards points.

Of course, I also considered the many benefits of the Amex Business Platinum card and perks of the Amex Business Gold card (some require enrollment), since that’s how I’ll find lasting value in these cards in the long run. While I may not make use of every single benefit, I could find myself leveraging the rewards rates and maximizing several statement credits for travel and business-related purchases.

Final Thoughts

Amex’s top cards often come with targeted welcome bonus offers, and you never know what you might find. Over the past year, I strategically applied for the Amex Business Platinum card and the Amex Business Gold card once I encountered much higher welcome offers. By waiting around for similar opportunities, you could find yourself scoring a goldmine of bonus points.