Why I Love the New Dunkin’ Credit on the Amex Gold Card

Many people criticize the growing number of statement credits offered by American Express cards, but I’m not one of them. I’ll go to any lengths to justify the annual fees on credit cards, though it’s especially easy to do with the American Express^® Gold Card with a $325 annual fee (rates & fees).

This is because the card’s benefits and credits suit my lifestyle. The new Dunkin’ credit, offering up to $7 per month or up to $84 per year upon enrollment, has already surpassed my expectations. Here’s why I enjoy taking advantage of this perk every month.

New Dunkin’ Credit on Amex Gold Card

Let’s preface this by saying that I don’t even drink coffee. So, it was with quite a lot of disappointment that I heard the Amex Gold card’s annual fee increased this summer in return for something I rendered fairly useless.

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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

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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

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American Express Membership Rewards

For those who aren’t aware, the annual fee on the Amex Gold card is now $75 higher, while the Dunkin’ credit offers up to $84 in value. Without considering the other Amex Gold card benefits, it’s a net gain — that is, if you’re able to use the credit each month.

As a Californian without a penchant for coffee, my opportunities to visit the chain have always been slim. However, it was a great surprise to learn that there is a Dunkin’ just 2 blocks away from my condo, which I learned once I resigned myself to visiting and trying to use up the credit.

How I Maximize the Dunkin’ Credit

Dunkin’ serves much more than just coffee and doughnuts. Like Starbucks, you can choose from teas, sandwiches, bagels, muffins, and even coffee to brew at home. Additionally, Dunkin’ has a loyalty program similar to Starbucks (and it’s free to sign up), allowing my monthly credit to accumulate and eventually earn me more free items.

The number of points you’ll earn will depend on how often you go to Dunkin’:

• 10 points per $1 spent as a general member
• 12 points per $1 spent for 3 months after visiting 12 times in a calendar month

I know I won’t hit 12 visits a month, but I love that my credit works double time, earning rewards while scoring me freebies. With rewards starting at just 150 points (and doughnut holes at the top of my list), I can start cashing in after just 2 months and keep building from there.

And, unlike Starbucks, Dunkin’ is also fairly affordable. The monthly credit you’ll get with your Amex Gold card is just $7 upon enrollment, barely enough for a drink at many coffee shops — especially here in San Diego. But check out this meal deal from Dunkin’:

Taking the Dunkin’ Credit on the Road

I travel more than most people, and though I can usually find an airport lounge no matter where I’m going, there are still quite a few occasions where I spend money inside the terminal. Whether it’s because the Priority Pass lounge is closed or the American Express Centurion Lounge has a waitlist, sometimes I have no choice but to reach from my wallet.

We all know how exorbitantly priced airport concessions are, so I don’t expect the Dunkin’ credit to get me far. That said, there are tons of Dunkin’ locations in airports across the country — over 100 locations, to be precise. This means I’ll at least be able to shave $7 off whatever I’m ordering as a backup plan if I can’t find an airport lounge.

Final Thoughts

When Amex first announced the Dunkin’ credit for the Amex Gold card, I was honestly underwhelmed. I assumed it would only cover coffees or the occasional doughnut — if I could even find a Dunkin’ nearby. But after doing some research, I feel a lot better about it.

Is this a life-changing statement credit? Of course not. The credit, which provides up to $7 per month, won’t get you very far, especially when you’re based in San Diego or relegated to ordering in airports. But I’m confident this is a credit I’ll be able to regularly use — and even maximize — going forward. After all, those doughnut holes are singing my name.