American Express does not currently offer a secured credit card
American Express does not have a secured card in its product lineup. If you are looking to build or rebuild credit with a card backed by a cash deposit, Amex is not the place to start. Amex focuses on charge cards and traditional credit cards that require a credit history and income verification, not deposit-based products.
This matters because secured cards are often the most direct path for people with no credit history, recent negative marks, or low credit scores. Since Amex does not offer one, you will need to look elsewhere — but understanding why Amex made this choice and what your actual options are can save you time and rejected applications.
Key Takeaways
- American Express does not offer a secured credit card and has no plans to launch one in the near future.
- Amex's entry-level cards still require a credit history and income check, making them harder to obtain if you are starting from zero.
- If you need a secured card, you will find them from banks like Capital One, Discover, and US Bank instead.
- Amex does offer charge cards with lower approval standards than its traditional credit cards, though these still require some credit history.
Why Amex does not have a secured card
American Express has built its business around a different model than most credit card issuers. Historically, Amex has focused on customers with established credit and higher spending power. Even its entry-level cards — like the Blue Cash Everyday — target people with fair credit or better, not people with no credit file at all.
A secured card requires the issuer to hold a cash deposit as collateral, which changes the risk calculation. For Amex, the cost of managing small deposits and servicing customers with minimal credit history does not fit their strategy. They have chosen to stay out of the secured card market entirely and instead focus on their core audience.
This is a business decision, not a reflection of your creditworthiness. It straightforward means Amex is not the right starting point if you are building credit from scratch.
What Amex cards require to open
Even Amex's most accessible cards ask for more than a deposit. Most Amex cards require a credit score of 620 or higher, though some of their charge cards may approve people with scores in the 580 to 620 range. You will also need to provide income information and pass an identity verification check.
Amex does a hard pull on your credit report, which means the inquiry shows up on your credit file and can lower your score by a few points. If you have no credit history at all, Amex is unlikely to approve you, even for their entry-level products.
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card is their most lenient option for people rebuilding credit, but it still assumes you have some credit history to review. If you are starting completely from zero, a secured card from another issuer is a better first step.
Where to find a secured card instead
Capital One Secured Mastercard is one of the most widely available secured cards. It requires a deposit between $200 and $2,500, which becomes your credit limit. Capital One reports to all three credit bureaus and has no annual fee.
Discover Secured Card works similarly: you deposit $200 to $2,500, and that amount becomes your limit. Discover also reports to all three bureaus and charges no annual fee. Discover's secured card comes with cash back rewards (1% on all purchases), which is unusual for secured cards.
US Bank Secured Visa Card requires a deposit of $500 to $5,000. It reports to all three credit bureaus and has no annual fee. US Bank will review your account after six months and may move you to an unsecured card if you use it responsibly.
All three of these cards are designed for people with limited or damaged credit. They report your payment history to the credit bureaus, so on-time payments build your score over time. After 12 to 24 months of responsible use, most issuers will convert your account to an unsecured card and return your deposit.
How a secured card compares to Amex's entry-level options
| Feature | Secured Card (Capital One, Discover, US Bank) | Amex Blue Cash Everyday |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum credit score needed | No score required; no credit history needed | 620 or higher |
| Deposit required | Yes, $200–$5,000 | No |
| Annual fee | None | None |
| Rewards | None (Discover offers 1% cash back) | 1% cash back on all purchases |
| Hard pull on credit | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | No credit history or very low score | Fair credit (620+) or rebuilding after damage |
If you have any credit history at all and a score above 620, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday might be worth trying. You avoid the deposit, and you earn cash back from day one. But if you have no credit file or a score below 620, a secured card is your more realistic path forward.
What happens after you build credit with a secured card
The goal of a secured card is not to use it forever. After 12 to 24 months of on-time payments, most issuers will review your account and convert it to an unsecured card. When that happens, your deposit is returned to you, and your credit limit may increase.
Once you have an unsecured card and a track record of responsible use, you become a candidate for Amex products. Amex actively recruits people with good credit history, and having another card in good standing makes you a more attractive applicant. At that point, you can pursue an Amex card if you want to, but you will not need one — you will already have a working credit card.
The secured card is a bridge, not a destination. Use it to build a credit file, then move on to whatever card makes sense for your spending and rewards preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get approved for an Amex card with no credit history?
Unlikely. Amex requires a credit score of 620 or higher for most cards, and they need to see a credit history to review. If you have no credit file at all, you will probably be denied. A secured card from Capital One, Discover, or US Bank is a better starting point.
Does Amex offer any card for people rebuilding credit?
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday is their most accessible option, but it still requires a score around 620 and some credit history. If your score is lower or you have no history, a secured card elsewhere is more realistic. After you build credit with a secured card, Amex becomes an option.
Will Amex ever launch a secured card?
There is no public indication that Amex plans to enter the secured card market. Their business model has never included deposit-based products, and they have not signaled a change. If you need a secured card now, do not wait for Amex — use a card from Capital One, Discover, or US Bank.
What if I explore for an Amex card and get denied?
A denial does not hurt your credit permanently, but the hard pull does lower your score slightly. If you are denied, wait at least six months before explore again. In the meantime, use a secured card to build your credit file. When you reapply to Amex, you will have a stronger profile.
Is a secured card from another bank as good as an Amex card?
For building credit, yes. Capital One, Discover, and US Bank secured cards report to all three credit bureaus just like Amex does. The payment history you build with a secured card is just as valuable. Amex's brand name does not matter if you are starting from zero — what matters is building a clean payment record.