Amex Business Gold Card Revamp
American Express revealed today a refreshed Business Gold Card. There are new benefits such as additional 4X categories, free Walmart+, and $20 monthly credit for Grubhub and Office Supplies.
On the negative side, the annual fee will increase early next year. Some 4X categories are removed, and the 25% airline booking bonus is going away soon.
For those who care about the card design, you can now get the Business Gold Card in Rose Gold, in addition to the regular Gold color.
So let’s go over all the changes.
Update: Today is the last day to apply with the lower annual fee of $295. Tomorrow, on February 1st, the fee will increase to $375.
Bonus Categories
Card Members can use the U.S. American Express Business Gold Card to automatically earn 4X Membership Rewards points in the top two eligible categories where their business spent the most each billing cycle to help take the guesswork out of earning rewards. Applicable on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, including:
- (NEW) U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers.,
- (NEW) Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.,
- (NEW) Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.,
- Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio,
- U.S. purchases at gas stations, and
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
Two categories have been removed from the list, Airfare purchased directly from airlines and purchases for shipping in the U.S..
You can now also earn 3X Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases through AmexTravel.com. Card Members will continue to earn 1X points on other eligible purchases made with the card.
Learn More
Walmart+ and Flexible Business Credits
- $240 Flexible Business Credit: earn up to $20 in statement credits each month after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. Enrollment required.
- Walmart+ Membership Credit: use the Business Gold Card to pay for a monthly Walmart + membership (subject to auto-renewal) and full cost each month, valued at $155 annually.
Eligible purchases do NOT include fees or interest charges, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, or purchases of other cash equivalents.
Cell Phone Protection
You will get reimbursed the lesser of your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month’s wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period.
25% Airline Bonus Will End on Jan 31
Currently, Business Gold Card Members receive 25% back when they redeem points for either a First or Business class flight on any airline, or for flights with their selected qualifying airline using Membership Rewards Pay with Points through American Express Travel up to 250,000 bonus points per calendar year, per each Membership Rewards account. This will only be available through January 31, 2024, and will then be removed as a benefit starting February 1st, 2024.
Annual Fee
Starting February 1st, 2024, the card with have an annual fee of $375. That’s an increase of $80 from the current fee of $295.
After February 1st, 2024, all new applicants and renewals will be charged the higher fee. But if you apply before then, you can get the added benefits while still paying the $295 annual fee.
Conclusion
The American Express Business Gold card is adding some valuable benefits, especially the $20 in statement credits each month for FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. Just this credit alone should make up for the annual fee increase. You also get Walmart+ which gives you several benefits.
On the earning side, you are getting some new categories such as wireless and transit, but losing some others. Starting February 1st you also lose the 25% airline rebate.
Even if you don’t value these additions much, you can apply now for the lower annual fee and enjoy these changes until your renewal date.
American Express has not launched a new welcome offer. The public offer is still at 70,000 Membership Rewards points. But you can often find better offer by applying through a clean browser window or applying from different locations, as these offers are dynamic and personalized.
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That office supply credit is nice. Many people are there anyway to load up on V/MC GCs with 5x Ink.
Has anyone been able to get Amex credit for cell phone using Google Fi?