American Express Cash Magnet® Card Agreement
Card Member Agreement: Part 1 of 3
As of: 06/30/2026 Issuer: American Express National Bank
- Part 1 names American Express National Bank as issuer and is dated as of 06/30/2026 Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
Rates and Fees Table
Interest Rates
| Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for Purchases | Prime Rate + 12.74% to Prime Rate + 21.74% This is a variable APR. See Explanation of Variable Rates below. |
- Purchase and balance transfer APRs are variable: Prime Rate plus 12.74% to Prime Rate plus 21.74% Charges & Financial Obligations
| APR For Balance Transfers | Prime Rate + 12.74% to Prime Rate + 21.74% for any balance transfer requests we may accept. This is a variable APR. See Explanation of Variable Rates below. |
- Purchase and balance transfer APRs are variable: Prime Rate plus 12.74% to Prime Rate plus 21.74% Charges & Financial Obligations
| APR for Cash Advances | Prime Rate + 21.99% This is a variable APR. See Explanation of Variable Rates below. |
- Cash advance APR is variable at Prime Rate plus 21.99%, with interest from the transaction date Charges & Financial Obligations
| Penalty APR and When it Applies | Prime Rate + 26.74% This is a variable APR. See Explanation of Variable Rates below. We have the right to apply the Penalty APR to new Transactions if: • you do not pay at least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date; or • your payment is returned by your bank and we will notify you if we do. How Long Will the Penalty APR Apply? If the penalty APR is applied, it will apply for at least 6 months. We will review your Account every 6 months after the penalty APR is applied. The penalty APR will continue to apply until you have made timely payments with no returned payments during the 6 months being reviewed. |
- A Penalty APR of Prime Rate plus 26.74% can apply to new transactions after a missed or returned payment Charges & Financial Obligations
| Paying Interest | Your Due Date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing period. We will not charge you interest on purchases if you pay each month your entire balance (or, if you have a plan outstanding, your balance adjusted for plans) by the due date. We will begin charging interest on cash advances and balance transfers on the transaction date. |
- Purchase and balance transfer APRs are variable: Prime Rate plus 12.74% to Prime Rate plus 21.74% Charges & Financial Obligations
- Cash advance APR is variable at Prime Rate plus 21.99%, with interest from the transaction date Charges & Financial Obligations
- Purchases accrue no interest when the entire balance is paid by the due date Charges & Financial Obligations
| Plan Fee (Fixed Finance Charge) | A monthly fee of up to 1.33% of each purchase or amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors. |
- Plan It charges a monthly plan fee of up to 1.33%, a fixed finance charge in place of the purchase APR Charges & Financial Obligations
| For Credit Card Tips from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | To learn more about factors to consider when applying for or using a credit card, visit the website of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at http://www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore. |
Fees
| Annual Fee | None |
- There is no annual fee, including for additional cards Charges & Financial Obligations
| Transaction Fees • Balance Transfer • Cash Advance • Foreign Transaction | Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater. 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. |
- Balance transfer fee: the greater of $5 or 3% of the amount, unless a promotional offer says otherwise Charges & Financial Obligations
- Cash advance fee: the greater of $10 or 5%, calculated including any ATM operator's fee Charges & Financial Obligations
- Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of the converted U.S. dollar amount of each transaction Charges & Financial Obligations
| Penalty Fees • Late Payment • Returned Payment • Overlimit | Up to $40. Up to $40. None |
- Penalty fees: late and returned payments up to $40 each, and no overlimit fee Charges & Financial Obligations
How we calculate interest: We use a method called average daily balance method (including new purchases). See the How we calculate interest section in Part 2.
- Interest uses the average daily balance method, explained in Part 2 Charges & Financial Obligations
How Rates and Fees Work
- A DPR is 1/365th of an APR; the agreement says Part 1 shows your DPRs, but its Part 1 lists no DPR values Charges & Financial Obligations
Explanation of Variable Rates: If the Prime Rate increases, variable APRs (and corresponding DPRs) will increase. In that case, you may pay more interest and may have a higher Minimum Payment Due. When the Prime Rate changes, the resulting changes to variable APRs take effect as of the first day of the billing period during which the Prime Rate has changed. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
- Variable APRs follow the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate on the Closing Date and cannot exceed 29.99% Charges & Financial Obligations
- A DPR is 1/365th of an APR; the agreement says Part 1 shows your DPRs, but its Part 1 lists no DPR values Charges & Financial Obligations
Determining the Prime Rate: Prime Rate means the highest U.S. Prime Rate published in the rates section of The Wall Street Journal on the Closing Date of the billing period. If The Wall Street Journal does not publish the Prime Rate on that day, we will use the Prime Rate from the previous day it was published. If The Wall Street Journal is no longer published or stops publishing the Prime Rate, we may use the Prime Rate published in another newspaper of general circulation.
- Variable APRs follow the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate on the Closing Date and cannot exceed 29.99% Charges & Financial Obligations
- A DPR is 1/365th of an APR; the agreement says Part 1 shows your DPRs, but its Part 1 lists no DPR values Charges & Financial Obligations
Fees
We add fees to a purchase balance, unless we tell you otherwise.
- Fees are added to the purchase balance, except balance transfer and cash advance fees Charges & Financial Obligations
Annual Fee: This fee is on the Rates and Fees Table on page 1 of Part 1.
- There is no annual fee, including for additional cards Charges & Financial Obligations
Annual Fee for Additional Cards: None.
- There is no annual fee, including for additional cards Charges & Financial Obligations
Plan Fee (Fixed Finance Charge): Monthly, up to 1.33% of each purchase or amount placed into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase or amount, and other factors. This fee is a fixed finance charge that will be charged each month that a plan is active. The dollar amount of your plan fee will be disclosed before you set up a plan. For more information, see About Plan It Feature in Part 2 of your Card Member Agreement.
- Plan It charges a monthly plan fee of up to 1.33%, a fixed finance charge in place of the purchase APR Charges & Financial Obligations
Balance Transfer: 3% of the transaction, with a minimum of $5. A different fee may apply if stated in a promotional offer or at the time of a transaction. This fee is a finance charge. We will add it to the same balance as the balance transfer. Cash Advance: 5% of the cash advance transaction (including fees charged by the ATM operator, if any), with a minimum of $10. We will add this fee to the Cash Advance balance.
- Fees are added to the purchase balance, except balance transfer and cash advance fees Charges & Financial Obligations
- Balance transfer fee: the greater of $5 or 3% of the amount, unless a promotional offer says otherwise Charges & Financial Obligations
- Cash advance fee: the greater of $10 or 5%, calculated including any ATM operator's fee Charges & Financial Obligations
Foreign Transaction: 2.7% of the converted U.S. dollar amount. See Converting charges made in a foreign currency in Part 2.
- Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of the converted U.S. dollar amount of each transaction Charges & Financial Obligations
Late Payment: Up to $40. If we do not receive the Minimum Payment Due by its Payment Due Date, the fee is $29. If this happens again within the next 6 billing periods, the fee is $40. However, the late fee on a billing statement will not exceed the Minimum Payment Due on your prior billing statement.
- Late payment fee is $29 the first time and $40 if repeated within 6 billing periods Charges & Financial Obligations
Returned Payment: Up to $40. If you make a payment that is returned unpaid the first time we present it to your bank, the fee is $29. If you do this again within the same billing period or the next 6 billing periods, the fee is $40. However, the returned payment fee on a billing statement will not exceed the applicable Minimum Payment Due on your prior billing statement.
- Returned payment fee is $29 the first time and $40 if repeated, capped at the prior minimum payment due Charges & Financial Obligations
Returned Check: $38 if you use your card to cash a check at one of our approved locations and the check is returned unpaid. We will also charge you the unpaid amount.
- Returned check fee is $38, plus the unpaid amount, for checks cashed with the Card at approved locations Charges & Financial Obligations
Overlimit: None. See Credit Limit and Cash Advance Limit in Part 1.
- No overlimit fee, but the issuer may ask you to promptly repay the amount over your credit limit Charges & Financial Obligations
Account Re-opening: $25 if your Account is cancelled, you ask us to re-open it, and we do so.
- Account re-opening fee is $25 after a cancelled account is re-opened at your request Charges & Financial Obligations
Credit, Cash Advance and Person to Person Limits
Credit limit and Cash Advance Limit: We assign a Credit Limit to your Account. We may make part of your Credit Limit available for cash advances (Cash Advance Limit). There may also be a limit on the amount you can withdraw from ATMs in a given period.
- The issuer sets your credit and cash advance limits and may raise or lower them even if you pay on time Account & Service Control
The Credit Limit and Cash Advance Limit are shown on page 1 of Part 1 and on each billing statement. We may increase or reduce your Credit Limit and Cash Advance Limit. We may do so even if you pay on time and your Account is not in default. You agree to manage your Account so that:
- The issuer sets your credit and cash advance limits and may raise or lower them even if you pay on time Account & Service Control
- your Account balance (including fees and interest) is not more than your Credit Limit, and
- The issuer sets your credit and cash advance limits and may raise or lower them even if you pay on time Account & Service Control
- your cash advance balance (including fees and interest) is not more than your Cash Advance Limit
- The issuer sets your credit and cash advance limits and may raise or lower them even if you pay on time Account & Service Control
We may approve charges that cause your Account balance to go over your Credit Limit. If we do this, we will not charge an overlimit fee. If we ask you to promptly pay the amount of your Account balance above your Credit Limit, you agree to do so. Person-to-Person Limit: Your person-to-person transactions may not exceed $2,000 within any 30-day period. You agree to manage your Account so that the total of your person-to-person transactions in any 30-day period do not exceed the Person-to-Person Limit.
- No overlimit fee, but the issuer may ask you to promptly repay the amount over your credit limit Charges & Financial Obligations
- Person-to-person transactions are capped at $2,000 per 30 days and may be declined Charges & Financial Obligations
We may not approve a person-to-person transaction if it would cause your Account to exceed the applicable person-to-person transaction limit or your Credit Limit.
- Person-to-person transactions are capped at $2,000 per 30 days and may be declined Charges & Financial Obligations
How We Calculate the Amount Due Each Month
To calculate the Minimum Payment Due for each billing statement, we start with the highest of:
- Minimum Payment Due: highest of three formulas plus fees, plan payments and past-due amounts, capped at New Balance Charges & Financial Obligations
- Interest charged on the billing statement plus 1% of the New Balance (excluding any interest, penalty fees, overlimit amount, and plan balances); or
- Minimum Payment Due: highest of three formulas plus fees, plan payments and past-due amounts, capped at New Balance Charges & Financial Obligations
- 2% of the New Balance (excluding any penalty fees, overlimit amount, and plan balances); or
- Minimum Payment Due: highest of three formulas plus fees, plan payments and past-due amounts, capped at New Balance Charges & Financial Obligations
- $40.
- Minimum Payment Due: highest of three formulas plus fees, plan payments and past-due amounts, capped at New Balance Charges & Financial Obligations
Then we add any penalty fees shown on the billing statement, up to 1/24th of any overlimit amount, any plan payment due, and any amount past due.
- Minimum Payment Due: highest of three formulas plus fees, plan payments and past-due amounts, capped at New Balance Charges & Financial Obligations
Your Minimum Payment Due will not exceed your New Balance. You may pay more than the Minimum Payment Due, up to your New Balance, at any time.
- Minimum Payment Due: highest of three formulas plus fees, plan payments and past-due amounts, capped at New Balance Charges & Financial Obligations
EXAMPLE: Assume that your New Balance is $2,900, interest is $29.57, and you have no active plans, overlimit amount, penalty fees, or amounts past due.
- Worked example: a $2,900 New Balance with $29.57 interest gives a $58.27 Minimum Payment Due Charges & Financial Obligations
- $29.57 plus 1% multiplied by ($2,900 minus $29.57) equals $58.27
- Worked example: a $2,900 New Balance with $29.57 interest gives a $58.27 Minimum Payment Due Charges & Financial Obligations
- $58 (2% of $2,900)
- Worked example: a $2,900 New Balance with $29.57 interest gives a $58.27 Minimum Payment Due Charges & Financial Obligations
- $40
- Worked example: a $2,900 New Balance with $29.57 interest gives a $58.27 Minimum Payment Due Charges & Financial Obligations
The highest of 1., 2., or 3. is $58.27. If your account has any active plans, overlimit amount, penalty fees, or amounts past due, your Minimum Payment Due will be higher.
- Worked example: a $2,900 New Balance with $29.57 interest gives a $58.27 Minimum Payment Due Charges & Financial Obligations
When We Charge Interest (Grace Period)
- You are not charged interest on purchases when you are in an Interest Free Period.
- Purchases carry no interest in an Interest Free Period; balance transfers and cash advances never get one Charges & Financial Obligations
- Your account enters an Interest Free Period when you pay your New Balance as shown on your statement by the Payment Due Date or your account had no previous balance.
- Purchases carry no interest in an Interest Free Period; balance transfers and cash advances never get one Charges & Financial Obligations
- When your account is not in an Interest Free Period, we charge interest on purchases from the date of the transaction.
- Purchases carry no interest in an Interest Free Period; balance transfers and cash advances never get one Charges & Financial Obligations
- After you enter an Interest Free Period again, interest may appear on your next billing statement. This reflects interest charged from the beginning of that billing cycle through the date the payment was received.
- After you regain an Interest Free Period, interest from earlier in that cycle may still appear on the next statement Charges & Financial Obligations
- If you have an active plan created through Plan It, you can enter an Interest Free Period by paying at least the Balance Adjusted for Plans (or Adjusted Balance) by the Payment Due Date.
- With an active Plan It plan, paying the balance adjusted for plans by the due date restores the Interest Free Period Charges & Financial Obligations
- Balance Transfers and Cash Advances will be charged interest from the date of the transaction and do not have an Interest Free Period.
- Purchases carry no interest in an Interest Free Period; balance transfers and cash advances never get one Charges & Financial Obligations
For more details about how we calculate your interest charges, see the How we calculate interest section of this agreement.
- Purchases carry no interest in an Interest Free Period; balance transfers and cash advances never get one Charges & Financial Obligations
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and any supplements or amendments make up your Card Member Agreement. You can request a copy of your Card Member Agreement through your online account or by calling the number on the back of your Card.
- The Card Member Agreement is Parts 1, 2 and 3 plus any supplements or amendments; you can request a copy Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- Using the Account, or signing or keeping the Card, accepts the Agreement; you can cancel before use Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
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Supplement to the Card Member Agreement
How Your Reward Program Works
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
How you earn reward dollars: You will earn Reward Dollars (reward dollars) for eligible purchases on your American Express Cash Magnet® Card (Card Account). The number of reward dollars you earn is based on a percentage of the dollar amount of your eligible purchases during each billing period. You will earn a reward of 1.5 percent on your eligible purchases. Eligible purchases are purchases made on your Card for goods and services minus returns and other credits. Eligible purchases do NOT include: fees or interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases of traveler's checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, purchases of any cash equivalents, including gift cards, or person-to-person transactions.
- Earn 1.5% in reward dollars on eligible purchases for personal, family or household use Charges & Financial Obligations
Please visit americanexpress.com/rewards-info for more information about rewards.
- Earn 1.5% in reward dollars on eligible purchases for personal, family or household use Charges & Financial Obligations
When you will not earn reward dollars: You will not earn reward dollars for eligible purchases posted to your Card Account during a billing period if the Minimum Payment Due shown on the statement for that billing period is not paid by the Payment Due Date shown on that statement.
- No reward dollars for a billing period if the Minimum Payment Due is not paid by its due date Charges & Financial Obligations
Credits for eligible purchases will reduce the number of reward dollars you earn.
- Credits reduce reward dollars, and the Reward Dollars Summary on a statement is only informational Charges & Financial Obligations
How you can redeem reward dollars: You can redeem reward dollars for statement credits with no minimum redemption amount. The statement credit will appear on your Card Account within 3 days and will apply to the billing period in which it appears. Reward dollars redeemed for a statement credit cannot be used to pay your Minimum Payment Due. Redemption will be in the form of a statement credit of $1 for every reward dollar redeemed. Partial reward dollar redemptions will receive an equivalent statement credit amount (e.g., 32.11 reward dollars can be redeemed for a $32.11 statement credit).
- Redeem reward dollars for statement credits at $1 each, with no minimum, but not as cash Charges & Financial Obligations
From time to time we may, at our option, offer you other ways to redeem reward dollars, such as for gift cards or merchandise.
- Redeem reward dollars for statement credits at $1 each, with no minimum, but not as cash Charges & Financial Obligations
You cannot redeem reward dollars if your Card Account is cancelled or past due.
- Reward dollars cannot be redeemed if the account is cancelled or past due, with New York exceptions Charges & Financial Obligations
New York Card Members Only: New York Card Members receive 90 days to redeem reward dollars from notification of the cancellation of your Card Account. New York Card Members can also redeem reward dollars while their Card Account is past due. You must call the number on the back of your Card to redeem after notification of account cancellation or while your account is past due. You will not be able to redeem in your online Account or mobile application. You are a New York Card Member if your Card Account has a New York billing address.
- Reward dollars cannot be redeemed if the account is cancelled or past due, with New York exceptions Charges & Financial Obligations
- Cancelling the account for any reason forfeits all reward dollars, but New York Card Members get 90 days to redeem Charges & Financial Obligations
When you will forfeit reward dollars: You will forfeit your entire reward dollar balance if your Card Account is cancelled for any reason.
- Cancelling the account for any reason forfeits all reward dollars, but New York Card Members get 90 days to redeem Charges & Financial Obligations
New York Card Members receive 90 days to redeem reward dollars from notification of the cancellation of your Card Account. You are a New York Card Member if your Card Account has a New York billing address.
- Cancelling the account for any reason forfeits all reward dollars, but New York Card Members get 90 days to redeem Charges & Financial Obligations
The Reward Dollars Summary: The reward dollars shown on your billing statement under the heading Reward Dollars Summary is only for informational purposes. It does not show the actual reward dollars that you may be entitled to receive. For example, a credit for eligible purchases posted to your Card Account can lower the reward dollars shown. If a credit to your Card Account places your eligible purchases in a negative status, the Reward Dollars Summary on your billing statement will show a negative balance. It will continue to show a negative balance until you accumulate eligible purchases exceeding the negative eligible purchases.
- Credits reduce reward dollars, and the Reward Dollars Summary on a statement is only informational Charges & Financial Obligations
Other things you should know about this program: You will only receive rewards for eligible purchases for personal, family or household use.
- Earn 1.5% in reward dollars on eligible purchases for personal, family or household use Charges & Financial Obligations
Reward dollars are redeemable for rewards as described above, they are not cash.
- Redeem reward dollars for statement credits at $1 each, with no minimum, but not as cash Charges & Financial Obligations
We may change the terms of this program at our discretion. If you violate or abuse this program, you may forfeit some or all of your accrued reward dollars.
- The issuer may change the reward program at its discretion, and abuse can forfeit accrued reward dollars Charges & Financial Obligations
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Card Member Agreement: Part 2 of 3
About the Agreement
Your Card Member Agreement: This document together with Part 1 and Part 3 make up the Card Member Agreement (Agreement) for the Account identified on page 1 of Part 1. Any supplements or amendments are also part of the Agreement. When you use the Account (or you sign or keep the Card), you agree to the terms of the Agreement. If you have not yet used the Account or made a payment on the Account after receiving a billing statement, you can cancel your Card without obligation to pay any fees.
- The issuer may change the reward program at its discretion, and abuse can forfeit accrued reward dollars Charges & Financial Obligations
- Using the Account, or signing or keeping the Card, accepts the Agreement; you can cancel before use Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Changing the Agreement: We may change this Agreement, subject to applicable law. This written Agreement is a final expression of the agreement governing the Account. The written Agreement may not be modified or amended by any alleged oral agreement. Definitions: We, us, and our mean the issuer shown on page 1 of Part 1. You and your mean the person who applied for this Account and for whom we opened the Account. We will refer to you as either the Basic or Primary Card Member. You may request a Card for an Additional Card Member. Card means any American Express Card or other device that we issue to access your Account. A charge is any amount added to your Account, such as purchases, cash advances, balance transfers, fees, and interest charges. A purchase is a charge for goods, services, or person-to-person transactions. A cash advance is a charge to get cash or cash equivalents, including travelers cheques, gift cheques, foreign currency, money orders, digital currency, casino gaming chips, race track wagers, and other offline and online betting transactions. A balance transfer is a charge to pay an amount you owe on another credit card account. A person-to-person transaction is a charge for funds sent to another person or a charge to add funds to your Amex SendTM Account. A plan is a portion of your account balance that you have selected to pay over time through a set number of monthly payments using Plan It. To pay by a certain date means to send your payment so that we receive it and credit it to your Account by that date. The Closing Date appears on each billing statement and is the last day of the billing period covered by the billing statement.
- Part 1 names American Express National Bank as issuer and is dated as of 06/30/2026 Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- Cash advance APR is variable at Prime Rate plus 21.99%, with interest from the transaction date Charges & Financial Obligations
- Variable APRs follow the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate on the Closing Date and cannot exceed 29.99% Charges & Financial Obligations
- Balance transfer fee: the greater of $5 or 3% of the amount, unless a promotional offer says otherwise Charges & Financial Obligations
- Person-to-person transactions are capped at $2,000 per 30 days and may be declined Charges & Financial Obligations
- Earn 1.5% in reward dollars on eligible purchases for personal, family or household use Charges & Financial Obligations
- The issuer may change the reward program at its discretion, and abuse can forfeit accrued reward dollars Charges & Financial Obligations
- The issuer may change the Agreement subject to applicable law; the written Agreement cannot be changed orally Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- A cash advance covers cash equivalents such as foreign currency, digital currency, casino chips and betting Charges & Financial Obligations
- Key defined terms: charge, purchase, balance transfer, person-to-person transaction, plan and who 'you' is Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- A payment counts as made 'by' a date only if it is received and credited by that date Charges & Financial Obligations
- You promise to pay all charges, including Additional Card Members', and at least the Minimum Payment Due by its due date Charges & Financial Obligations
- Additional Cards can be issued on request; their use is subject to the Agreement and may be reported to credit bureaus Account & Service Control
- You may close the Account by calling or writing; an annual fee is refunded only within 30 days (not in Massachusetts) Account & Service Control
About using your Card
Using the Card: You may use the Card to make charges. At our discretion, we may permit you to create plans, make cash advances or balance transfers. You cannot transfer balances from any other account issued by us or our affiliates. You agree to use the Card for personal, family, or household purposes only.
- Plans, cash advances and balance transfers are at the issuer's discretion; use is for personal purposes only Account & Service Control
You may arrange for certain merchants and third parties to store your Card number and expiration date, so that, for example the merchant may charge your Account at regular intervals; or you may make charges using that stored Card information. We may (but are not required to) tell these merchants and third parties if your expiration date or Card number changes or if your Account status is updated, including if your Account is cancelled. If you do not want us to share your updated Account information, please contact us using the number on the back of your Card.
- Merchants you authorise may store your Card details, and the issuer may share updated Card or Account status with them Sharing & Disclosure
Keep your Card safe and don't let anyone else use it. If your Card is lost or stolen or your Account is being used without your permission, contact us right away. You may not use your Account for illegal activities.
- Keep your Card safe, report loss or unauthorised use right away, and do not use the Account for illegal activities Security & Safeguards
Declined transactions: We may decline to authorize a charge for various reasons, including if we suspect fraud or based on our assessment of your creditworthiness, even if the charge would not cause you to go over your Credit Limit and even if your Account is not in default. We are not responsible for any losses you incur if we do not authorize a charge or if any merchant refuses to accept the Card.
- The issuer may decline a charge, including for suspected fraud or credit assessment, and is not responsible for losses Account & Service Control
About Account Features
About Plan It: We may offer you Plan It, which allows you to create a payment plan for qualifying purchases or a qualifying amount, subject to a plan fee. This fee is a fixed finance charge that will be charged each month that a plan is active.
- Plan It may be offered to spread qualifying purchases over set monthly payments for a plan fee Charges & Financial Obligations
You may use this feature by selecting qualifying purchases or a qualifying amount and a plan duration. You will be able to view the monthly plan payments, including the plan fee, for your selection. Each plan fee will be disclosed before you create the applicable plan and will be based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase amount(s), and other factors. When you set up a plan, the purchases or amount will be added to a plan balance and will be subject to a plan fee instead of the APR for purchases. A qualifying purchase for Plan It is a purchase of at least a specified dollar amount. A qualifying amount for Plan It is a specified portion of your balance. Qualifying purchases (or a qualifying amount, if you have a Card with a Credit Limit) do not include purchases of cash or cash equivalents, balance transfers (if offered), purchases subject to Foreign Transaction Fees, or any fee owed to us, such as Annual Fees.
- Plan It charges a monthly plan fee of up to 1.33%, a fixed finance charge in place of the purchase APR Charges & Financial Obligations
- Plan It may be offered to spread qualifying purchases over set monthly payments for a plan fee Charges & Financial Obligations
- Plan It covers purchases above a set amount, but not cash, balance transfers, foreign-fee purchases or fees Charges & Financial Obligations
Your ability to create plans will be based on a variety of factors such as your creditworthiness and your Credit Limit. You will not be able to create plans if your Account is cancelled. You will also not be able to create plans if one or more of your American Express accounts is enrolled in a payment program, or has a payment that is returned unpaid, or is past due. We will tell you the number of active plans you may have and we may change this number at any time. The plan durations offered to you, and your ability to include multiple qualifying purchases or a qualifying amount in a single plan, will be at our discretion and will be based on a variety of factors such as your creditworthiness, the purchase amount(s), and your Account history. You agree to manage your Account so that the total of your plan balances (including plan fees) is not more than your Credit Limit.
- Plan creation depends on creditworthiness and account status, and the issuer sets plan counts and durations Charges & Financial Obligations
Plans cannot be cancelled after they have been created but you can choose to pay them early by paying the New Balance shown on your most recent billing statement in full. If you pay a plan off early, you will not incur any future plan fees on that plan.
- Plans cannot be cancelled once created, but paying the New Balance in full ends future plan fees Charges & Financial Obligations
About Payments
Promise to pay: You promise to pay all charges added to your Account, including charges that you or your Additional Card Members make, or permit others to make, even if you or they do not present the Card or sign for the transaction. When you must pay: You must pay at least the Minimum Payment Due on or before the Payment Due Date in the time and manner shown on each billing statement.
- You promise to pay all charges, including Additional Card Members', and at least the Minimum Payment Due by its due date Charges & Financial Obligations
How to make payments: Make payments to us in U.S. dollars with:
- Pay in U.S. dollars by single check, negotiable instrument or electronic payment; mailed payments need coupon details Charges & Financial Obligations
- a single check drawn on a U.S. bank, or
- Pay in U.S. dollars by single check, negotiable instrument or electronic payment; mailed payments need coupon details Charges & Financial Obligations
- a single negotiable instrument clearable through the U.S. banking system, for example a money order, or
- Pay in U.S. dollars by single check, negotiable instrument or electronic payment; mailed payments need coupon details Charges & Financial Obligations
- an electronic payment that can be cleared through the U.S. banking system.
- Pay in U.S. dollars by single check, negotiable instrument or electronic payment; mailed payments need coupon details Charges & Financial Obligations
When making a payment by mail:
- Pay in U.S. dollars by single check, negotiable instrument or electronic payment; mailed payments need coupon details Charges & Financial Obligations
- make a separate payment for each Account,
- Pay in U.S. dollars by single check, negotiable instrument or electronic payment; mailed payments need coupon details Charges & Financial Obligations
- mail your payment to the address shown on the payment coupon on your billing statement, and
- Pay in U.S. dollars by single check, negotiable instrument or electronic payment; mailed payments need coupon details Charges & Financial Obligations
- write your Account number on your check or negotiable instrument and include the payment coupon.
- Pay in U.S. dollars by single check, negotiable instrument or electronic payment; mailed payments need coupon details Charges & Financial Obligations
If your payment meets the above requirements, we will credit it to your Account as of the day we receive it, as long as we receive it by the time and in the manner disclosed in your billing statement. If we receive it after that time, we will credit the payment on the day after we receive it.
- Payments that meet the requirements are credited the day received; others may be delayed, causing late fees and interest Charges & Financial Obligations
If your payment does not meet the above requirements, there may be a delay in crediting your Account. This may result in late payment fees and additional interest charges (see the How Rates and Fees Work in Part 1).
- Payments that meet the requirements are credited the day received; others may be delayed, causing late fees and interest Charges & Financial Obligations
We will not accept a payment made in a foreign currency or a payment drawn on an account at a bank located outside of the U.S. If we process a late payment, a partial payment, or a payment marked with any restrictive language, that will have no effect on our rights and will not change this Agreement.
- Foreign-currency and non-U.S. bank payments are refused; taking a late or partial payment waives no rights Charges & Financial Obligations
How we apply payments and credits: Your Account may have balances with different interest rates. For example, purchases may have a lower interest rate than cash advances. Your Account may also have Plan balances which are assessed Plan fees. If your Account has balances with different interest rates, Plan balances, or Plan fees, here is how we generally apply payments in a billing period:
- Payments cover the plan amounts and lowest-rate balance first up to the minimum, then the highest-rate balance Charges & Financial Obligations
- We apply your payments, up to the Minimum Payment Due, first to any Plan amounts included in your Minimum Payment Due, then to the balance subject to the lowest interest rate, and then to balances subject to higher interest rates.
- Payments cover the plan amounts and lowest-rate balance first up to the minimum, then the highest-rate balance Charges & Financial Obligations
- After the Minimum Payment Due has been paid, we apply your payments to the balance subject to the highest interest rate, then to balances subject to lower interest rates, and then to any Plan balances.
- Payments cover the plan amounts and lowest-rate balance first up to the minimum, then the highest-rate balance Charges & Financial Obligations
In most cases, we apply a credit to the same balance as the related charge. For example, we apply a credit for a purchase to the purchase balance. We may apply payments and credits within balances, and among balances with the same interest rate, in any order we choose. If there is a negative balance in any balance on the account at the end of a billing period, that excess credit will be redistributed to other balances in accordance with how we apply payments described above. This means that in certain circumstances, Plan balances may get paid before they otherwise would. If you receive a credit for a purchase placed into a plan, you must call us at the number on the back of your Card to have the credit applied to the Plan balance.
- Credits usually go to the balance of the related charge; the issuer picks the order within balances of equal rate Charges & Financial Obligations
About interest charges
How we calculate interest: We calculate interest for a billing period by first figuring the interest on each balance. Different categories of transactions--such as purchases and cash advances--may have different interest rates. Balances within each category may also have different interest rates.
- Interest is figured separately on each balance by the average daily balance method, including new transactions Charges & Financial Obligations
We use the Average Daily Balance method (including new transactions) to figure interest charges for each balance. The total interest charged for a billing period is the sum of the interest charged on each balance.
- Interest is figured separately on each balance by the average daily balance method, including new transactions Charges & Financial Obligations
Interest: The interest charged for a balance in a billing period, except for variations caused by rounding, equals:
- Interest on a balance is its average daily balance times its daily periodic rate times the days in the period Charges & Financial Obligations
- Average Daily Balance (ADB) multiplied by
- Interest on a balance is its average daily balance times its daily periodic rate times the days in the period Charges & Financial Obligations
- Daily Periodic Rate (DPR) multiplied by
- Interest on a balance is its average daily balance times its daily periodic rate times the days in the period Charges & Financial Obligations
- number of days in the billing period.
- Interest on a balance is its average daily balance times its daily periodic rate times the days in the period Charges & Financial Obligations
ADB: To get the ADB for a balance, we add up its daily balances. Then we divide the result by the number of days in the billing period. DPR: A DPR is 1/365th of an APR, rounded to one ten-thousandth of a percentage point. Your DPRs are shown in How Rates and Fees Work in Part 1.
- Interest is figured separately on each balance by the average daily balance method, including new transactions Charges & Financial Obligations
- Interest on a balance is its average daily balance times its daily periodic rate times the days in the period Charges & Financial Obligations
- A DPR is 1/365th of an APR; the agreement says Part 1 shows your DPRs, but its Part 1 lists no DPR values Charges & Financial Obligations
EXAMPLE: Calculating Interest
Assume that you have a single interest rate of 15.99%, your ADB is $2,250 and there are 30 days in the billing period. The DPR is 15.99% divided by 365 days equals 0.0438%
- Worked example: a 15.99% rate, $2,250 average daily balance and 30 days gives $29.57 of interest Charges & Financial Obligations
The Interest is $2,250 multiplied by 0.0438% multiplied by 30 days equals $29.57 Daily Balance: We figure the daily balance for each balance by:
- Worked example: a 15.99% rate, $2,250 average daily balance and 30 days gives $29.57 of interest Charges & Financial Obligations
- The daily balance adds new charges on their transaction date, and interest compounds daily Charges & Financial Obligations
- taking the beginning balance for the day,
- The daily balance adds new charges on their transaction date, and interest compounds daily Charges & Financial Obligations
- adding any new charges,
- The daily balance adds new charges on their transaction date, and interest compounds daily Charges & Financial Obligations
- subtracting any payments or credits; and
- The daily balance adds new charges on their transaction date, and interest compounds daily Charges & Financial Obligations
- making any appropriate adjustments.
- The daily balance adds new charges on their transaction date, and interest compounds daily Charges & Financial Obligations
We add a new charge to a daily balance as of its transaction date. If the daily balance is negative, we treat it as zero. Beginning balance: For the first day of a billing period, the beginning balance is the ending balance for the prior billing period, including unpaid interest. For the rest of the billing period, the beginning balance is the previous day's daily balance plus an amount of interest equal to the previous day's daily balance multiplied by the DPR for that balance. This method of figuring the beginning balance results in daily compounding of interest.
- The daily balance adds new charges on their transaction date, and interest compounds daily Charges & Financial Obligations
Other methods: To figure the ADB and interest charges, we may use other formulas or methods that produce equivalent results. Also, we may choose not to charge interest on certain types of charges.
- The issuer may use other equivalent interest methods and may choose not to charge interest on certain charges Charges & Financial Obligations
About Covered Borrowers
Military Lending Act: Federal law provides important protections to members of the Armed Forces and their dependents relating to extensions of consumer credit. In general, the cost of consumer credit to a member of the Armed Forces and his or her dependent may not exceed an annual percentage rate of 36 percent. This rate must include, as applicable to the credit transaction or Account: the costs associated with credit insurance premiums; fees for ancillary products sold in connection with the credit transaction; any application fee charged (other than certain application fees for specified credit transactions or Accounts); and any participation fee (other than certain participation fees for a credit Card Account).
- Federal law limits the cost of consumer credit to Armed Forces members and dependents to a 36 percent annual rate Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
To listen to this statement, as well as a description of your payment obligation for this Account, call us at 855-531-0379. If you are a covered borrower under the Military Lending Act, the Arbitration provision of the Claims Resolution section of this Agreement will not apply to you in connection with this Account. However, if you elect arbitration, we will comply with our obligations under the Claims Resolution section of this Agreement.
- Military Lending Act covered borrowers are outside the arbitration provision, though they may elect arbitration Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
About Additional Card Members
Additional Card Members: We may issue additional Cards on your Account at your request. Additional Card Members can use your Account subject to the terms of this Agreement and we may report their use of your Account to credit reporting agencies. If an Annual Fee applies to Additional Cards on your Account, it is shown on page 2 of Part 1 of this Agreement.
- Additional Cards can be issued on request; their use is subject to the Agreement and may be reported to credit bureaus Account & Service Control
You are responsible for all use of your Account by Additional Card Members and anyone they allow to use your Account and you must pay for all charges made. You also authorize us to give Additional Card Members information about your Account and to discuss it with them. Contact us if you want to cancel an Additional Card Member's ability to use your Account. If an Annual Fee applies for an Additional Card, please refer to the refund policy disclosed in the Closing or suspending your Account sub-section of Part 3 of this Agreement. If a single Annual Fee applies for a group of Additional Cards on your Account, this policy will apply when you cancel the Additional Card on which the fee was assessed.
- You promise to pay all charges, including Additional Card Members', and at least the Minimum Payment Due by its due date Charges & Financial Obligations
- You are responsible for all use by Additional Card Members and may cancel their ability to use the Account Account & Service Control
Card Member Agreement: Part 3 of 3
Other important information
How we may contact you:
Sending you notices: We send notices by U.S. mail, courier, or electronically using the information in our records. We consider a notice given when we mail it or deliver it electronically.
- Notices are sent by mail, courier or electronically and count as given when mailed or delivered electronically Account & Service Control
Servicing and Collections: If we need to contact you to service your account or to collect amounts you owe, you authorize us (and our affiliates, agents and contractors, such as debt collection agencies and service providers) to contact you at any phone number or email address you provide, from which you contact us, or at which we believe we can reach you. We may contact you in any way, such as calling, texting, emailing, sending mobile application push notifications or using any other method of communication permitted by law. We may contact you using an automated dialer or prerecorded messages. We may contact you on a mobile, wireless or similar device, even if you are charged for it.
- You authorise the issuer, its affiliates and agents to contact you by any method, including automated dialers Account & Service Control
Call monitoring: We may monitor and record any calls between you and us.
- The issuer may monitor and record calls between you and it Data Access & Collection
Changing your contact information: You must notify us immediately if you change your mailing address, email address, or telephone number. If you have more than one Account, you need to notify us separately for each Account. We may update your billing address if we receive information that it has changed or is incorrect.
- You must notify the issuer immediately of address, email or phone changes, separately for each Account Account & Service Control
Disputed charges: If you dispute a charge with a merchant, we may credit the Account for all or part of the disputed charge. If we do so, you assign and transfer to us all rights and claims (excluding tort claims) against the merchant. You agree that you will not pursue any claim against the merchant for the credited amount. And you must cooperate with us if we decide to do so.
- If the issuer credits a disputed charge, you transfer your claims against the merchant to it and may not pursue them Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Credit reports: You agree that we will obtain credit reports about you, investigate your ability to pay, and obtain information about you from other sources including information to verify and re-verify your employment and income. And you agree that we will use such information for any purposes (for example, marketing to you or evaluating you for a new account), subject to applicable law. You agree that we will give information about the Account to credit reporting agencies. We will tell a credit reporting agency if you fail to comply with the terms of this Agreement. This may have a negative impact on your credit report.
- The issuer obtains credit reports on you, may use them for any purpose subject to law, and reports your account Data Access & Collection
If you believe information we have given to a credit reporting agency is incorrect, write to us at: American Express Credit Bureau Unit, P.O. Box 981537, El Paso, TX 79998-1537. When you write to us, tell us the specific information you believe is incorrect.
- To challenge information given to a credit reporting agency, write to the issuer's Credit Bureau Unit Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Default: We may consider your Account to be in default if:
- The issuer may treat the Account as in default for a violation, false information, bankruptcy or doubt about payment Account & Service Control
- you violate a provision of this Agreement,
- you give us false information,
- you file for bankruptcy,
- you default under another agreement you have with us or an affiliate, or
- we believe you are unable or unwilling to pay your debts when due.
If we consider your Account in default, or if you become incapacitated or die, we may, to the extent permitted by federal and applicable state law:
- After default, incapacity or death, the issuer may suspend or cancel features and demand immediate payment Account & Service Control
- suspend your ability to make charges,
- cancel or suspend any feature on your Account,
- require you to pay more than your Minimum Payment Due immediately, and
- require you to pay your Account balance immediately.
Collection costs: You agree to pay all reasonable costs, including attorneys' fees, that we incur to collect amounts you owe.
- You agree to pay the issuer's reasonable collection costs, including attorneys' fees Charges & Financial Obligations
Closing or suspending your Account: We may, at any time and for any reason: cancel your Account, suspend your ability to make charges, cancel or suspend any feature on your Account. If we do any of these, you must still pay us for all charges under the terms of this Agreement. If we later agree to reinstate your Account, we may reinstate any additional Cards issued on your Account and charge you any applicable annual fees and a fee to reinstate the Account.
- The issuer may cancel the Account or suspend features at any time for any reason; you still owe all charges Account & Service Control
You may close your Account by calling us or writing to us. If an Annual Fee applies, we will refund this fee if you notify us that you are voluntarily closing your Account within 30 days after the Closing Date of the billing statement on which that fee appears. For cancellations after this 30-day period, the Annual Fee is non-refundable. If your billing address is in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the time you close your Account, this policy will not apply to you. If your account is cancelled and we re-open it at your request, we may charge you a $25 fee.
- You may close the Account by calling or writing; an annual fee is refunded only within 30 days (not in Massachusetts) Account & Service Control
When you pay us by check; permission for electronic debit: When you pay us by check, you authorize us to use information from your check (such as routing number, account number and check serial number) to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your bank or other asset account.
- Paying by check authorises a one-time electronic withdrawal, possibly the same day, and the check is not returned Charges & Financial Obligations
When we do this, your payment may be withdrawn from your bank or other asset account as soon as the same day we receive your check, and you will not receive that check back from your bank or financial institution. In certain circumstances, we may process your payment as a check transaction.
- Paying by check authorises a one-time electronic withdrawal, possibly the same day, and the check is not returned Charges & Financial Obligations
Converting charges made in a foreign currency: If you make a charge in a foreign currency, AE Exposure Management Ltd. ("AEEML") will convert it into U.S. dollars on the date we or our agents process it, so that we bill you for the charge in U.S. dollars based upon this conversion. Unless a particular rate is required by law, AEEML will choose a conversion rate that is acceptable to us for that date. The rate AEEML uses is no more than the highest official rate published by a government agency or the highest interbank rate AEEML identifies from customary banking sources on the conversion date or the prior business day. This rate may differ from rates that are in effect on the date of your charge. We will bill charges converted by establishments (such as airlines) at the rates they use. Privacy Act of 1974: Some federal agencies may accept the Card under authority of statute. When you make charges at these agencies, we collect certain charge information. That information may be put to routine uses such as processing, billing and collections. It may also be aggregated for reporting, analysis and marketing use. Other routine uses by agencies may be published in the Federal Register.
- AEEML converts foreign-currency charges at a rate no higher than the highest official or interbank rate Charges & Financial Obligations
- Federal-agency charge data may be used for billing and collections, and aggregated for analysis and marketing Data Access & Collection
About insurance products: We or our affiliates may tell you about insurance and non-insurance products, services or features that may have a fee. One of our affiliates may act on behalf of a provider of these products. The affiliate may be compensated for this. The insurance products are not offered or sold by us or on our behalf. Our affiliates may get additional compensation when AMEX Assurance Company or another affiliate is the insurer or reinsurer. Compensation may influence what products and providers we or our affiliates tell you about.
- Affiliates may tell you about products that may have a fee, and compensation may influence which they mention Sharing & Disclosure
We may share information about you with our affiliates so they can identify products that may interest you. We may be compensated for this information.
- The issuer may share information about you with affiliates so they can identify products for you, and may be paid for it Sharing & Disclosure
Changing benefits: We have the right to add, modify or remove any benefit, feature or service included with or related to your Account at our discretion.
- The issuer may add, modify or remove any benefit, feature or service related to the Account at its discretion Account & Service Control
Assigning the Agreement: We may sell, transfer or assign this Agreement and your Account. We may do so at any time without notifying you. You may not sell, assign or transfer your Account or any of your obligations under this Agreement. We do not waive our rights: We may choose to delay enforcing or to not exercise rights under this Agreement. If we do this, we do not waive our rights to exercise or enforce them on any other occasion.
- The issuer may sell or assign the Agreement and Account without notice; you may not Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- Delaying or not exercising a right does not waive it on any other occasion Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Governing law: Utah law and federal law govern this Agreement and your Account without regard to internal principles of conflicts of law. We entered into this Agreement with you in Utah, where we are located and hold your Account. Maryland residents: If your Account has a Maryland billing address, we elect to offer your Account pursuant to Title 12, Subtitle 9 of the Maryland Commercial Law Article to the extent, if any, that Maryland law applies to your Account.
- Utah and federal law govern the Agreement; Maryland residents have a specific statutory election Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Notice to Oregon Residents: Service charges not in excess of those permitted by law will be charged on the outstanding balances from month to month. You may pay more than the Minimum Payment Due, up to your entire outstanding balance, at any time. Notice for residents of Washington State: In accordance with the Revised Code of Washington Statutes, Section 63.14.167, you are not responsible for payment of interest charges that result solely from a merchant's failure to transmit to us within seven working days a credit for goods or services accepted for return or forgiven if you have notified us of the merchant's delay in posting such credit, or our failure to post such credit to your Account within three working days of our receipt of the credit.
- Oregon residents: service charges are limited to what the law permits, and you may pay more than the minimum at any time Charges & Financial Obligations
- Washington residents: no interest owed that results solely from a delay in posting a return credit Charges & Financial Obligations
Claims Resolution
Most customer concerns can be resolved by calling our Customer Service Department at the number listed on the back of your Card. In the event Customer Service is unable to resolve a complaint to your satisfaction, this section explains how claims can be resolved through mediation, arbitration or litigation. It includes an arbitration provision. You may reject the arbitration provision by sending us written notice within 45 days after your first Card purchase. See Your Right to Reject Arbitration below.
- Disputes may go to mediation, arbitration or litigation; you may reject arbitration within 45 days of first purchase Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
For this section, you and us includes any corporate parents, subsidiaries, affiliates or related persons or entities. Claim means any current or future claim, dispute or controversy relating to your Account(s), this Agreement, or any agreement or relationship you have or had with us, except for the validity, enforceability or scope of the Arbitration provision. Claim includes but is not limited to: (1) initial claims, counterclaims, crossclaims and third-party claims; (2) claims based upon contract, tort, fraud, statute, regulation, common law and equity; (3) claims by or against any third party using or providing any product, service or benefit in connection with any account; and
- 'Claim' covers almost any dispute with the issuer, affiliates or third parties; 'you and us' includes related entities Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
(4) claims that arise from or relate to (a) any account created under any of the agreements, or any balances on any such account, (b) advertisements, promotions or statements related to any accounts, goods or services financed under any accounts or terms of financing, (c) benefits and services related to Card Membership (including fee-based or free benefit programs, enrollment services and rewards programs) and (d) your application for any account. You may not sell, assign or transfer a claim.
- 'Claim' covers almost any dispute with the issuer, affiliates or third parties; 'you and us' includes related entities Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Sending a Claim Notice: Before beginning a lawsuit, mediation or arbitration, you and we agree to send a written notice (a claim notice) to each party against whom a claim is asserted, in order to provide an opportunity to resolve the claim informally or through mediation. Go to americanexpress.com/claim for a sample claim notice. The claim notice must describe the claim and state the specific relief demanded. Notice to you may be provided by your billing statement or sent to your billing address. Notice to us must include your name, address and Account number and be sent to American Express ADR c/o CT Corporation System, 28 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10005. If the claim proceeds to arbitration, the amount of any relief demanded in a claim notice will not be disclosed to the arbitrator until after the arbitrator rules.
- Before a lawsuit, mediation or arbitration, each side must send a written claim notice stating the relief demanded Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Mediation: In mediation, a neutral mediator helps parties resolve a claim. The mediator does not decide the claim but helps parties reach agreement. Before beginning mediation, you or we must first send a claim notice. Within 30 days after sending or receiving a claim notice, you or we may submit the claim to JAMS (1-800-352-5267, jamsadr.com) or the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") (1-800-778- 7879, adr.org) for mediation. We will pay the fees of the mediator.
- Either side may submit a claim to JAMS or AAA mediation within 30 days of a claim notice; the issuer pays the mediator Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
All mediation-related communications are confidential, inadmissible in court and not subject to discovery.
- Mediation communications are confidential and time limits are paused from the claim notice until mediation ends Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
All applicable statutes of limitation will be tolled from the date you or we send the claim notice until termination of the mediation. Either you or we may terminate the mediation at any time. The submission or failure to submit a claim to mediation will not affect your or our right to elect arbitration.
- Mediation communications are confidential and time limits are paused from the claim notice until mediation ends Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Arbitration: You or we may elect to resolve any claim by individual arbitration. Claims are decided by a neutral arbitrator.
- Either side may elect individual arbitration, replacing court, jury and class claims, with a small-claims exception Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
If arbitration is chosen by any party, neither you nor we will have the right to litigate that claim in court or have a jury trial on that claim. Further, you and we will not have the right to participate in a representative capacity or as a member of any class pertaining to any claim subject to arbitration. Arbitration procedures are generally simpler than the rules that apply in court, and discovery is more limited. The arbitrator's authority is limited to claims between you and us alone. Claims may not be joined or consolidated unless you and we agree in writing. An arbitration award and any judgment confirming it will apply only to the specific case and cannot be used in any other case except to enforce the award. The arbitrator's decisions are as enforceable as any court order and are subject to very limited review by a court. Except as set forth below, the arbitrator's decision will be final and binding. Other rights you or we would have in court may also not be available in arbitration.
- Either side may elect individual arbitration, replacing court, jury and class claims, with a small-claims exception Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- Elected arbitration is individual only: no class or representative claims for the public or other Card Members Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Initiating Arbitration: Before beginning arbitration, you or we must first send a claim notice. Claims will be referred to either JAMS or AAA, as selected by the party electing arbitration. Claims will be resolved pursuant to this Arbitration provision and the selected organization's rules in effect when the claim is filed, except where those rules conflict with this Agreement. If we choose the organization, you may select the other within 30 days after receiving notice of our selection. Contact JAMS or AAA to begin an arbitration or for other information. Claims also may be referred to another arbitration organization if you and we agree in writing or to an arbitrator appointed pursuant to section 5 of the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. sec. 1-16 (FAA).
- Arbitration starts with a claim notice and goes to JAMS or AAA as chosen by the party electing it Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
We will not elect arbitration for any claim you file in small claims court, so long as the claim is individual and pending only in that court. You or we may otherwise elect to arbitrate any claim at any time unless it has been filed in court and trial has begun or final judgment has been entered. Either you or we may delay enforcing or not exercise rights under this Arbitration provision, including the right to arbitrate a claim, without waiving the right to exercise or enforce those rights.
- Either side may elect individual arbitration, replacing court, jury and class claims, with a small-claims exception Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- The issuer will not elect arbitration of individual small-claims cases; otherwise it can be elected until trial begins Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Limitations on Arbitration: If either party elects to resolve a claim by arbitration, that claim will be arbitrated on an individual basis. There will be no right or authority for any claims to be arbitrated on a class action basis or on bases involving claims brought in a purported representative capacity on behalf of the general public, other Card Members or other persons similarly situated.
- Elected arbitration is individual only: no class or representative claims for the public or other Card Members Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Notwithstanding any other provision and without waiving the right to appeal such decision, if any portion of these Limitations on Arbitration is deemed invalid or unenforceable, then the entire Arbitration provision (other than this sentence) will not apply. Arbitration Procedures: This Arbitration provision is governed by the FAA. The arbitrator will apply applicable substantive law, statutes of limitations and privileges. The arbitrator will not apply any federal or state rules of civil procedure or evidence in matters relating to evidence or discovery. Subject to the Limitations on Arbitration, the arbitrator may otherwise award any relief available in court. You and we agree that the arbitration will be confidential. You and we agree that we will not disclose the content of the arbitration proceeding or its outcome to anyone, but you or we may notify any government authority of the claim as permitted or required by law. If your claim is for $10,000 or less, you may choose whether the arbitration will be conducted solely on the basis of documents, through a telephonic hearing, or by an in-person hearing. At any party's request, the arbitrator will provide a brief written explanation of the award. The arbitrator's award will be final and binding, subject to each party's right to appeal as stated in this section and/or to challenge or appeal an arbitration award pursuant to the FAA. To initiate an appeal, a party must notify the arbitration organization and all parties in writing within 35 days after the arbitrator's award is issued. The arbitration organization will appoint a three-arbitrator panel to decide anew, by majority vote based on written submissions, any aspect of the decision objected to. The appeal will otherwise proceed pursuant to the arbitration organization's appellate rules. Judgment upon any award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. At your election, arbitration hearings will take place in the federal judicial district of your residence.
- If the class and representative limits are held invalid, the whole Arbitration provision falls away Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- Arbitration is governed by the FAA, the arbitrator applies substantive law, and the proceeding is confidential Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- For claims of $10,000 or less you choose documents only, a telephone hearing or an in-person hearing Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- Either side may appeal an arbitration award within 35 days to a three-arbitrator panel Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Arbitration Fees and Costs: You will be responsible for paying your share of any arbitration fees (including filing, administrative, hearing or other fees), but only up to the amount of the filing fees you would have incurred if you had brought a claim in court. We will be responsible for any additional arbitration fees. At your written request, we will consider in good faith making a temporary advance of your share of any arbitration fees, or paying for the reasonable fees of an expert appointed by the arbitrator for good cause. Additional Arbitration Awards: If the arbitrator rules in your favor for an amount greater than any final offer we made before the final hearing in arbitration, the arbitrator's award will include:
- You pay only up to what a court filing would cost; the issuer pays the rest and will consider advancing your share Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- If the award beats the issuer's final offer, it includes at least $5,000 plus your reasonable fees and costs Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
(1) any money to which you are entitled, but in no case less than $5,000; and (2) any reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and expert and other witness fees.
- If the award beats the issuer's final offer, it includes at least $5,000 plus your reasonable fees and costs Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
Your Right to Reject Arbitration: You may reject this Arbitration provision by sending a written rejection notice to us at: American Express, P.O. Box 981556, El Paso, TX 79998. Go to americanexpress.com/reject for a sample rejection notice. Your rejection notice must be mailed within 45 days after your first Card purchase. Your rejection notice must state that you reject the Arbitration provision and include your name, address, Account number and personal signature. No one else may sign the rejection notice. If your rejection notice complies with these requirements, this Arbitration provision and any other arbitration provisions in the Card Member agreements for any other currently open American Express accounts you have will not apply to you, except for Corporate Card accounts and any claims subject to pending litigation or arbitration at the time you send your rejection notice. Rejection of this Arbitration provision will not affect your other rights or responsibilities under this Claims Resolution section or the Agreement. Rejecting this Arbitration provision will not affect your ability to use your Card or any other benefit, product or service you may have with your Account. Continuation: This section will survive termination of your Account, voluntary payment of your Account balance, any legal proceeding to collect a debt, any bankruptcy and any sale of your Account (in the case of a sale, its terms will apply to the buyer of your Account). If any portion of this Claims Resolution section, except as otherwise provided in the Limitations on Arbitration subsection, is deemed invalid or unenforceable, it will not invalidate the remaining portions of this Claims Resolution section.
- Disputes may go to mediation, arbitration or litigation; you may reject arbitration within 45 days of first purchase Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- To reject arbitration, mail a signed written notice within 45 days of your first Card purchase Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
- The Claims Resolution section survives account termination, payoff, collection, bankruptcy and sale, and is severable Legal Rights & Agreement Rules