The Business Green Rewards Card from American Express is generally considered lackluster due to its subpar earning potential compared to other business cards and its annual fee. It earns Membership Rewards points, but at a rate of only 2 points per dollar on eligible purchases at American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
(All information about the Business Green Rewards Card has been collected independently by Deals Points and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.)
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
Welcome Bonus
The Amex Business Green Card currently offers the following welcome bonus:
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards Points After $3,000 in Eligible Purchases in the First 3 Months.
Earning Points
The Amex Business Green Card earns Membership Rewards points at the following rates:
- 2 points per dollars on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com; and
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
The Business Green Amex has a $95 annual fee, which is quite high given the lack of other benefits.
Card Benefits and Perks
Below are the benefits and perks of the Amex Business Green Card:
No Pre-Set Spending Limit
American Express’s No Preset Spending Limit feature is a unique aspect of their credit cards that offers users flexible spending capacity.
Unlike traditional credit cards, there is no predetermined limit on the amount you can spend. Instead, the amount you can spend adjusts according to factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.
Secondary Rental Car Insurance*
Secondary rental car insurance covers any damage to or theft of a rental car not covered by your primary insurance when you pay for the rental using this card.
Other credit cards offer primary rental car insurance, which pays before your insurance and saves you the hassle of filing multiple insurance claims.
You still need to maintain liability car insurance to cover damage to another person or property.
Baggage Insurance Plan*
Baggage insurance covers the cost to repair or replace your luggage and the contents inside if your bag is lost or damaged during a covered trip.
You must purchase the trip with this card, and it will also cover immediate family members traveling with you.
Extended Warranty*
Credit card extended warranty protection adds up to an additional year of coverage for eligible purchases on manufacturer’s warranties up to 5 years.
For example, if you bought a TV with a manufacturer’s warranty of three years, this card would extend the warranty for free to the fourth year.
Purchase Protection*
Purchase protection could save you a lot of money if you bought an eligible item that is damaged or stolen within 90-days.
For example, if you accidentally dropped your new phone or laptop and broke the screen, you could file a claim to get it replaced if the item was purchased within the last 90 days.
*(Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/
Access to Amex Offers
This card has access to Amex Offers, which are deals that are linked to your card, allowing you to save money or earn extra points on shopping, dining, and travel.
For example, there could be an offer such as spending $200+ at Marriott Hotels and Resorts and receiving $50 cash back as a statement credit.
You can find all of your Amex Offers by signing into your American Express account. You will need to “Add to Card” each offer to be eligible for the special offer.
Redeeming Membership Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards points are a versatile and valuable currency for travelers. The program offers numerous redemption options, with transfers to airline partners being the most lucrative way to use your points.
Amex partners with 18 airlines and 3 hotel chains, allowing you to access a wide range of travel possibilities. Some of the best redemptions include booking business class flights to Europe through Air France-KLM Flying Blue for as low as 50,000 miles one-way. Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club offers excellent value for Delta One flights to Europe at 50,000 points, significantly less than booking directly through Delta.
For those planning a trip to Asia, transferring to ANA Mileage Club can yield incredible value. Round-trip business class flights from the West Coast to Tokyo can be booked for just 90,000 miles. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is another great option, especially for their renowned long-haul flights like New York to Singapore.
Domestic travelers can benefit from transferring to British Airways Executive Club for short-haul American and Alaska Airlines flights, with awards starting at just 8,250 Avios for distances up to 650 miles.
While transferring to airline partners typically offers the best value, Amex also allows direct redemptions for flights through their travel portal. However, this option generally provides lower value at 1 cent per point.
To maximize your Membership Rewards, focus on high-value airline transfers for premium cabin international flights. With strategic planning, you can unlock extraordinary travel experiences and significant savings on your next adventure.
Membership Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
|
|
|---|---|
Aer Lingus Avios
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AeroMexico [1 to 1.6]
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Air Canada Aeroplan
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Air France/KLM Flying Blue
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ANA
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Avianca LifeMiles
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British Airways Avios
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Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
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Delta SkyMiles
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El Al [1,000 to 20]
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Emirates
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Etihad Guest
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Hawaiian Airlines
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Iberia Avios
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JetBlue [250 to 200]
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Qantas
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Qatar Airways
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Singapore KrisFlyer
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Virgin Atlantic
|
Choice
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Marriott Bonvoy
|
Hilton Honors [1 to 2]
|
Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
- Baggage Insurance, Rental Car Insurance, Purchase Protection, and Extended Warranty.
- Ability to earn valuable Membership Rewards points.
Cons:
- $95 annual fee with no credits to offset the fee.
- 2.7% Foreign Transaction Fee.
- Only one 2x category and it requires booking via AmexTravel.com
Alternatives to the Amex Business Green
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Better for No Annual Fee
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 2 Points Per Dollar on the First $50,000 in Purchases Each Calendar Year (1x Points thereafter)
- 0.0% Intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months. After that, reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
- No Annual Fee (rates & fees)
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (review) offers a strong 2x Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 in purchases annually, making it an excellent no-annual-fee (rates & fees) option for small business owners. This card provides good value for everyday spending and access to Amex’s 20+ transfer partners, though it does have foreign transaction fees.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Earning Points: 2 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent on the card annually (then 1 point per dollar).
Card Benefits: Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Expanded Buying Power, and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies.
Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Better for Airport Lounge Access
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (review) delivers premium travel benefits including extensive lounge access (access is limited to eligible card members) and valuable hotel elite status. This premium business card excels at making travel more luxurious, though you’ll need to use multiple statement credits and travel perks to maximize its value.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earn Rewards: 5x points for flights, prepaid hotels booked at AmexTravel.com; 2x points per dollar for purchases up to $2 million in spending per calendar year in these categories: purchases of $5,000 or more regardless of category, U.S. cloud service and software providers, U.S. construction materials and hardware suppliers, U.S. electronics retailers, and U.S. shipping providers; and 1x points on all other eligible purchases.
Card Benefits:
- Statement Credits: You’ll earn numerous statement credits including $250 for Adobe purchases after spending $600, up to $200 for airline incidentals, up to $209 for Clear Plus membership, up to $1,150 for Dell purchases ($150 in credits plus $1,000 after spending $5,000), Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, up to $200 for Hilton purchases ($50 quarterly with required Hilton for Business membership), up to $600 for Fine Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Collection bookings ($300 biannually with minimum two-night stays required for Hotel Collection), up to $360 for Indeed hiring services ($90 quarterly), and up to $120 for wireless telephone services ($10 monthly from any U.S. provider).
- Airport Lounge Access: American Express Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club when flying Delta (limited to 10 annual visits unless you spend $75,000 in a calendar year), Priority Pass, Escape Lounges, and Select Lufthansa Lounge when flying Lufthansa Group airlines. (Access is limited to eligible Card Members)
- Elite Status: Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz’s President’s Circle, National Emerald Club Executive, and Avis Preferred Plus.
- Other Benefits: No preset spending limit, baggage insurance plan, trip cancellation and delay insurance, secondary rental car insurance, no foreign transaction fees, extended warranty, return protection, purchase protection, and cell phone protection.
Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Better for Travel
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (review) offers great rewards for small business owners. With bonus points on travel, shipping, advertising, and communication services, plus valuable travel protections, it’s a solid choice for companies looking to maximize their everyday spending.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Rewards: 3x points on travel, shipping, advertising made with social media sites and search engines, and internet, cable and phone services on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year; 1x points on all other eligible purchases.
Card Benefits: Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation insurance, cell phone protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
Is the the Amex Business Green Worth It?
No, the Amex Business Green Card is not worth it.
The card is in a major need of a refresh by American Express to make this card more competitive. An easy way to do that would be to duplicate American Express® Green Card (review) and make a business version. But until that happens, I suggest getting another card.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business Plus® Credit Card from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
