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The Amex “Apply with Confidence” is a new application experience for American Express U.S. Personal Cards that allows consumers to find out if they are approved for a card without impacting their credit score.
This new experience is currently available for individuals applying for a U.S. Personal Card through Military Money Manual, on the American Express website or by calling American Express. It is not available if they apply for a Card after they log into an existing Card Member Account.
Cards that may be eligible for this feature include:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Gold Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
During the application process, a soft inquiry will be made on an applicant’s credit report and the applicant will be told with 100% certainty if they are approved. If the approved applicant then accepts the Card, a hard inquiry will be made on their credit report, which may impact their credit score.
The Amex apply with confidences is different than the Amex bonus pop up that sometimes frustrates applicants.
American Express Apply with Confidence Process
- Submit application – Amex will gather the information from you required for application and share important terms and conditions
- Amex will perform a “soft pull” on your credit history, meaning you will have no impct on your credit score
- If you chose to accept the card, then information provided to the credit bureaus may impact your credit score
The new application experience will also be made available to current Card Members who are applying for another personal Card in the future.
Additionally, the new application experience is also available within Pre-Qualification journeys, which means that consumers will be able to apply for the Card of their choice with no impact to credit score unless they are approved and choose to accept the Card.
Bottom line
American Express has launched a new application experience that allows consumers to find out if they are approved for a U.S. Personal Card without impacting their credit score, but it should be noted that this experience is currently only available for some application journeys. Also, if an applicant is approved and chooses to accept the Card, their credit score may be impacted.
Personally, I have never been concerned about hard pulls on my credit score. That's probably why I've opened over 40 credit card accounts over my life. However, I know some people are very protective of their credit score.
The new Amex “apply with confidence” feature should help assuage some of those with credit score fears about applying for cards.