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American Express has issued more than 120 million credit cards around the world. The company offers a wide range of cards, including the Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday, for cash back on everyday expenses like U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.
The Blue Cash Preferred comes with a $95 annual fee See Rates & Fees in exchange for hefty cash back rewards. Cardholders earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, and 1% thereafter) and 6% cash back on U.S. streaming services. You also earn unlimited 3% cash back on U.S. gas station and transit expenses, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
The card offers $0 intro annual fee for the first year, 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening (after that, 18.49% - 29.49%), and a welcome bonus of a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
* Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Blue Cash Preferred card is designed for individuals and households that spend a lot of money at U.S. supermarkets and on commuting. At a 6% cash back rate, you only have to buy around $1,600 in U.S. supermarkets per year in order to make up the cost of the annual fee. Any additional cash back rewards from streaming, gas, and commuting costs go into your pocket.
The Blue Cash Preferred also offers 6% cash back on U.S. streaming services. Most individuals won’t spend enough on streaming each year to pay back the annual fee with this benefit. However, it adds to the appeal of this card for households that pay for services like Netflix, Disney Plus, or Hulu.
It’s worth comparing the Blue Cash Preferred with the Blue Cash Everyday, which doesn’t have an annual fee but only offers a 3% cash back rate at U.S. supermarkets. Tally up your annual supermarket bill to decide which card will net you more money.
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
The Blue Cash Preferred comes with an annual fee of $95. However, there is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year. So, any cash back you earn during the first year is pure profit.
The Blue Cash Preferred also offers 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. After that, you’ll pay a variable rate of 18.49% - 29.49% APR.
| Annual Fee | Interest Rate | Foreign Transaction Fee |
| $0 for the first year, then $95 | 0% for first 12 months, then 18.49% - 29.49% APR | 2.7% |
The Blue Cash Preferred offers a variety of cash back rewards.
New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
The Blue Cash Preferred card offers 6% cash back on up to $6,000 worth of annual supermarket purchases in the US. After the $6,000 limit, the rewards rate drops to 1%.
The card also offers unlimited 6% cash back on U.S. streaming services. Cardholders can also earn $7 per month back on a subscription to The Disney Bundle.
Cardholders earn unlimited 3% cash back on U.S. gas stations and transit expenses such as ridesharing services, taxis, trains, buses, and parking. The card also provides car rental damage and loss insurance.
Cardholders earn unlimited 1% cash back for all other purchases.
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
You can apply for the Blue Cash Preferred credit card online. You must enter your name, email, phone number, birth date, social security number, and annual income. You can be pre-approved for a card instantly without a hard credit check. Applicants must have a 670 credit score or better in order to qualify.
If you are pre-approved, American Express will run a hard credit check prior to issuing your card. It typically takes seven to 10 days to receive your card in the mail.
American Express offers customer support by phone, email, and live chat. You must have an American Express account in order to access live chat support.
Phone support for new applicants is available seven days a week from 6am to 2am (ET). Customer service for existing cardholders is available 24/7.
The American Express website also has detailed support pages available.
The Blue Cash Preferred online application is protected with SSL encryption. The American Express web portal uses 256-bit AES encryption, and you can protect your online account with 2-factor authentication.
You can lock and unlock your card at any time using the American Express mobile app. American Express has a 24/7 fraud prevention center and a dedicated global assistance hotline.
The Blue Cash Preferred offers a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. In addition, the card offers $0 intro annual fee for the first year, and 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, there is a variable APR of 18.49% - 29.49%.
American Express requires applicants to have a minimum credit score of 670 to qualify for the Blue Cash Preferred. You can find out if you’re pre-approved online with no hard credit check.
The Blue Cash Preferred card from American Express is a great cash back rewards card for individuals and households who spend a lot at U.S. supermarkets and on commuting. The card offers 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, and 1% thereafter), and unlimited 3% cash back on U.S. gas stations and transit expenses. It also offers cash back for U.S. streaming services. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
The card comes with a $95 annual fee, but there is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, and many cardholders will easily pay for the fee with their cash back rewards.
This review was completed based on information from the American Express website.
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.
Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
