AmEx 101: Earn Big Bonuses for Referrals (Up To 100,000 Points Annually)

Referring people to open American Express cards is a great way to earn big bonuses. See how the AmEx “Refer a Friend” program works below.

Update 1/8/23: American Express is sending some cardholders an email about a change whereby the maximum amount of points one can earn for referring friends to an American Express card is 100,000 points instead of the prior 55,000 annual limit for most cards. YMMV

AmEx “Refer-A-Friend” Program

The “Refer a Friend” AmEx program allows you to invite friends, family and acquaintances to apply for American Express credit cards. Depending on the AmEx card you hold, you can earn up to the following for referrals:

• 55,000 Membership Rewards points, Delta Bonus Miles, or Marriott Bonvoy points per calendar year
• 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per calendar year
• $550 in statement credits per calendar year.

Referral bonus amounts can change from time to time. Cashback cards usually earn between $50 to $100 per referral. Point cards earn between 10,000 to 20,000 Membership Rewards points for every referral, but we’ve seen the bonuses get as high as 45,000 points. Most often, the best referral bonuses are offered on points-earning cards.

You must be an AmEx personal or business credit cardholder or a qualifying “Additional Card Member,” and you must be at least 18 years old to participate. AmEx does not let you publish your links in places where the audience include people you don’t know or people who may not be interested in opening an AmEx card. If you do post your referral link to a third-party website or platform (like social media), you must comply with that third party’s terms of use, and you must make it clear to those who read your post that you will earn a reward if they are approved for a new card.

To start referring people, click here. Or, simply log into your AmEx account, scroll down to “LINKS YOU MAY LIKE,” and click on “Refer a Friend.” You’ll see your bonus amount as well as your friend’s bonus amount. If you have multiple American Express accounts, you can easily switch between card accounts by going to the top right corner and clicking on “Select one of your cards to refer.” From there, copy your unique referral link and share it as you wish.

AmEx allows you to refer people to AmEx cards you don’t have in your arsenal if you have one of the following:

• The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
• American Express Blue Business Cash
• Blue Cash Preferred from American Express
• Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
• American Express Cash Magnet Card
• Amex EveryDay Credit Card
• Amex EveryDay Preferred Card
• American Express Gold Card
• American Express Business Gold
• American Express Green Card
• Business Green Rewards Card from American Express
• The Platinum Card from American Express
• AmEx Business Platinum
• The Plum Card from American Express

To track your referrals, go to Rewards Summary. The dashboard lists your referrals and the total points you earned for the year.

Bottom Line

The American Express “Refer a Friend” program is an excellent way to earn big bonuses from cards you already have, up to $550 or 55,000 Membership Rewards points per year.

Other deals here

READ MORE: SEE THE BEST BANK BONUSES HERE AND THE BEST INVESTING BONUSES HERE.