Amex Vs Co-Branded Amex Cards

[GalaxyStars]

So I bank with U.S. Bank, I have 2 credit cards with them. I notice they have U.S. Bank branded American Express cards.

Any pros or cons to Co branded Amex cards? Other than maybe underwriting being different.

[creditguy]

Underwriting is different from bank to bank and wouldn't really matter what network the co branded card runs on. US Bank is probably more conservative than Centurion Bank in some aspects. Co branded Amex cards don't offer the benefits of Centurion issued Amex cards, other than that it all comes down to each individual card suiting your needs and what works best for you. Go for a card you can use and benefit from regardless of issuer or network and you'll be good.

[UncleB]

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@creditguy wrote:
Underwriting is different from bank to bank and wouldn't really matter what network the co branded card runs on. US Bank is probably more conservative than Centurion Bank in some aspects. Co branded Amex cards don't offer the benefits of Centurion issued Amex cards, other than that it all comes down to each individual card suiting your needs and what works best for you. Go for a card you can use and benefit from regardless of issuer or network and you'll be good.

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+1

I would expect the U.S. Bank Amex card's underwriting to be similar (if not exactly the same) as U.S. Bank's other credit card products. 

If the U.S. Bank Amex has features that would be beneficial, I would give it a look.  I wouldn't get it just because it's on the Amex network, though, unless you have a specific need that requires that.  In the past some people would want an Amex product specifically to use at Costco, but that's about to be no longer an issue.

[takeshi74]

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@GalaxyStars wrote:
Any pros or cons to Co branded Amex cards? Other than maybe underwriting being different.

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All depends on what you specifically need/want.  It's not all about who issues the card.  Focus on the product and how it specifically suits you.

Give us info on your needs/wants and we can provide better feedback regarding pros/cons for you.  You're going about it backwards by focusing on the creditor and payment network first.

[Anonymous]

Hello, OP,

I use to work for US Bank as a Financial Advisor.  The lending is conservative just likes Wells Fargo; however, I saw a lot of people at the end of last year getting approved for everything from Lines of Credit to our "Premium" Credit Cards with scores far below 680 at times.  Most of the time we pulled Transunion and on the rare occasion I saw Equifax and Experian.  

The co-branded cards that you are thinking of are the FlexPerks Select+ Amex (No annual fee) and the FlexPerks Travel Rewards Amex ($49 annual fee).  

This is the whole thing with these co-branded Amex cards: They are not any better than a true American Express card.  

I am not a fan of co-branded cards.  The main difference is who the bank primarily pulls from.  In my experience (YMMV), US Bank pulled mainly from Transunion here in the southwest.  American Express pulls primarily from Experian.  This is a big factor as your scores/report may differ from bureau to bureau.

Another factor to consider: Customer Service.  I would choose American Express over US Bank without question.  You also earn membership rewards points with American Express which are highly valuable and transferable to many other avenues.  

If I was in the market for an Amex, I would go directly through American Express and not US Bank or any other bank offering a credit card off of the Amex network.  Do you want a real Gucci wallet or a "knockoff" so to speak... ?

I hope this helps... 

[Anonymous]

Hello again, OP,

I also noticed in your signature box that you have the US Bank Platinum card.  This card offers no rewards what so ever.  I also see that you have a Perks+ Visa Signature card (Good choice!).  You can definitely call US Bank's credit card department and ask them to do a product change from that US Bank Platinum card.  It is a flavorless card, and at most you have a low interest rate.  I would do a product change to a Cash+ Visa Signature if you are able to.  

[wasCB14]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hello, OP,

I use to work for US Bank as a Financial Advisor.  The lending is conservative just likes Wells Fargo; however, I saw a lot of people at the end of last year getting approved for everything from Lines of Credit to our "Premium" Credit Cards with scores far below 680 at times.  Most of the time we pulled Transunion and on the rare occasion I saw Equifax and Experian.  

The co-branded cards that you are thinking of are the FlexPerks Select+ Amex (No annual fee) and the FlexPerks Travel Rewards Amex ($49 annual fee).  

This is the whole thing with these co-branded Amex cards: They are not any better than a true American Express card.  

I am not a fan of co-branded cards.  The main difference is who the bank primarily pulls from.  In my experience (YMMV), US Bank pulled mainly from Transunion here in the southwest.  American Express pulls primarily from Experian.  This is a big factor as your scores/report may differ from bureau to bureau.

Another factor to consider: Customer Service.  I would choose American Express over US Bank without question.  You also earn membership rewards points with American Express which are highly valuable and transferable to many other avenues.  

If I was in the market for an Amex, I would go directly through American Express and not US Bank or any other bank offering a credit card off of the Amex network.  Do you want a real Gucci wallet or a "knockoff" so to speak... ?

I hope this helps... 

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Credit card customers of US Bank (and USAA, for that matter) don't file a lot of complaints with the CFPB (relative to spending on US Bank and USAA credit cards). It's true that complaints about Amex (as in Centurion Bank) are even lower in proportion, but that might be distorted by high spend on premium and corporate cards that Centurion Bank offers but US Bank doesn't.

The only times I've had to call Centurion Bank's customer service, I've called on the PRG or Schwab Platinum line. I've no complaints, but someone calling on a BCE or Delta Gold line might not get as good service.

The non-premium Centurion Bank customer service may be better than what many non-Centurion Bank issuers offer, but I'm not sure if it would necessarily be much better than US Bank or USAA.

[Anonymous]

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@wasCB14 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hello, OP,

I use to work for US Bank as a Financial Advisor.  The lending is conservative just likes Wells Fargo; however, I saw a lot of people at the end of last year getting approved for everything from Lines of Credit to our "Premium" Credit Cards with scores far below 680 at times.  Most of the time we pulled Transunion and on the rare occasion I saw Equifax and Experian.  

The co-branded cards that you are thinking of are the FlexPerks Select+ Amex (No annual fee) and the FlexPerks Travel Rewards Amex ($49 annual fee).  

This is the whole thing with these co-branded Amex cards: They are not any better than a true American Express card.  

I am not a fan of co-branded cards.  The main difference is who the bank primarily pulls from.  In my experience (YMMV), US Bank pulled mainly from Transunion here in the southwest.  American Express pulls primarily from Experian.  This is a big factor as your scores/report may differ from bureau to bureau.

Another factor to consider: Customer Service.  I would choose American Express over US Bank without question.  You also earn membership rewards points with American Express which are highly valuable and transferable to many other avenues.  

If I was in the market for an Amex, I would go directly through American Express and not US Bank or any other bank offering a credit card off of the Amex network.  Do you want a real Gucci wallet or a "knockoff" so to speak... ?

I hope this helps... 

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Credit card customers of US Bank (and USAA, for that matter) don't file a lot of complaints with the CFPB (relative to spending on US Bank and USAA credit cards). It's true that complaints about Amex (as in Centurion Bank) are even lower in proportion, but that might be distorted by high spend on premium and corporate cards that Centurion Bank offers but US Bank doesn't.

The only times I've had to call Centurion Bank's customer service, I've called on the PRG or Schwab Platinum line. I've no complaints, but someone calling on a BCE or Delta Gold line might not get as good service.

The non-premium Centurion Bank customer service may be better than what many non-Centurion Bank issuers offer, but I'm not sure if it would necessarily be much better than US Bank or USAA.

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Yes, I agree that there are those times when one might receive less than stellar customer service from American Express.  Thankfully, I have never had that experience.  In my experience it all depends on which card you have and what benefits that card offers.  So yes, you are right.  The service will differ from card to card.  But in comparison to US Bank and having been employed at this institution for quite some time, I saw how unhappy a lot of our customers were (in our direct market) with the service that they received or didn't receive. In essence this formed a lot of my views on this bank.  Do not get me wrong, US Bank is wonderful and their products are great, but if I were to choose between American Express and US Bank, I would choose American Express everytime.  

[GalaxyStars]

My U.S. Bank Visa Platinum was originally a SECURED Credit Card when I started credit repair.

For a year now it has been unsecured, I do agree that I would look to have it transferred to something else.

Do you know rather they do any HARD pulls for a Product change?