Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

[Red1Blue]

For FICO and scoring purposes Is Amex Optima considered as a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

[Anonymous]

Optima is a revolving, credit card and is not a charge card.

Optima was introduced in 1987 as American Express's first credit card. American Express stopped offering Optima around 2008-2009 for new, credit worthy applicants only to be revived years later as a reward for consumers that repaid charged-off debt. 

[wasCB14]

Isn't the CL fixed as 1/3 (or some other fraction) of the repaid amount?

[Rudy1]

As @Anonymous stated it is a revolving credit card the only charge card AMEX issues are the Green, Gold, Platinum, and Centurion. When I met my husband he had the Optima Platinum from when they offered it as a actual card not for debt repayment he still has it. For him it is a good card to keep around low rate and nice CL.

[Red1Blue]

From FICO standpoint of view, is there a scoring difference between a Charge Card and Credit Card ?

[Remedios]

There is difference 

Charge card balances are not "counted" towards utilization on newer scoring models, but they do count towards number of *cards with balances*. 

On older scoring models, highest balance on charge card is considered to be a limit. 

[Save-n-Invest]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Optima is a revolving, credit card and is not a charge card.

Optima was introduced in 1987 as American Express's first credit card. American Express stopped offering Optima around 2008-2009 for new, credit worthy applicants only to be revived years later as a reward for consumers that repaid charged-off debt. 

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That's interesting. In 2003 I was at a VZW store. I purchased a mobile phone and signed a two year contract. I gave the manager American Express Blue. The transaction was declined with instructions for the store to call Optima. The place was busy so I just used a diferent card. 

At home I phoned Amex to learn why the sale was declined. The rep said it was flagged as a fradulent transaction. Reason provided was that I purchased a mobile phone six weeks prior. 

Was Optima in any way ever related to the company's fraud department? 

Thanks

[dacv01]

The Optima is a revolving credit card, and appears on CR as such. Have you been sent an offer to apply? 

[Red1Blue]

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@Remedios wrote:

There is difference 

Charge card balances are not "counted" towards utilization on newer scoring models, but they do count towards number of *cards with balances*. 

On older scoring models, highest balance on charge card is considered to be a limit. 

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Thanks

[Red1Blue]

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@dacv01 wrote:

The Optima is a revolving credit card, and appears on CR as such. Have you been sent an offer to apply? 

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Yes. I have mailed the application on 6/26/2020 by USPS mail. Waiting to hear back from them or receive the card.