Pure AMX vs. Co-Branded AMX Card

[rbentley]

Is there any reason to have a pure AMX card (one issued by them) vs a co-branded one from a bank or CU?  I have used my pure AMX to get accessive to special concert ticket offers for AMX customers.  Are all of the pure AMX benefits available on co-branded cards?  I do have a Everday card but it is stuck at a low limit.  I am thinking of apping for the NFCU AMX card.

[Adkins]

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@rbentley wrote:

Is there any reason to have a pure AMX card (one issued by them) vs a co-branded one from a bank or CU?  True MR points and not whatever the bank or credit union program puts in place. Plus the ability to use transfer partners for those MR points. I have used my pure AMX to get accessive to special concert ticket offers for AMX customers.  Are all of the pure AMX benefits available on co-branded cards? No, not usually. Those cards are Amex in name only, with none of the benefits. I do have a Everday card but it is stuck at a low limit.  I am thinking of apping for the NFCU AMX card.

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You want all Amex benefits, you'll need to get an Amex card. I won't apply for the NFCU Amex card for this reason. 

[HeavenOhio]

For what it's worth, I'd submit that the cards described in the lead post would be third-party American Express cards. Examples would include Wells Fargo Propel AMEX, USAA Cash Rewards AMEX, and FNBO TravElite AMEX.

Co-branded cards would be issued by AMEX in conjunction with another merchant, e.g. Starwood Preferred Guest, Gold Delta SkyMiles, and Hilton Honors Aspire.

AMEX-branded cards would include Blue Cash Everyday, Blue Cash Preferred, and Premier Rewards Gold.

Because of lesser acceptance, I see no advantage to a third-party card being on the AMEX network. The advantages of having the card would need to come from the perks and rewards associated with it.

[UncleB]

Third-part Amex cards do get some of the Amex network 'perks', but you might have to dig around a bit to find details.  For Wells Fargo you have to really drill-down in their site to get to the link.

For Wells Fargo Propel cards you are directed to this site:  https://www.americanexpress.com/us/network/wellsfargo/?bin=370034000

I did a little looking around and wasn't too impressed, although I admit I'm not one to use many of the extra benefits anyway.

(Note that Amex Offers for third-party cards via linked social media accounts were discontinued.)

[UncleB]

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@rbentley wrote:

Is there any reason to have a pure AMX card (one issued by them) vs a co-branded one from a bank or CU?  I have used my pure AMX to get accessive to special concert ticket offers for AMX customers.  Are all of the pure AMX benefits available on co-branded cards?  I do have a Everday card but it is stuck at a low limit.  I am thinking of apping for the NFCU AMX card.

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Using the link provided by Wells Fargo I'm able to eventually drill-down to this TicketMaster site:  https://www.ticketmaster.com/amexnetwork

If that's the site you've used in the past for your concert tickets you might be fine with a third-party card.

[AverageJoesCredit]

If you are like me where your spend doesn't really take full advantage of full Amex rewards, having 3rd party Amex can be just like have a different Visa or Mastercard. When with other lenders, getting their Amex is a way to enjoy whatever they offer or just have something different.

[UpperNwGuy]

The NFCU More Rewards card is not an Amex co-branded card and does not have any Amex benefits.  It is simply an NFCU card that uses the Amex payment network.  Minimum redemption for cash back is $50, and it would take $1,667 of grocery spending at 3% cash back to earn that $50.  I don’t think the card is worth it.

[UncleB]

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@UpperNwGuy wrote:

The NFCU More Rewards card is not an Amex co-branded card and does not have any Amex benefits.  It is simply an NFCU card that uses the Amex payment network.  Minimum redemption for cash back is $50, and it would take $1,667 of grocery spending at 3% cash back to earn that $50.  I don’t think the card is worth it.

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The NFCU Amex likely has the same "Amex Connect" benefits that the WF Propel cards offer, although the info might be buried.

[Anonymous]

The third party Amex's from CUs can be great for those that are blacklisted by AMEX.

I have the PenFed Pathfinder Amex and find the benefits to be far better than NFCUs. 4x points on travel, $100 airline incidental credit each year, free TSA precheck, and more, all with no annual fee. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The third party Amex's from CUs can be great for those that are blacklisted by AMEX.

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Right, but unless you find the (now small) Amex network benefits worthwhile, you would evaluate it on a card by card basis, no need to get an Amex network card for the sake of it.