I finally found the site which details the cobranded Fidelity AmEx cards -- very interesting! (I realize most folks have probably long ago found this, but just in case some other slacker needs it, LOL...) http://personal400.fidelity.com:80/global/search/content/americanexpress.shtml.tvsr Doc
Ok, the differences between the Fidelity version and the regular AmEx version are interesting. The Fidelity versions offer fewer AmEx benefits: Less Perks... 1) no separate AmEx statement with cardmember exclusive offers 2) no flexible payment date 3) no extended payment options 4) no AmEx "Sign & Travel®" 5) no AmEx "Special Purchase Account" 6) no AmEx "Privileged Assets" benefits On the other hand, the Fidelity fees are less (but you do have to maintain at least $5000 in a Fidelity investment account): Smaller Annual Fee... Fidelity AmEx Gold: $0 Fidelity AmEx Gold Additional Cards: $0 Fidelity AmEx Platinum: $320 Regular AmEx Gold: $75 Regular AmEx Gold Additional Cards: $45 Regular AmEx Platinum: $395 This is tough to sort through. Are the Fidelity versions a good value or not? Doc
Hi PsychDoc! I had to search in the Fidelity site for the AMEX info - they do not put it on page 1 LOL! The AMEX Fidelity Platinum/Gold Charge depends on your situation.... 1 - If you need to charge gas and carry it as a balance, no... 2 - If you use it as a resource where you can CONTROLLABLY charge a large amount when necessary, or use it then add to your account before the bill date, the fee is nothing. I would get it, of course. best regards - dogman
Good thoughts, dogman. Actually, I have $15,000 in an Ing Direct Orange Savings Account (a bit of an emergency fund). It would be easy enough to simply keep $5k of it with Fidelity and snap a free AmEx/Fidelity Gold Card. (That Gold Card looks like the value leader there.) Doc P.S. You taught me the word "snap" in this context. Now I'm driving my wife nuts -- I say it too much offline, lol.
What's up Doc? What does this mean? 1) no separate AmEx statement with cardmember exclusive offers I also think the Gold is the best option...
What about other underwirting standards? Amex blacklist, Scores required etc or do they simply figure your $5k on deposit at Fidelity is enough?
Are the approval standards the same or does having a Fidelity account make approval easier? We are a BK from '97. AmEx was not involved. We can open a Fid. account if required. We like the zero fee on the gold card. As BK customers, we do not want to pay 75 for a charge card and AmEx would not approve us anyway for a regular gold card.
Not Doc but... It means that AMEX will not send you a statement in the mail. You track your monthly charges by viewing them on your Fidelity account. When they talk about cardmember exclusive offers, they mean those little flyers that sometimes come with your statement that have stuff like 1000 return address lables for $5.99 or magazine subscriptions at a discount. You know, the stuff that usually comes attached to your return envelope for you bills that you usually have to tear off before sealing the envelope and mailing.
