While some truly valuable credit card bonuses are available right now, sometimes the most lucrative offers are reserved for targeted individuals. One of the best places to look for these elevated targeted offers is by using the CardMatch tool, where you might find introductory bonuses that are much higher than those posted elsewhere.
Here are two to look out for right now.
Top CardMatch offers
If you haven't used the CardMatch tool recently, now's an excellent time to check your CardMatch offers. Great offers are available on two of Amex's top cards, including The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card.
Amex Platinum 175,000-point offer
For the Platinum Card, you could be pre-qualified for an offer of up to 175,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within your first six months of card membership. The card has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees).
Based on TPG's August 2024 valuations, the 175,000 American Express Membership Rewards points bonus is worth a staggering $3,500.
This astronomical bonus number is worth grabbing if you're eligible. The highest publicly available welcome offer for the card is 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
Related: Is the Amex Platinum worth the annual fee?
Amex Gold 90,000-point offer
We also see possibilities for a 90,000-point targeted welcome offer on the American Express Gold Card available for some through the CardMatch tool. This offer is prequalified, and the Gold Card has a $325 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Targeted cardmembers can earn 90,000 points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of account opening. TPG's August 2024 valuations peg 90,000 Membership Rewards points at an impressive $1,800. Others may see a prequalified 60,000-point offer after spending $6,000 in the first six months of card membership. This almost matches the publicly available offer on the Amex Gold Card.
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Cardmatch offers vs. public offers
These CardMatch offers are significantly better than those publicly available for both of these American Express cards. Here's a snapshot for comparison:
- The Amex Platinum Card's public offer is 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership. That means you could get an additional 95,000 bonus points if you're targeted for this higher CardMatch offer.
- The Amex Gold Card's public offer is 60,000 bonus points for making $6,000 in purchases in the first six months of account opening. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first six months of card membership, up to $100 back. The offer ends Nov. 6. So, you may be eligible to get up to 30,000 extra bonus points if you're targeted for an elevated welcome offer via CardMatch.
It's important to note that all offers are subject to change at any time, and not everyone will be targeted for an elevated offer.
American Express welcome offers are also "not available to applicants who have or have had this product," and that limitation also applies to CardMatch offers.
So, if you have had either of these cards in the past (including the Premier Rewards Gold Card, the previous version of the Amex Gold), you might be out of luck, even if you are targeted for these offers through CardMatch.
While there are some reports of being able to get a welcome offer for the same card many years after closing the account, this "once-per-lifetime" welcome offer limitation is an important restriction to keep in mind.
Finally, make sure to check your offer closely. Some potential cardholders have reported seeing different offers through the CardMatch tool than those posted here.
How to use CardMatch
CardMatch is straightforward to use, but you may wonder how it works if you haven't used it before. Here are the simple steps to check your offers:
- Go to the CardMatch tool.
- Enter your first name, last name, home address, last four digits of your social security number and email address.
- Click "Get matches."
- Check the box to accept the terms and conditions, and click "Submit."
- After a 60-second or less search, your preapproved offers will appear.
Note that this process generates a "soft" credit inquiry on your credit report. This means the inquiry will show up on your credit report but won't impact your credit score, similar to if you checked your credit report through a free annual check or a paid service.
Related: How to check your credit score for free
Other ways to get targeted offers
No one knows the exact criteria that banks, airlines and hotels use to target certain customers for elevated bonus offers, but many people may not realize their accounts are eligible.
Make sure to go into your account settings for all your cards and loyalty programs and opt in for marketing communications and emails, as this is often how targeted offers are communicated.
Opting in is just the first step, though. While no one likes wasting time reading through junk mail, it's important to at least skim emails or snail mail sent from banks, airlines and hotels to see if they contain any elevated offers.
Some targeted offers require you to apply with a unique invitation code or a specific link. If you throw away the letter or delete the email containing that code, it's possible that you won't receive the same offer again.
Is the American Express Platinum Card worth it?
The Amex Platinum's 175,000-point welcome bonus through CardMatch — which, per TPG's August 2024 valuations, equates to a hefty sum of $3,500 — is a fantastic offer.
Once you learn to maximize the value of your Membership Rewards points, you can potentially get even more value than that.
Even without the sky-high welcome offer, the Platinum Card is one of the best cards available for frequent travelers.
On the spending side, you'll earn 5 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly through the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotel bookings made with American Express Travel.
The card also rewards frequent Uber users with up to $200 per calendar year in Uber credits (only in the U.S.).
Plus, you'll get up to $200 in statement credits for airline fees on your selected airline and up to another $200 in annual statement credits toward prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel at Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection properties (the latter requires a minimum stay of two nights). Enrollment is required for select benefits.
In fact, there are more than $1,500 in annual credits that you can unlock with this card.
Then there are the airport lounges. Cardmembers are granted access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Amex's own fantastic Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges and Delta Sky Clubs. (Effective Feb. 1, 2025, eligible Platinum Card members will receive 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta Air Lines-operated flight.)
The card has a $695 annual fee, but it can be well worth it if you utilize these perks to their full extent. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Related: Guide to lounge access with the Amex Platinum
Is the American Express Gold Card worth it?
The Amex Gold's 90,000-point welcome bonus through CardMatch is also much better than the current public offer of just 60,000 points and is worth around $1,800 based on TPG's August 2024 valuations.
With a lower annual fee and more varied bonus-earning categories, the Amex Gold is more versatile than the Amex Platinum for everyday spending.
With the Gold card, you'll earn 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and on dining at restaurants (up to $50,000 spent per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), plus 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with an airline or through American Express Travel. You'll earn 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases.
You'll also get a solid lineup of perks, including up to $120 in annual dining credits (available as up to $10 in monthly statement credits for eligible dining partners), $10 per month in Uber Cash credit (up to $120 Uber Cash annually) that you can use for U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S., up to $100 in annual Resy credits ($50 biannually), up to $84 in annual Dunkin' credits (up to $7 monthly) and access to The Hotel Collection booking benefits. Just make sure you add the card to your Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit. You must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber app, and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
The card does charge a $325 annual fee, but that is easily offset when you take full advantage of the card's built-in perks. Terms apply.
TPG credits cards writer Chris Nelson says, "I can use all the credits organically, which easily covers the annual fee and even nets me positive value, which is a no-brainer considering it earns 4 points per dollar on dining and 3 points per dollar on flights, and these are some of my biggest spending categories."
Related: Who should (and shouldn't) get the Amex Gold card?
Other CardMatch offers
While the Platinum and Gold offers are likely the most appealing, you may see other appealing offers through CardMatch.
Previous cards have included the American Express Cash Magnet® Card and the American Express® Green Card. We recommend comparing any offers you receive against the publicly available offers to make sure that the targeted offers through CardMatch are better.
The information for the Amex Cash Magnet and Amex Green cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Other ways to find good welcome offers
Targeted offers can be a great way to get extra bonus points on a card you already planned to apply for, but they aren't the only way to find a good deal.
Banks often extend limited-time, elevated bonuses that are publicly available to anyone who wants to apply for them, and you can check our list of the best elevated bonuses available right now that's updated regularly.
If you've been on the hunt for the best credit card that suits your spending habits and also features a generous welcome offer, using the CardMatch tool can help you get there.
If you're looking to fill a specific hole in your points and miles strategy, you may want to consider the following curated lists of best credit cards:
- Travel
- Dining
- Groceries
- Everyday spending
Bottom line
The CardMatch tool is great because it allows you to find better welcome offers than what is publicly available.
The Amex Platinum and Gold are two of Amex's most popular cards. The 175,000-point offer for the Amex Platinum and the 90,000-point offer for the Amex Gold available to eligible targeted customers are the highest we have seen. If you're in the market for a new rewards card, now is a great time to see if you qualify for one of these offers.
For more details, check out our full reviews of the Amex Platinum and Gold cards.
Check the CardMatch tool to see if you're targeted for up to a 175,000-point welcome offer on The Platinum Card® from American Express offer or up to a 90,000-point American Express® Gold Card offer. These offers are subject to change at any time.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees on the Amex Gold Card, click here.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
