The American Express® Centurion Card holds cult celebrity status, even among other premium credit cards. Colloquially known as the “Black Card,” this prestigious credit card is only available to big spenders by direct Amex invitation.
If youre curious about this mythical card wielded by A-list celebrities worldwide, read on to learn more.
Black cards are special credit cards that come with extras and benefits that are only available to black cardholders. One of the most interesting things about black cards is that they have very high credit limits. What is a black card’s credit limit? Let’s find out.
What is a Black Card?
A “black card” is a high-end, luxury credit card that is usually black. These cards are designed for wealthy people and come with special perks like access to airport lounges, travel credits, and concierge services.
The most well-known black cards are
- Centurion® Card from American Express
- JP Morgan Reserve Credit Card
- Citi Chairman Card
- Luxury Card Mastercard® Black Card
These cards have annual fees ranging from $450 to $5000 per year. But they provide cardholders with a level of service and amenities far beyond a regular credit card.
Black Card Credit Limits
One of the most eye-catching features of black cards is their sky-high credit limits. But most issuers do not publish the exact credit limits for their black cards.
Here’s what we know about the credit limits on the top black cards:
Centurion® Card from American Express
The Centurion® Card, also known as the Amex Black Card, is perhaps the most iconic and prestigious black card. According to reports, this card does not have a preset spending limit.
The amount of money cardholders can spend changes every month based on how much they use their card, their assets, their income, and other factors. Centurion® members have reported credit limits well over $100,000.
JP Morgan Reserve Credit Card
The JP Morgan Reserve Card also has no preset spending cap. Credit limits are flexible and determined on a case-by-case basis. Based on customer reports, credit limits range from $25,000 to over $100,000.
Citi Chairman Card
As a World Elite Mastercard, the Citi Chairman Card offers a minimum credit limit of $10,000. However, the limit can extend well over $100,000 for some cardholders.
Luxury Card Mastercard® Black Card
The Luxury Card Black Card has a minimum credit limit of $5,000. But many cardholders report receiving limits of $20,000 or more.
What Affects a Black Card’s Credit Limit?
Black card companies use a variety of factors to determine each cardholder’s spending limit:
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Income – Applicants must have a high annual income, usually over $100,000. Higher incomes allow for higher credit limits.
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Assets – Asset levels like investments, real estate, and savings are also considered. More assets means more buying power.
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Credit scores – Excellent credit is required for black card approval. FICO scores of 720+ are generally needed. Higher scores can lead to more credit.
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Existing credit limits – Black card companies will consider the limits on an applicant’s current credit cards when assigning a new limit.
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Utilization – Applicants with low balances and high available credit tend to qualify for higher black card limits.
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Debt-to-income ratio – Lower DTI ratios prove applicants can manage more available credit responsibly.
So in general, the higher your income, assets, credit scores, and available credit, the higher your chances of getting an enormous black card limit.
Is a High Limit Worth the Black Card Annual Fee?
A key consideration is whether the high spending power justifies the hefty annual fee on a black card.
For instance, the Centurion® Card from Amex has a $5000 initiation fee and $5000 annual fee. That’s a steep price just for bragging rights of having a six figure limit.
But if you often spend more than $100,000 a year on credit cards, a black card with a flexible, high limit might make sense, especially if you make the most of the luxury benefits that come with it.
But for most consumers, a premium travel rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum provides sufficient credit for a fraction of the cost.
How to Increase Your Credit Limit
While black cards offer easy access to lofty credit limits, there are also ways to increase your limit on a regular credit card:
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Ask for a limit increase – You can request a higher limit every 6-12 months. Issuers may perform a hard inquiry.
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Have your income re-evaluated – Providing updated income docs can lead to instant limit upgrades.
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Boost your credit scores – Improving your payment history and scores makes you eligible for more credit.
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Become an authorized user – Being added as an AU on a family member or friend’s account can raise your limits.
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Open a new card – Applying for a new card gives you access to new credit, on top of your existing limits.
The Bottom Line
Black cards offer the prestige of ultra-high limits only accessible to the ultra-wealthy. But specific credit limits vary based on income, assets, credit scores and other qualifications. While black card limits can exceed $100,000, always make sure you only take on credit you can realistically afford.
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Do Amex Black Card members receive complimentary hotel upgrades?
Yes, Amex Black (Centurion) Card members receive top-tier or near-top-tier elite status with several major hotel chains, including Hilton, IHG, Jumeirah Sirius, Shangri-La Golden Circle, Radisson Rewards, and MeliáRewards. Members with these elite statuses can often get free room upgrades, early check-in, late check-out, and other VIP perks. However, upgrades are not guaranteed and depend on availability. Centurion members also receive Delta Platinum Medallion® Status, which provides travel perks like complimentary first-class upgrades and priority services. Terms apply.
Amex Black Card rewards
Members of the American Express Black Card earn Membership Rewards points on purchases that qualify. However, American Express does not publicly disclose how members of the Centurion Card earn points. Unlike cards like the Platinum or Gold, which advertise fixed bonus categories, the Centurion Cards rewards program may vary by individual and is not marketed based on high points multipliers.
That said, the real value of the card comes from its elite travel perks, such as automatic hotel status, international lounge access, and personalized concierge services that enhance the overall rewards experience. The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Earn 5 Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. Earn 1 Point on other purchases.
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. A long list of travel benefits, such as free elite status with Hilton and Marriott and access to airport lounges (enrollment required).
- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Statement credits with Saks and Uber (enrollment required).
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an X. Bonus categories leave something to be desired.
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an X. One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards .
If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and more.
- You will get 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points when you use your new card to buy things worth $8,000 in the first six months.
- You can earn 5 times as many Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel®, up to a maximum of $500,000. You can also earn 5 times as many Membership Rewards® points for hotels booked in advance through American Express Travel®.
- $200 Hotel Credit: If you use your Platinum Card® to book a stay at a Fine Hotels® Resorts® or The Hotel Collection ahead of time through American Express Travel, you can get up to $200 back in statement credits every year. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- You can get a $240 digital entertainment credit every month when you use your Platinum Card® to buy something from Disney, a Disney bundle, ESPN, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, or The Wall Street Journal. You can get up to $20 back in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
- You can get over $500 a year in benefits from the Global Lounge Collection if you visit Centurion Lounges, all of our partner lounges, Delta Sky Club® lounges when you fly an eligible Delta flight (with some visit limits), certain Lufthansa lounges when you fly Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges, Escape Lounges, and sign up for Priority Pass Select. See terms.
- With a Walmart membership, you can get free shipping on all eligible items shipped by Walmart, no matter how much you buy. If you pay for a Walmart membership every month with your Platinum Card®, you’ll get a credit on your statement for up to $12. 95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free shipping doesn’t apply to most items in the Marketplace, freight Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
- A $200 airline fee credit lets you pick one qualifying airline and get up to $200 back on your Platinum Card® account each year when the airline charges you for incidental fees. American Express depends on airlines to send them correct information about transactions so they can find purchases with incidental fees. There should be a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible card after 8 weeks. If there isn’t, just call the number on the back of your card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- The Platinum Card® member gets $15 in Uber Cash every month, plus an extra $20 in December after linking their card to their Uber account. This lets them ride or eat in style. You can order and take rides in the U.S. with Uber Cash. S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps you get to your gate faster by using your unique facial features to prove who you are at 50 airports across the country. You can get up to $199 back on your bills every year if you use the Platinum Card to pay for a CLEAR Plus membership (which will automatically renew).
- Get a statement credit of up to $85 or $120 every 4 years to cover the Global Entry application fee. 5 years for an application fee for TSA PreCheck® through an official TSA enrollment provider, when charged to your Platinum Card® Cardholders who are approved for Global Entry will also be able to use TSA PreCheck for free.
- Shop at Saks with Platinum and get up to $100 back on your purchases every year at Saks Fifth Avenue stores or online at saks.com. com on your Platinum Card®. Thats up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- You can get to high-end dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy. As a Resy customer, you can get priority notifications and special access to some of the world’s most popular restaurants. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy. by going to Resy.com and adding your Platinum Card® to your profile to get special benefits and find restaurants near you.
- $695 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. It won’t hurt your credit score to find out if you’re approved for a card. You might see changes to your credit score if you accept this card if you are approved.
- Terms Apply.
What is the limit on the black Mastercard
FAQ
Who qualifies for a black card?
Black cards, like the Amex Centurion Card, are credit cards that can only be obtained by invitation and are mostly aimed at extremely wealthy people who spend a lot of money.
What credit card has a $100,000 limit?
With a reported maximum credit limit of $100,000, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the credit card that gives you the most credit. Chase Sapphire Preferred reserves its maximum credit limit for the highest-income individuals with good credit or better, though.
What is the limit on the black bank card?
A credit limit of at least £5000. Manage your card wherever, whenever with the NatWest mobile app (Criteria applies).