There are several “flavors” of the Amex Platinum card, including the American Express Platinum Card for Morgan Stanley®. Like its investment bank-branded cousin, the Charles Schwab Platinum, it now has a newly increased welcome offer of 150,000 Membership Rewards points after $12k in spend.
You’ll need to be a Morgan Stanley customer in order to get this Platinum card, and it does feature that irritating Amex “family” language, but for those eligible and interested, this is a terrific offer. It’s also much easier to qualify now that having a free E*Trade account gets you in the door.
The Morgan Stanley version of the Blue Cash Preferred card also has a jazzed-up welcome offer of $350 after $3k in spend.
The Offer & Key Card Details
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
 ⓘ $2217 1st Yr Value Estimate$200 airline incidental fee credit for select airline only valued at $140, $200 Uber credit ($15 per month, $35/December) valued at $100, $600 Fine Hotels + Resorts® credit valued at $300, $300 Digital Entertainment Credit ($25 per month) valued at $150, $300 Lululemon credit ($75 per quarter) valued at $150, $120 Uber One credit ($10 per month) valued at $48, 400 Resy credit ($100 per quarter) valued at $85 Click to learn about first year value estimates 150K Points Non-AffiliateThis is NOT an affiliate offer. We always present the best offer even when it means less revenue for Frequent Miler 150K after $12K spend within first 6 months. Terms apply. (Offer Expires 7/8/2026)$895 Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: 150K after $8k spend in the first 6 months. (Expired 11/12/25) FM Mini Review: In my opinion, this is the best of the consumer Amex Platinum cards when you need two cards thanks to Morgan Stanley offering one free authorized user. Unfortunately you do need to have a Morgan Stanley account to apply. Earning rate: 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (limit $500,000 in purchases each calendar year) ✦ 5X prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel ✦ 1X everywhere else Card Info: Amex Pay Over Time Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: $500 after $100K cardmember year spend Noteworthy perks: This card includes all of the great perks that come with the American Express Platinum Card, plus: ✦ 1 Free Authorized User ✦ Redeem points for 1 cent each into your Morgage Stanley account ✦ $695 Annual Engagement Bonus for Platinum CashPlus accounts See also: Amex Platinum Guide |
Quick Thoughts
This matches the best offer, in terms of points, that we’ve seen for the Morgan Stanley Platinum card, although the previous 150k iteration had a lower, $8k spending requirement. For a couple of years, this was a moderately difficult card to become eligible for, but that’s changed, since E*Trade customers now qualify.
Still, as you’ll see in our post about which is the best Platinum card or hear about it in our podcast episode about the topic, one of the key benefits of the Morgan Stanley version of the card is that you get a free Platinum-level Authorized User card (and the standard Platinum-card benefits like Centurion Lounge and Delta SkyClub access that come with it). This offer makes it even better.
Amex has family language on the Morgan Stanley card, so if you have or have had the Schwab Platinum card or the “vanilla” Platinum, you may not be eligible for the bonus on this card. That’s not to say that you’re definitely ineligible, just that you may not be. Luckily, Amex will let you know one way or another before they check your credit and issue the card.
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Can you deposit points into an E-Trade Roth IRA with Morgan Stanley points without having that considered a contribution, the way you can/could with the Schwab Platinum to a Schwab Roth IRA?
Any DPs on getting both the Morgan Card(I have an etrade acct) and Schwab card?
I have had both back in 2023 – 2025. No isues
DP: I currently have the vanilla Plat for over 7 years but when applying to the MS Platinum i get the dreaded popup that I am ineligible.
Does anyone know if it takes Amex 7 years to „forget“ that you had a certain card from the date of closing this card?
Yes it’s from the date of closing. They won’t forget while you still have it open.
Oh shoot. And I think there won’t be MS Platinum offers without lifetime language… Thanks for the reply Greg! Really appreciate your granular and cool blog.
To emphasize:
1. Even though E*Trade is under Morgan Stanley, it’s customers are not eligible
2. The annual fee waiver necessitates $25k in an essentially 0% account, thus creating a $1k per year opportunity cost
3. The high-spending annual bonus is no longer an additional benefit
You can alternatively pay the fee on the account, which is a little less than the Annual Fee.
Is there a free or cheap way to become a Morgan Stanley Customer?
Ask Morgan Stanley if the Virtual Advisor program can be (in effect) a self-directed account. That would be your likely avenue. Best of luck.
Any data points on people getting the MS or Schwab card when they already have a vanilla one? Wondering if it’s worth the hassle to unfreeze my credit.
Try and report back.
I have vanilla platinum and was approved for Schwab version but didn’t accept…yet