Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Note: American Express is a Frequent Miler advertiser. Please see our Advertiser Disclosure.

Card Details and Application Link

$150 cash back + up to $200 in statement credits for select purchases
$150 cash back as a statement credit after $3K in the first 6 months + 20% back on purchases at Amazon.com for the first 6 months up to $200 back as statement credits. Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees)
Click Here to Apply

$95 Annual Fee

Eligible US home furnishings stores include: Lowe's, The Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond, Anthropologie – Home & Furniture, CB2, Crate and Barrel, Crate and Kids, Terrain, and The Container Store

Info 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: Up to $350: 10% cash back on purchases at U.S. Restaurants in the first 6 months, up to $200 back. Plus, earn $150 back after $1K spend in 3 months. (Expired 5/3/17)

FM Mini Review: Solid cash back option, especially for those who spend a lot at US Supermarkets and US gas stations

Card Type: Amex Credit Card

Base

Travel

Gas

Grocery

Shop

Other

Earning rate: ⚬ 6% cash back at US supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) ⚬ 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. ⚬ 3% Cash Back on transit (includes taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 3% cash back US gas stations ⚬ 1% cash back on other purchases ⚬ Terms apply.

Noteworthy perks: Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees)

Overview

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers 6% cash back at US supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% cash back at US gas stations, and 1% on all other eligible purchases.

This card is a very good option for those with a lot of grocery and gas station spend. I recommend pairing this card with a card that earns better than 1% cash back for all other spend. See: Best rewards for everyday spend.

If you prefer to earn transferable points for travel, consider the similar Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card which has great earning potential everywhere as long as you use the card at least 30 times each billing cycle in order to earn a 50% point bonus.

Application Tips

Amex Application Tips

Safe to Apply: Amex is the safest bank for trying your luck at a new welcome bonus. They don’t usually issue a hard pull when denying your application, and if you already have an Amex card, they won't usually issue a hard pull when approved for another one. Plus, they’ll now warn you during the application process if you’re not eligible for the bonus.

Lifetime Rule: If you've ever had the same card before, you are most likely prohibited from getting a welcome bonus for the card if you apply now. Fortunately you'll be warned during the application process if this is the case. Amex is known to "forget" that you've had a card after about 7 years.

90 Day Rule: You can get at most two credit cards within 90 days. This rule does not apply to Pay Over Time (charge) cards.

5 credit card max: Amex usually won't approve applications for new credit cards if you already have 5 or more Amex credit cards or 10 or more charge cards.

Better Offers: You may be able to get a better offer than the best available public offer. Details here.

Hard inquiries combine into 1 when approved same day

Check application status here.
If denied, call reconsideration: 877-399-3083 (new accountholders); 866-314-0237 (current accountholders)

How to Meet Spend Requirements

In order to meet minimum spend requirements, people often look for options to increase spend in ways that result in getting their money back. These techniques are referred to as "manufacturing spend". American Express has terms in their welcome offers that exclude some manufactured spend techniques from counting towards the minimum spend requirements for the welcome bonus. For example, most new cardmember bonuses have terms like this:

Eligible purchases to meet the Threshold Amount do NOT include fees or interest charges, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, purchases of gift cards, person-to-person payments, or purchases of other cash equivalents.

That said, many techniques for meeting minimum spend are perfectly fine. Here are some techniques that are safe for meeting Amex minimum spend requirements (click each link for more information):

Related Cards (Amex cash back cards)

Card Offer
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card ➥More ⓘ $220 1st Yr Value Estimate $250 statement credit Earn a $250 statement credit after $3K in purchases in the first 3 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees) No Annual Fee Alternate offer: Earn up to $500 in statement credits: Earn $250 back after $5K in purchases in the first 6 months plus an additional $250 after an additional $10K in purchases in the first year. Note that information about this offer has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details and is not responsible for their accuracy.
SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express ➥More ⓘ $200 1st Yr Value Estimate This card is not currently available for new applications No Annual Fee Info about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express ➥More ⓘ $195 1st Yr Value Estimate $100 back + up to $150 in statement credits for select purchases $100 back after $2K in the first 6 months + 20% back on purchases at Amazon.com up to $150 in statement credits in the first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees) No Annual Fee Eligible US home furnishings stores include: Lowe's, The Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond, Anthropologie – Home & Furniture, CB2, Crate and Barrel, Crate and Kids, Terrain, and The Container Store Info about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
American Express Cash Magnet® Card ➥More ⓘ $185 1st Yr Value Estimate $200 Cash Back $200 back after $1K in purchases in first 3 months. Terms apply. No Annual Fee Info about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express ➥More ⓘ $175 1st Yr Value Estimate $150 cash back + up to $200 in statement credits for select purchases $150 cash back as a statement credit after $3K in the first 6 months + 20% back on purchases at Amazon.com for the first 6 months up to $200 back as statement credits. Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees) $95 Annual Fee Eligible US home furnishings stores include: Lowe's, The Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond, Anthropologie – Home & Furniture, CB2, Crate and Barrel, Crate and Kids, Terrain, and The Container Store Info 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: Up to $350: 10% cash back on purchases at U.S. Restaurants in the first 6 months, up to $200 back. Plus, earn $150 back after $1K spend in 3 months. (Expired 5/3/17)
Amazon Business American Express Card ➥More ⓘ $153 1st Yr Value Estimate Get a $125 Amazon Gift Card Eligible Prime members get a $125 Amazon.com Gift Card upon approval. No Annual Fee Info about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
The Plum Card® from American Express ➥More ⓘ $150 1st Yr Value Estimate Up to $600 Earn a $200 statement credit after each $10,000 you spend on the card, up to $30,000, in the first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees) No Annual Fee First Year, Then $250 Info about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
Schwab Investor Card® from American Express ➥More ⓘ $85 1st Yr Value Estimate $100 Cash Back $100 statement credit after $1K in purchases in first 3 months No Annual Fee Info about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
“Old” Blue Cash Card from American Express ➥More ⓘ $0 1st Yr Value Estimate This card is no longer available for new applications No Annual Fee Info about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.