Does American Express Close Inactive Cards?

American Express cards come with valuable perks, Membership Rewards points and card-specific offers, which makes it all the more frustrating when one gets canceled simply because it wasn't used. If you have an Amex card sitting idle, it's worth knowing exactly how Amex handles inactive accounts.

The short answer: yes, American Express can close a card that hasn't been used for a long time. Here's what Amex says about it, what's different about how it handles closures, what happens to your points, and how to keep every Amex card active.

Does American Express close inactive cards?

Yes. In its customer service FAQ, American Express says that, for your security, it may close your account if it notices your card hasn't been used for a long period of time.

What Amex doesn't say is how long that period is. There's no published number of months, and you shouldn't rely on anecdotes or forum guesses, since policies can vary and change. The reliable way to avoid an inactivity closure isn't knowing the deadline. It's using the card regularly so you never get near one. (Here's why guessing at inactivity timelines is risky.)

Does Amex warn you before closing your card?

This is where Amex stands out. In the same FAQ, American Express says it won't close your account without warning, and that it will let you know if your card is at risk of being deactivated and how you can keep it open.

That's more than issuers are generally required to do. According to Equifax, credit card companies aren't required to give notice before closing an account for inactivity. (For comparison, see how Chase handles inactive cards.)

Still, a warning only helps if you see it. Notices can show up on a statement, in an email or in your online account, and they're easy to miss on a card you never think about. A few habits help:

• Keep your email and mailing address current with Amex.
• Turn on account alerts in the Amex app.
• Open your statements, even for cards with a $0 balance.
• Act right away if you're told a card is at risk, rather than waiting until the deadline.

Credit cards, charge cards and annual fees

Amex issues both credit cards (which have a set credit limit) and charge cards (which typically require you to pay the balance in full each month). The inactivity language in Amex's FAQ applies to your card account generally, so don't assume either type is exempt.

It's true that a card with an annual fee earns the issuer money even when you don't use it, while a no-annual-fee card like a Blue Cash Everyday that you've stopped using doesn't. But that's not a guarantee either way. If you want to keep a card, use it.

What happens to your Membership Rewards points?

This is often the biggest worry, and Amex is specific about it. According to its help center, if Amex closes your last remaining Membership Rewards-eligible card due to inactivity, you have 90 days to use your points before losing them.

Two details make that window tighter than it sounds:

• You have to call to redeem. Amex says that in this situation you must call the number on the back of your card to use your points.
• Your options narrow. The listed redemption options include gift cards and transfers to a partner loyalty program you've already linked.

If you hold more than one card that earns Membership Rewards, your points generally stay with the program as long as another eligible card remains open. Check the Membership Rewards terms for your situation. A few ways to protect your points:

• Know which of your cards are enrolled in Membership Rewards.
• Keep at least one enrolled card open and active if you have points you haven't used.
• Link your partner loyalty accounts ahead of time, so transfers are available if you ever need them quickly.
• Redeem or transfer points before a card you're unsure about runs into trouble, where the terms allow.

Cash-back cards and co-branded cards work differently, so check the rewards terms for each card you hold.

What else you lose when an Amex card is closed

Available credit and a lower utilization ratio

If the card has a credit limit, closing it removes that limit from your total available credit. If you carry balances elsewhere, your utilization ratio rises, and since amounts owed make up 30% of a FICO Score, that may lower your score. Here's how utilization works.

Length of credit history, eventually

A closed account in good standing can remain on your credit report for up to 10 years. Once it drops off, your average account age may go down, especially if it was one of your oldest cards.

Card benefits and Amex Offers

Purchase protections, travel benefits, statement credits and Amex Offers are tied to a specific card. When that card is gone, so are its perks.

For a deeper look at the credit impact, read Does Closing a Credit Card Hurt Your Credit?

Got an inactivity warning from Amex? Do this

1. Make a purchase on the card right away. Any small purchase shows activity. Don't wait until the last day.
2. Pay it off in full so it doesn't create interest or a missed payment.
3. Call Amex if you're unsure whether the purchase resolved the warning, and confirm your account will stay open.
4. Set up recurring activity so it doesn't happen again.

If the card has already been closed, call as soon as possible and ask whether it can be reinstated. If it was your last Membership Rewards-eligible card, remember the 90-day window to use your points. Our guide Credit Card Closed? What to Do Next walks through the steps.

How to keep every Amex card active

The amount you spend doesn't matter much. Regular use does. A few easy approaches:

• Put a small recurring charge on each card, like a subscription, and check that it keeps going through.
• Use Amex Offers as a reason to put an occasional purchase on a card you don't usually carry.
• Turn on autopay for the full balance so small charges are always paid on time. Here's how to set it up the right way.

For more ideas, see How to Keep a Credit Card Active: 7 Easy Ways and our pillar guide, Credit Card Closed Due to Inactivity? Why It Happens and How to Prevent It.

A plan for each Amex card, on autopilot

Credicated places a tiny recurring charge on each card you choose, so none of your Amex cards ever look inactive. Choose a plan per card:

• Platinum: $0.99 every month. A good fit for the Amex that holds your Membership Rewards points.
• Gold: $1.25 every 3 months.
• Silver: $1.25 every year.

Label each subscription with the card's name or last four digits, pair it with autopay, and you can pause, swap or cancel anytime. If you're covering several cards, check our bulk discounts. See how Credicated works.

Frequently asked questions

How long can an Amex card go unused before it's closed?

American Express doesn't publish a timeline. It says only that it may close a card that hasn't been used for a long period of time, after warning you first.

Will Amex warn me before closing my card for inactivity?

Amex says it won't close an account for inactivity without warning and will tell you how to keep it open. Watch your statements, email and app notifications so you don't miss it.

Will I lose my Membership Rewards points if Amex closes my card?

If Amex closes your last remaining Membership Rewards-eligible card for inactivity, you have 90 days to use your points before losing them, and you'll need to call Amex to redeem. If another eligible card stays open, your points generally stay with the program.

Does Amex charge an inactivity fee?

No. Credit card inactivity fees have been banned since 2010 under the Credit CARD Act. The risk of not using a card is losing the account, not a fee.

Can I reopen an Amex card closed for inactivity?

Possibly. Call American Express quickly and ask. Whether it can be reinstated depends on your situation.

This article is for general educational purposes and isn't financial advice. Issuer policies and rewards terms change; review your cardmember agreement and program terms, and contact American Express with questions about your account. Credicated is not affiliated with American Express or Equifax.