CreditKarma Transrisk Score: 778, Vantage Score: 954 I love this card! It has given me the financial flexibility to get to where I am today. I can't figure out how their underwriting process works, but I'm grateful they gave me a chance and am now a loyal user of this card. So much so that now I've convinced most of our friends to switch to this card (we even paid the Costco membership for one of them). Now they love it and can't stop talking about the card.  I got my first card in 1999 as soon as I turned 18 - the month before I went to college. I think I had a $500 credit limit initially. I got a few more cards on campus (yes, I traded my info for free t-shirts and the like), but I made sure I never charged more than what was in my bank account. I kept the account funded by working various jobs throughout the year. I've missed maybe 3 or so payments on different credit cards (usually during the semester breaks when I wouldn't get the mail statements before moving home for break), but I called the companies as soon as I realized the mistake and usually got the fees/interest waived when I told them I would be sending the payment in full right away. Fortunately none of the late payments ever showed up on my credit report. I give Amex 5 stars for their customer service. When my account number was compromised at a local restaurant, the fraudulent charges were removed immediately (same day) - no questions asked. Now if I have any suspicion that I may be ripped off by a new vendor, using Amex gives me complete peace of mind. And with electronic/online statements and payments, it's much easier to check balances and make timely payments.  Now about the Amex credit evaluation and underwriting (and yes, I filled out the application truthfully, stating that I was still a student - I used financial aid award as part of my income) - I got the Amex Costco card in 2005 while in graduate school and living off student loans and limited part-time jobs. So I was naturally taken aback when they approved me at age 24 for a nearly $18K credit limit. Of course, I continued to pay the balance in full each month (usually around $300). Fast forward to mid-2007. Armed with a professional doctorate degree in hand, I launch my practice/business. Which needs even more capital. So I add on the business version of the Amex Costco card. Even with nearly $200K of student loan debt, they grant me another $35K credit limit on the new business card. Wished they had given me more, but I had another ~$22K credit limit on a FIA mastercard with Fidelity Investments that I was able to tap into (savings set aside from work went into a Roth IRA at Fidelity). In hindsight, this kind of credit would have been impossible to obtain one year later after the Lehman meltdown and ensuing credit crisis... My biggest pet peeve? Companies that change the programs or value of points to redeem. And what do you do with leftover points if you want to stop using the card? Why do I need to redeem in 5,000 point increments? I won't mention companies that have shortchanged me here... For rewards - cash is king, they generally won't change those values. The last three years we've averaged over $700 in rebates from Costco (plus about $100 in the executive reward category) - which I readily cash at the front desk or at checkout. Yes, medical equipment and supplies are expensive, but my practice is profitable and all cards continue to be paid off in full monthly. Costco has such happy employees, it's such a pleasant shopping environment. When I cash the rebate check, they flash me a smile and usually comment "nice job, you did well this year." Although I don't know that I necessarily feel good about people complimenting me on spending a lot of money...  The figure would be a few hundred dollars higher, except I still routinely split purchases onto my Fidelity FIA mastercard, and Shell mastercard (for gas) to maximize rewards (and some of my vendors don't accept Amex). Fidelity has a new Amex that gives 2% back on everything - just got that card about two weeks ago, so I'm planning to upgrade some of our office equipment with that line. And our friend who we gave Costco membership to? His reward is nearly $1,500 in the second year running. We'll let him win this one...   

I used to have bad credit but I had a plan and faith through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savor.  Now my credit score is in the high 700's.  With Jesus everything is going to work out

got denied ck score 742 and according to them  expirian fico 730   ?????????????????

Fine card but you only get rewards once a year. Also, it's the only Amex card that doesn't allow you to change to other Amex's, so if you move away or stop shopping at CostCo, you have to close the card or keep paying the fee.

I applied in person at Costco and got instantly approved for $4000. I'm 25 years old with a CK score of 738. The card is in the mail and I'm pretty excited about the cash back rewards. I only have one other credit card and it doesn't have any rewards.

Approved with a CK score of 642 & Experian score of 702 with a available balance of $4000. I applied in store and received instant approval. I can tell you that I applied in the past and was not approved, so I think the Experian plays in as a major factor. 3% back on gas, 1% on everything else is good in my book. Mainly, I wanted to increase my credit/debt ratio to help improve my score. Hopefully this holds more weight than the credit inquiry and new credit i've obtained from this card. So far so good though.  

The AMEX site states nothing about the $25.00 credit on the first statment, not even when the direct link is used from Credit Karma's site.  I used the on-line chat to inquire and was told that AMEX does NOT have such an offer at this time.  I looked through all the details listed on the AMEX site and read the small print- the only site that states such an offer is Credit Karma, so I am not expecting the credit.  Due to AMEX not acknowledging Credit Karma's "bonus", I will sign-up at the nearest Costco where they offer a free chicken, pack of water and other items.  I prefer $25 but will go for the sure thing.  Too bad!

Applied online on a Tuesday, and ran a status check on AMEX's website every day following. Each day it said my information was not found. Finally, the following Wednesday it said that I had been approved and that I should receive my card in 7-10 days. I checked the limit and it was $1,200. I'm an Executive Member at Costco and have an Experian Score of 725.

Applied with Experian "Plus" score of 704. Experian reported a score of 661 to them, based on a different score model that American Express requested ("FICO Score" in their words).  Average account age 1.6 years from Signature Loans and Student Loans. No real estate credit and no credit cards. You may want to adjust your expectations accordingly when applying. I honestly would have expected to be approved even with the lower score. Only reason given for the rejection was the score. Incidentally, the application status tool on their website failed to find my application at several distinct points during the period of time in which my application was being reviewed.

I used to paid off all the balance each month every time, so I didn't aware how bad Amex could be. I didn't setup the autopay last month successfully, so the previous statement was paid 2 days past due date. Since it's my fault, I paid off the whole balance plus late fee and interest fee, and set up the autopay again. This month the bill was paid on time, but I noticed a small amount of interest. So I questioned the Amex about this fee, and got the answer " ...a portion if your balance from the previous billing period was still subject to finance charges...' Didn't I paid off all the balance and FEEs last month? Where does this "a portion" of my balance which was paid off, and still get charged finance fee? Am I stupid to accept their logic?

  I got approve for $1,200! My CK score is 699 CK (Trans Union), but American Express doesn’t use Trans Union they use Experian and my Experian score is 731. If you want this card make sure you check your Experian score first.