What Is a Black Card?
You’re at a swanky restaurant when a dining companion produces a shiny black card and gives it to the server. Fellow diners “ooh” and “ahh” over this seemingly ordinary black credit card that’s now getting ample attention. What’s the big deal? It’s just a piece of plastic — or is it?
Clouded in secrecy, black cards are often talked about, even used in television and movies, but rarely seen in daily use. Black cards are rare due to their high spending requirements, and steep fees, that make them out of reach for a majority of the population.
So how does one obtain these shiny status symbols and are they really worth all the hype? Read on to decide for yourself if a black card is worth it.
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What is a black credit card?
A black card is one of the most exclusive credit cards that you can get. They’re visually impressive, since they’re typically made of metal, or they have a special coating that makes them stand out.
While the card itself may be a head-turner, the path to getting a card may make your jaw drop. Two of the three cards below are issued by invitation only. To receive an invitation you’ll need a relationship with the bank, plus an especially large savings account and lavish spending habits. These are not credit cards that are marketed to the average consumer.
Perhaps to add to the secrecy surrounding these tiny pieces of metal, exact details about the cards and their benefits aren’t readily available.
Black card annual fee
The annual fee for a black card varies, with some far surpassing the fees for high-end cards targeted at everyday consumers. Here’s how some black card annual fees compare.
- Centurion® Card from American Express: $5,000 annual fee
- J.P. Morgan Reserve Card: $550 ($75 for each additional user) annual fee
- Mastercard® Black Card™: $495 ($195 for each Authorized User added to the account) annual fee
In addition to an annual fee, the Centurion® Card from American Express has a one-time initiation fee of $10,000, so you’ll have to pay a total of $15,000 to open this card.
Black card spending requirements
There’s little publicly available information on how much you have to spend to receive an invite for the J.P. Morgan Reserve Card. Reports suggest that you need at least $10 million in assets under management with Chase to qualify for an invitation.
For the Centurion® Card from American Express, anecdotal evidence says you need to charge six-figures on your other American Express cards annually. Upwards of $350,000 is frequently reported as the minimum amount.
Black card credit limit
Since black cards require such high levels of spending they must have extremely high credit limits, right? Like many details with black cards, there’s not a clear cut answer.
- The Centurion® Card from American Express is a charge card with no set credit limit. Amex does have a Pay Over Time option, which allows you to make monthly payments on certain purchases.
- The credit limit for the J.P. Morgan Reserve Card is not disclosed publicly. It’s uncertain how much you can charge on it and what the payment terms are.
- The Mastercard® Black Card™ functions like a typical credit card. Cardholder credit lines vary based on creditworthiness. For balances not paid before the end of the grace period, a 20.74% to 28.74% APR applies.
Black card benefits
With such high annual fees one would expect amazing perks and it appears that these cards deliver, especially if you often travel internationally. In addition to getting a flashy card, which might net you extra perks just by using it, black card benefits may include:
- Reward points to redeem toward cash back, travel or statement credits
- Concierge services that will do almost anything from booking a table at an exclusive restaurant to ordering and shipping gifts. The service is complimentary but your card is charged for the costs incurred.
- Hotel statement credits at high-end hotels
- Airline fee credits which offset a portion of the annual fee
- Lounge access around the world at a wide selection of airports
- Hotel benefits which may include complimentary breakfasts, early check-in, late check-out and credits for dining or spa services
- Travel and purchase protections that provide reimbursement in events like missed flights, lost baggage or rental car accidents
This is not an exclusive list and each black card has benefits specific to the card.
Best black cards
Centurion® Card from American Express
As one of the most expensive cards to own, the Centurion® Card from American Express comes with a bounty of travel and hotel benefits that help make the $10,000 initiation fee and $5,000 annual fee worth it. For the best chance of getting an exclusive invitation, you should have at least one other American Express card on which you’re spending well over six figures per year. Being on a first-name basis with an Amex banker may also help.
The rewards rate is surprisingly low compared to lower-tier cards. You only earn 1 point per $1 spent on eligible purchases including dining, theater tickets, flights and hotels. These points can be redeemed for gift cards, travel bookings and to pay for eligible charges on your Centurion® Card from American Express.
The luxury dining, entertainment, travel and hotel perks are where this card shines. Cardholders have access to the Global Lounge Collection at more than 1,400 airports worldwide. They also enjoy exclusive benefits at luxury hotels and have access to a 24/7 dedicated concierge. Frequent travelers will get the most out of this card since most benefits center around travel.
Mastercard® Black Card™
Weighing in at 22 grams and made of black-PVD-coated stainless steel and carbon, the Mastercard® Black Card™ is a fancy-looking card that comes with airport lounge access, credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and an annual airline credit. A 24/7 concierge service can help with anything from booking travel plans to tracking down hard to find items.
Like the other black cards, the Mastercard® Black Card™ falls short in its earning rate considering its annual fee and the lack of transfer partners. You earn 2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 1.5% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent.
The good thing, for those who want to apply for a black card, is that you can do so without an invitation. Having both a great income and credit score likely boosts your approval odds.
J.P. Morgan Reserve Card
The J.P. Morgan Reserve Card (formerly the Chase Palladium Card) is an exclusive card offered to high-net worth Chase banking customers. The card itself is made of palladium, a rare chemical element that adds allure for wealthy individuals.
You will earn 3X points on travel worldwide immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Plus, 3X points per $1 spent at restaurants and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. Points can be redeemed through the Ultimate Reward website for travel or cash back. Although it’s a status symbol, many of its perks are similar to those of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Other benefits of the J.P. Morgan Reserve Card include Priority Pass lounge access, primary rental car insurance, flexible travel credit and 0% foreign transaction fee.
How do you qualify for a black card?
Given that two of the three most prominent black cards require invitations to apply, it’s likely that credit score has a lesser role in determining approval compared to a regular credit card.
Since American Express is both a credit card issuer and payment processor, if you’re a current customer of theirs, they have plenty of your data at hand. That data plus whatever internal criteria they have will determine if, and when, they send you an invitation. If you think you meet the known qualifications for the Centurion® Card from American Express, you can request consideration for an invitation at the Centurion website.
To get the J.P. Morgan Reserve Card you need to have millions of dollars in accounts with Chase, which also means Chase can check over your banking history before sending out a card invite.
With the Mastercard® Black Card™, an excellent credit score and high income are probably necessary for approval. You can get your free credit score and, if needed, work to improve your credit score before applying for this card.
What credit score is needed for a black card?
An excellent credit score can go a long way in getting a credit card. However, with an elite card that requires high spending and offers luxury perks, you’ll also need a high enough income to support such spending.
A solid net worth and a long-term banking relationship with the card issuer will likely do more for you than a perfect credit score.
Alternatives to a black card
While they may not have the allure of a black card, you can find plenty of luxury travel cards teeming with perks and benefits that are available to the average consumer. The following cards offer plush travel benefits, plus stronger rewards programs, and you don’t need an invitation to apply:
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a good starting point if you’re looking for an American Express card. You’ll get a welcome offer of earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. And elevated earnings on all spending. In addition to the high rewards rate, you’ll get annual travel credits, complimentary hotel elite status (enrollment required) and global airport lounge access including Centurion lounge access.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
While the annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is steep at $550, you’ll recoup much of that thanks to elevated points on flights, hotels and car rentals. It also includes a $300 annual travel credit that can wipe out some of the annual fee as long as you travel, since it applies to most travel purchases.
Travel will be more enjoyable with complimentary airport lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit, no foreign transaction fee and an annual travel credit. Plus you’ll receive a variety of purchase protections and insurance coverage.
Is a black card worth it?
A black card may be worth having if you have a business that requires high levels of spending, or if you have a large amount of assets. If either of these is true, and you want the benefits that come with a black card, you can seriously consider applying when you’re invited.
However, for the average consumer whose annual spending is under $100,000, a cash back credit card or rewards credit card is a better option. With some, you earn cash back on every purchase (with no annual fee), while others give you access to airline and hotel perks and points toward future travel.
*To see rates & fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
The information related to the Centurion® Card from American Express, J.P. Morgan Reserve Card, Mastercard® Black Card™, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
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