Centurion Card

Front side of a card.
Hong Kong Centurion Invitation Kit

The American Express Centurion Card, known informally as the Amex Black Card, is an invitation-only charge card issued by American Express[1] to platinum card holders after they meet certain criteria. There are three different issues of the Centurion Card: personal, business, and corporate.[2]

History

In 1999 American Express introduced the Centurion Card to cater to the very wealthy. The card was initially available only to selected users of the company's Platinum Card. To become a Centurion cardholder, one must meet American Express eligibility criteria. Cardholders are required to pay an annual fee, and in some countries also an initiation fee. (In the United States, the initiation fee is $7,500 in addition to the $2,500 annual fee from each cardholder).[3] In addition to a variety of benefits, the card itself is made of anodized titanium[3] with the information and numbers laser etched into the metal. (It should be noted that in some markets the plastic version of the card is still issued, with or without the titanium card.) The plastic card and 2014 and earlier Centurion cards include embossed information on the card. The Centurion 2015 Card introduced laser etching. In some locations, such as Israel, EMV "chip" plastic cards which also include the ExpressPay contactless payment technology are issued. American Express created the card line amid rumors and urban legends in the 1980s that it produced an ultra-exclusive black card for elite users who could purchase anything with it.[4]

Jerry Seinfeld claimed in a 2018 episode of his web show "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" (with guest John Mulaney) that American Express began issuing the Black Card after Seinfeld asked the Amex president about it, and that Seinfeld (who was their ad pitchman) was given the first one. [5]

Features

Availability and fees

The Centurion Card is invitation-only after appropriate net worth with American Express, credit, and spending criteria are met.[3] American Express does not publicly disclose the requirements necessary for getting or keeping a card, except that the cardholder needs to have a substantial net worth, as well as having been a Platinum card holder.[3]

While the eligibility criteria are subject to speculation, most reliable sources agree that Centurion Card holders have historically spent US$250,000 or more per year on lower-level American Express cards, and have annual household incomes of around US$1.3 million and net worths of at least US$16 million.[6]

Centurion Card annual fees
CountryAnnual fee/limit
United States US$2,500 (US$2,500 for each additional card member) plus one-time joining fee of US$500[7]
United Kingdom £2,200 (US$2,821) (unlimited) plus one-time joining fee of £2,500
Canada C$2,500 (US$1,923) plus one-time fee of C$5,000 (US$3,846)
India ₹200,000 (US$3,071) plus one time fees of ₹250,000 (US$3,839)
France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands €3,000 (US$3,382) plus one time fee €3,000 (Italy)
Germany, Austria €5,000 (US$5,637) plus one-time fee of €4,000 (US$4,510)
Switzerland CHF 4,200 (US$4,286) (unlimited)
Australia A$5,000 (US$3,846) (increased from A$4,300 (US$3,308), effective 11 July 2012) plus one-time fee of A$5,000 (US$3,846), effective 11 July 2012
Japan ¥365,000 (US$3,254) (increased from ¥197,000 (US$1,756), effective 1 January 2008)
Hong Kong HK$38,800 (US$4,999) plus one time fee of 4999 (increase from HK$19,800 (US$2,551), effective 30 May 2013)
China (People's Republic of China) CN¥ 18,000 (US$2,663) issued by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) pursuant to a license from American Express.
CN¥ 36,000 (US$5,325) issued by China Minsheng Bank (CMBC) and China Merchants Bank (CMB) pursuant to a license from American Express. [8]
Singapore S$7,490 (US$5,428) (unlimited) plus one-time joining fee of S$7,490 (US$5,428)
Kuwait US$4,000 for Titanium-based Centurion. Issued by American Express Middle East (Bahrain) (Same applies for Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar)
Mexico Mex$56,000 (US$2,958)
Brazil R$4,250 (US$1,332)
Argentina AR$20,000 (US$1,208)
Saudi Arabia ر.س 11,250 (US$3,000) (unlimited)
International Dollar Currency Card (IDC) US$4,000 plus one-time fee of US$4,000
International Euro Currency Card (IEC) €4,000 (US$4,510) plus one-time fee of €4,000 (US$4,510)
Israel US$2,043 (~₪8,000), where payments can be made either in ILS or in US$.
Russia ₽150,000 (US$2,571)
Taiwan NT$160,000 (US$4,839) plus one-time fee of NT$160,000 (US$4,839) Note: minimum annual income (NT$3,500,000)[9]
Lebanon ل.ل 3,000 (US$3,000)
United Arab Emirates DH 11,000 (US$3,000)
Sweden kr 30,000 (US$3,509) plus one-time fee of (US$3,509)[10]

Benefits

The card, available for personal and business use, offers services such as a dedicated concierge and travel agent; complimentary companion airline tickets on international flights on selected airlines with the purchase of a full-fare ticket; personal shoppers at retailers such as Dot & Vic's Rathon Station, Gucci, Escada, and Saks Fifth Avenue; access to airport clubs; first-class flight upgrades; membership in Sony's Cierge personal shopping program and dozens of other elite club memberships.[3]

Hotel benefits include one free night, when at least one paid night is booked during the same stay, in every Mandarin Oriental hotel worldwide once a year[3] (except for the New York City property),[11] and privileges at hotel chains like Ritz-Carlton, Leading Hotels of the World, and Amanresorts. All of the benefits mentioned above are for United States-issued cards. American Express Centurion Cards issued in other countries may include different benefits. The card has amenities, including Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion status.

The card also features complimentary enrollment in Easirent Car Hire Platinum Service and the Avis Rent a Car President's Club.[12]

Initially it came with an extensive travel insurance all year round no matter how the trip was paid for but since 2012 this insurance is limited to trips which are paid with the card only. (In Australia, the insurance covers all trips, even if paid with another method or frequent flyer miles).

The titanium-crafted Centurion card was first issued as an upgrade for all plastic US Centurion cards in the first half of 2006, with the titanium version being rolled out to certain other countries as well.

Some Centurion customers have purchased automobiles using the card or made purchases exceeding €1 million (US$1.36 million). The card has no preset limit in theory. In practice the authorization is decided upon past payment and spending patterns; the largest purchase ever made on one was US$170 million for Amedeo Modigliani's "Nu couché" painting purchased at a Christie's auction house by Liu Yiqian.[13] It was suggested that the reason for funding the purchase through the credit card was to circumvent Chinese money laws that restrict the transfer of money by citizens out of the country to just $50,000.[14]

The benefits offered to Centurion cardmembers are vast, but they appear to be based on the benefits offered to American Express Platinum cardholders, but with many enhancements.[15]

Centurion Card members, like Platinum Card members, get complimentary access to the American Express Centurion Lounges at several US airports. They also get unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges around the world.[16] However, at busy times, Centurion members have access to areas reserved for them. There are also drink options at the bar that are exclusive to Centurion members. As of 2015, they have a Champagne option of Veuve Clicquot and a single malt scotch by Balvenie.[17]

Former benefits

Several original Centurion program benefits have been discontinued, including:

Publications

Black Ink
Categories Luxury magazine
Frequency Seasonal
Publisher American Express
Year founded 2004

Since the inception of the card, members have received a copy of Departures, which is also sent to all Platinum Card cardholders. In 2004, American Express Centurion members in the US began receiving an exclusive "no name" magazine, which was not available by any other means. Starting with the Spring 2007 edition, this magazine was officially titled Black Ink. The magazine is available only to individual Centurion cardholders, not to the business-edition customers.

European, Asian, and Australian Centurion members receive quarterly the Centurion magazine published by Journal International GmbH (Munich, Germany).[19] In June 2011, the Centurion magazine website was launched, offering daily updates for Centurion Card members. According to Journal International, the average age of a Centurion reader from Europe or the Middle East is 49 years. Centurion has been published since 2001 and has a circulation in Europe and the Middle East of 44,100, in Asia of 13,900, and in Australia of 6,000.[2]

Elite cards

The Centurion Card is part of an elite credit card segment created for a very small and exclusive range of clients around the world.[3] Other such cards include:

AmEx Black Card vs. Black Card

Black Card LLC successfully registered "Black Card" as a U.S. trademark in 2009. However, American Express contended its Centurion Card was widely known as "the Black Card" before the launch of the Black Card (then Visa card), despite never seeking to trademark that name itself. American Express filed suit against Black Card LLC in February 2010, claiming that the trademark was obtained improperly and sought injunctive relief.[20] This suit was concluded in November 2011, with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruling that Black Card, LLC's trademark of the name "Black Card" should be canceled on grounds that it was merely descriptive.[21] (See also American Express Marketing and Development Corp, et al. v. Black Card, LLC, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 133151 (S.D.N.Y. November 17, 2011.)

Today, Black Card LLC uses the registered trademark under license as a MasterCard issued by Barclays Bank Delaware.[22] It has similar features, such as the members-only Luxury Magazine in print and digital form.[22][23]

References

  1. ↑ Sullivan, Paul, "American Express’s New Service for Its Wealthiest Cardholders", The New York Times, January 24, 2011
  2. 1 2 pe.pdf American Express Centurion/Departures - Media Kit, Europe & Middle East 2010
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Chevalier, Michel (2012). Luxury Brand Management. Singapore: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-17176-9.
  4. ↑ "Black American Express Card". Snopes.com. December 6, 2006. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Is Jerry Seinfeld the Reason That the Amex Black Card Exists?". July 11, 2018.
  6. ↑ Frankel, Matthew (24 August 2014). "Is The American Express Black Card Really Worth It? The Centurion card, or 'black card', is the most exclusive credit card in the world, but is it worth the high cost?". The Motley Fool. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "Cardmember Agreement" (PDF). American Express. 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  8. ↑ "Minsheng to offer new Amex cards|Business|chinadaily.com.cn". usa.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
  9. ↑ Taiwan TV news 2015-11-24 on department clerk leaking client's card on FaceBook
  10. ↑ "Medlemsvillkor för American Express® - Kort" (PDF). 2017-06-26. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  11. ↑ American Express page about hotel benefits Archived July 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ Official American Express Centurion Card Interactive Tour
  13. ↑ "Family will fly free for life after $170m purchase on American Express black card". Mercury News. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  14. ↑ Thestar.com
  15. ↑ The Ultimate Guide To The American Express Centurion Card
  16. ↑ American Express Centurion Card Benefits
  17. ↑ American Express Black Card: What Is This Secret Card?
  18. ↑ Scott McCartney, "The Airport Lounge Arms Race," Wall Street Journal, March 5, 2014.
  19. ↑ "About Us". Centurion. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  20. ↑ American ExpressCard LLC - Complaint and Jury Demand, February 20, 2010; retrieved from Scribd, July 2, 2010
  21. ↑ AMEX Wins Cancellation of BLACKCARD Trademark Registration, Ryan Gile, November 22, 2011
  22. ↑ "Luxury Card Benefits". LuxuryCard.com.
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