American Express Green Card: 10,000 Bonus Points (No-Annual-Fee)
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Check out American Express Canada‘s no annual fee credit card that is part of the Membership Rewards program: the American Express® Green Card.
American Express® Green Card
Looking for a no-annual-fee credit card that earns travel points? Here’s an option for you: the American Express® Green Card.
When you sign up for the American Express® Green Card, you could earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards points after $1,000 in purchases in three months. That’s a $100 value toward travel or any purchase charged to the Card.
You can also transfer your points to airline partners (Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Flying Blue, etc.) and hotel partners (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors).
For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you could choose to get:
- 10,000 Aeroplan points
- 10,000 Avios points
- 10,000 Flying Blue Miles
- 12,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
That’s a very nice welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee credit card.
With this no-annual-fee credit card, you’ll also have access to online promotional offers that let you earn points or get discounts on your purchases.
Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is required.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$170Total$170Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $170
- Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 3 months
- 10,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Here are the different features of this credit card.
Welcome Bonus Offer: 10,000 Membership Rewards points
By signing up for the American Express® Green Card, you could earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards points after $1,000 in purchases in three months.
These Membership Rewards points are identical to those on the American Express Cobalt® Card and the American Express Business Edge™ Card.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $191.88 | |||
| $0 |
This means that you will be able to transfer those points to hotel partners like Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. But also to airline programs like Aeroplan or British Airways Executive Club (Avios).
American Express is banking on the flexibility of Membership Rewards points earned with this American Express® Green Card:
| Redemption | Value |
|---|---|
| Statement credit for travel purchases | 1,000 points = $10 |
| Statement credit for all other purchases | 1,000 points = $10 |
| Eligible purchases on Amazon.ca | 1,000 points = $7 |
In our opinion, the best uses of these American Express Membership Rewards points remain:
- Amex Fixed Points Travel reward chart for flights (up to 2 cents per point)
- Points transfer to Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy
- Points transfer to Aeroplan or Avios
For example, if you spend $1,000 in three months, you will earn:
- 1,000 points for your expenses
- 10,000 welcome bonus points
You can convert these 11,000 Membership Rewards points into 11,000 Aeroplan points or 13,200 Marriott Bonvoy points.
This can top up a Marriott Bonvoy points balance you would have earned with the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card or the American Express Cobalt® Card!
Membership Rewards Points earning
With the American Express® Green Card, you can earn 1 point for every $1 in purchases. It’s on par with no annual fee credit cards.
If you want to collect more points, you’ll need to turn to the American Express Cobalt® Card, with which you can collect:
- 5 points for every $1 in Card purchases at grocery stores, food delivery services, restaurants and bars and convenience stores
- 2 points for every $1 spent on travel, transit and gas
- 1 point for every $1 in Card purchases on everything else
The American Express Cobalt® Card has a monthly fee of $12.99, which is more than made up for by far greater points accumulation, a higher welcome bonus, as numerous insurances.
Bottom Line
The American Express® Green Card is a great option to experience the American Express Membership Rewards program without paying an annual fee.
With this no-fee Credit Card, you will also have access to online promotional offers to get points or rebates on your purchases.
And it will be a way to keep select Membership Rewards points you might have accumulated on annual fee cards like the American Express Cobalt® Card or the American Express Business Edge™ Card, should you ever decide to part with them!
Or a great way to top up your Marriott Bonvoy points balance and get free hotel nights!
- Annual fee
- $0
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$170Total$170Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $170
- Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 3 months
- 10,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the American Express Green Card have an annual fee?
The American Express® Green Card has no annual fee.
How many points do I get with the American Express Green Card?
When you sign up for the American Express® Green Card, you can earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards points by charging $1,000 in purchases to your Card within the first three months.
You also earn 1 point for every $1 spent in Card purchases.
How do I use my American Express Green Card points?
You can use points earned with the American Express® Green Card in many ways:
- Statement credit for travel purchases
- Statement credit for all other purchases
- Eligible purchases on Amazon.ca
- Transfer points to Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs
- Redeem points for flights with the American Express Travel agency
Read our guide about the American Express Membership Rewards Program.
How do I combine American Express Green Card points with other Cards?
Contact American Express and ask to combine the points into one account.
What is the welcome bonus for the American Express® Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card offers a welcome bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $1,000 in net purchases on your card during the first 3 months of cardmembership. That is enough for roughly $100 in travel value when redeemed at $10 per 1,000 points, or it can be transferred to Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club or Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio. With no annual fee, this no-cost welcome bonus makes the Green Card an appealing entry into the Membership Rewards ecosystem for newcomers to American Express.
What are the earning rates on the American Express® Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card earns 1 Membership Rewards point per $1 spent on all eligible purchases, with no category bonuses or earning caps. While the flat rate is modest, the real value comes from the flexibility of the Membership Rewards program: 1,000 points equal $10 toward travel or general purchases, $7 against Amazon.ca purchases, or 1,000 partner miles when transferred to Aeroplan, British Airways or Marriott Bonvoy. Pairing the Green Card with a higher-earning Amex card lets you pool points and unlock significantly more travel value.
Is there a minimum income requirement for the American Express® Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card has no minimum personal income requirement, which makes it accessible to a wide range of applicants including students, young professionals and newcomers to Canada. American Express still reviews your overall credit profile, including your credit score and credit history, before approving your application. Because the card has no annual fee and earns transferable Membership Rewards points, it is a popular first Amex for Canadians who want to start building points balances without committing to the higher fees of cards like the Cobalt or Gold Rewards.
Where is the American Express® Green Card accepted in Canada?
The American Express® Green Card is accepted at retailers that take any American Express card, including major chains like IGA, Sobeys, Metro, Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, Longo’s, Farm Boy, FreshCo, Adonis, Pharmaprix and most restaurants. It is not accepted at Costco warehouses (which only take Mastercard) and at some independent boutiques and corner stores. American Express estimates its Canadian acceptance rate at over 90%. To cover the gap, most cardholders pair the Green Card with a no-fee Mastercard or Visa as a backup for the few merchants that decline Amex.
For your next Hilton stay, see the Hilton Honors American Express® Card available in Canada and the terms of its current offer.