American Express boosts Gold card sign-up bonus to 30,000 points

American Express has increased the welcome offer on its Preferred Rewards Gold card from 20,000 to 30,000 Membership Rewards points, plus a Selfridges eGift card. New cardholders need to spend £3,000 within three months of approval to qualify, and the promotion is due to run until 12 January 2027.

The bonus is triggered by £3,000 of spending made within three months of the application being accepted, not from the date the card is delivered or activated. The card has no annual fee in the first year, after which the stated fee is £195. Membership Rewards points can be transferred to Avios on a one-to-one basis, with other transfer partners also available.

Eligibility is affected by recent personal-card history: anyone who has held a personal American Express card in the past 24 months is not eligible for the welcome offer, though they can still apply. Holding a corporate or business card through an employer, or being a supplementary cardholder on someone else’s account, does not automatically rule out eligibility. The eGift card is sent by email and may arrive up to eight weeks after the three-month spending window ends.

Why it matters

The first-year fee waiver makes the card cheaper to try, but the £3,000 spending requirement means the bonus is only worth pursuing for those who can reach the threshold. Recent Amex cardholders may still be able to enjoy the card’s benefits, even if they do not qualify for the sign-up reward.