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. What’s the big deal? It’s just a piece of plastic — or is it?
Clouded in secrecy, black cards are often talked about but rarely seen in daily use. Their high spending requirements and steep fees 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.
A black card is one of the most exclusive credit cards that you can get. They often offer premium luxury perks and benefits, and their striking appearance — usually crafted from metal or featuring a unique coating — 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.
To get a black card, you’ll generally have to be a high-net-worth individual who spends significantly on your card — usually in the six-figure range. Given that two of the three most prominent black cards require invitations to apply, your credit score on its own may not be enough to qualify you for one.
Issuers generally don’t disclose how much you have to spend to receive an invite for a black card, but some users suggest that you need at least $10 million in assets managed by J.P. Morgan’s private bank to qualify for the J.P. Morgan Reserve Card. Users also report that you’ll need to charge six-figures on your other American Express cards annually to get an invite for the Centurion® Card from American Express. They frequently cite $350,000 as the minimum amount.
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 available. That data plus whatever internal criteria they have will determine if, and when, they send you an invitation.
While an invitation isn’t required for the Mastercard® Black Card™, an excellent credit score and high income are probably necessary for approval.
What credit score is needed for a black card? An excellent credit score can go a long way in getting a credit card. However, for an elite card that requires high spending and offers luxury perks, you’ll also need a very high income.
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.
If you don’t know your credit score you can check it for free with LendingTree Spring.
With such high annual fees ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, one would expect amazing perks and it appears that these cards deliver, especially if you often travel internationally. Black card benefits may include:
This is not an exclusive list and each black card has benefits specific to the card. While these are excellent benefits, many of these same benefits are available with less exclusive, lower-annual-fee travel cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve®, The Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates & fees) and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
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.
A black card may be worth it if you’re a high-net-worth individual who has the income to qualify and you strictly want the prestige of owning an exclusive card. But, they come with high price tags that may not make sense for the average consumer:
You can find cards that are open for anyone to apply that come with manageable fees and offer most of the same benefits as a black card. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express is similar to the Centurion® Card from American Express, but has a lower annual fee and doesn’t require an invitation to apply.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Rewards earned per $1 spent* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Centurion® Card from American Express*
|
$5,000 | 1X points
1 point per $1 spent on eligible purchases
| $0.020 | ||
J.P. Morgan Reserve Card*
|
N/A | $550 ($75 for each additional user) | 1X - 3X points
| $0.033 | |
Mastercard® Black Card™
|
$495 ($195 for each Authorized User added to the account) | 1.5% - 2%
| $0.020 | ||
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Learn More
Rates & Fees
|Terms Apply |
$695 | 5X points
| $0.023 |
Learn More
Rates & Fees
|Terms Apply |
|
Chase Sapphire Reserve®*
|
$795 | 1X - 8X points
| $0.033 | ||
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
|
$395 | 2X - 10X miles
| $0.043 |
The luxury travel perks are where this card shines. You’ll gain access to the world’s largest lounge network through The Global Lounge Collection, which is one of the best luxury travel perks available. You’ll also get exclusive benefits at luxury hotels and have access to a 24/7 dedicated concierge.
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.
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 Rewards 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®.
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. 1.5% Value for Cash Back Redemptions. Terms and Conditions Apply.
The card also has one of the best earning rates on eligible travel purchases and a welcome offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are extremely flexible and valuable and can be transferred to Chase’s 10+ airline and hotel programs.
The card also has an excellent rewards rate on travel and everyday purchases and the chance to earn a huge sign up bonus. Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the Centurion® Card from American Express, J.P. Morgan Reserve Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
