Building the American Express® U.S. Consumer Gold Card for Today’s Diners and Travelers

American Express recently announced the latest refresh of the U.S. Consumer Gold Card, featuring a new $100 Resy Credit and $84 Dunkin^’® Credit, updated $120 Dining Credit and an expanded number of properties that Card Members can choose from when using the Card to book stays through The Hotel Collection. The launch also includes a new White Gold Card design available for a limited time while supplies last.

While this marks the first time the U.S. Consumer American Express Gold Card has been refreshed since 2018, the Card itself has been in-market for over 55 years and has experienced decades of innovation and evolution that has led it to become a coveted Card among Millennials and Gen Z.

Read more about the history of the Gold Card in the timeline below.

1966: The American Express Bank Credit Card debuts, offering all the benefits of the company’s existing Card, which was originally purple (later redesigned to the Green Card), with the addition of a $2,000 minimum line of Executive Credit with the customer’s bank¹.

1968: The American Express Bank Credit Card was well received among U.S. banks who could offer their customers a convenient line of credit through this product. We rebranded it the Executive Credit Card and changed the color to gold to reflect the high minimum credit available².

1980s: Amex introduces several new benefits and services, helping to raise the bar for premium Card products, including toll-free 24-hour customer service in 1982³ and access to Gold Card events in 1989⁴.

2002: Card Members with the Rewards Gold Card could earn 2X Membership Rewards points for purchases at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets⁵.

2009: Premier Rewards Gold Card Members could earn 3X Membership Rewards points on flights purchased directly from airlines and 2X Membership Rewards points for purchases at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets⁶.

2015: Amex enhances the Gold Card to offer Card Members 2X Membership Rewards points for purchases at U.S. restaurants, a $100 airline fee credit for incidental charges such as baggage fees, and personalized travel service. In addition, Amex introduced a no foreign transaction fee benefit.

2018: Amex rebrands the Premier Rewards Gold Card to the American Express Gold Card. New changes include more points on dining including 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. restaurants and supermarkets and a new $120 dining credit. Amex also introduces the limited-edition U.S. Consumer Gold Card in a special metal Rose Gold Card design.

2019: Gold Card Members could unlock even more value using the Card by receiving 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide.

2021: The metal Rose Gold Card design becomes an official color option for the U.S. Consumer American Express Gold Card, after it saw popular demand from its limited releases in 2018 and 2019. The company also announces a new $120 Uber Cash Benefit to the Card.

2024: U.S. Consumer Gold Card Members can now enjoy new dining credits for spending at U.S. Resy restaurants and Dunkin’®, an updated dining bundle and an expanded number of properties that Card Members can choose from when using the Card to book stays through The Hotel Collection. The Card is also available in a new White Gold Card design available for a limited time while supplies last. To read more about the recent refresh of the U.S. Consumer Gold Card, visit here.

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¹American Express press release, 1966

²American Express Executive Credit Card ad, 1968; American Express presentation booklet for prospective banks, 1969

³Gold Card Member Newsletter, 1982

⁴American Express Annual Report, 1989

⁵American Express press release, 2002

⁶American Express press release, 2009