Ben Luthi is a freelance personal finance and travel writer. He started earning credit card rewards in 2013 and leveraged his passion into a writing career. He's contributed to dozens of other publications and companies in the financial and travel sp.
Ben Luthi ContributorBen Luthi is a freelance personal finance and travel writer. He started earning credit card rewards in 2013 and leveraged his passion into a writing career. He's contributed to dozens of other publications and companies in the financial and travel sp.
Written By Ben Luthi ContributorBen Luthi is a freelance personal finance and travel writer. He started earning credit card rewards in 2013 and leveraged his passion into a writing career. He's contributed to dozens of other publications and companies in the financial and travel sp.
Ben Luthi ContributorBen Luthi is a freelance personal finance and travel writer. He started earning credit card rewards in 2013 and leveraged his passion into a writing career. He's contributed to dozens of other publications and companies in the financial and travel sp.
Contributor Dylan Pearl Credit Cards EditorOver a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.
Dylan Pearl Credit Cards EditorOver a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.
Dylan Pearl Credit Cards EditorOver a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.
Dylan Pearl Credit Cards EditorOver a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.
| Credit Cards Editor
Updated: Apr 25, 2023, 8:16pm
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Credit limits determine how much you can spend on a credit card. Card issuers may increase your credit limit automatically, but you can often request an increase directly from the issuer. High credit limits can help you make larger purchases and keep your overall credit utilization rate low, which can have a positive effect on your credit score.
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Increasing the credit limit on an American Express credit card is relatively simple if your account is in good standing. That means the cardholder has steady employment or income, an on-time payment history and a good credit score. The length of time you’ve held a particular card can also impact your ability to request a credit limit increase.
Yes, some card issuers—including American Express—may increase a cardholder’s credit limit automatically if cardholders:
Card issuers use various information, including credit history and income, to determine whether cardholders are eligible for an automatic increase. Keeping your income updated on your account may improve your odds.
American Express will review your account as often as every six to 12 months for an automatic credit limit adjustment. However, that doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed an increase with responsible card use.
Also, note that you can only request a credit line increase once every six months for each American Express card you have.
Your account must be open for a certain period of time—some reports say at least 60 days—to request an increase. Then, you can follow these steps:
If you don’t have the option to request a credit limit increase online or you prefer to speak to a representative, you can call the number on the back of your card and make the request over the phone.
Remember to keep the increase request reasonable––10% to 25% more than your current limit. If your limit is $1,000, asking for an increase to $10,000 may or may not be approved or may result in only a portion of the requested increase being approved.
Request for a credit limit increase denied? There are a few reasons this might be the case.
American Express might deny a second request if you’ve requested an increase recently. Try again after more time has passed. Other reasons for denial could be a consistently high card balance, frequent late payments or a low credit score.
Don’t stress if the request is denied. Ask American Express representatives if they can provide a reason, and then work on improving the appearance of your perceived weak area over the next six months. Pay down any balance, pay bills on time and report income increases to American Express when they happen.
Another option is to apply for a new credit card with American Express or a different card issuer. However, while American Express does not perform a hard credit inquiry for an existing customer’s credit limit increase request, American Express and other issuers may perform a hard credit inquiry before approving individuals for a new card.
Requesting a credit limit increase is pretty straightforward, but remember to be realistic when requesting an increase from the card issuer. Simply waiting for an increase is an option because many card issuers, including American Express, will reward responsible cardholders with automatic increases. Limit increases could lead to higher credit scores and more spending capabilities. Make sure to maintain responsible spending habits and keep making on-time payments to boost your credit score.
