How to Cancel Your American Express Card in 2026 (Without Losing Points)

Updated March 3, 2026 • 8 min read

Before You Cancel: The Downgrade Strategy

In about 90% of cases, downgrading your Amex card is smarter than canceling it. Here's why:

• Credit score protection: Closing your oldest card shortens your credit history and reduces available credit
• Keep your points: Membership Rewards points survive if you still have at least one MR-earning card
• $0 annual fee: Downgrade a Gold ($250/yr) or Platinum ($695/yr) to the no-fee Amex Green or EveryDay card
• Same card age: Your account history stays intact for credit scoring purposes

How to Cancel (If You're Sure)

Method 1: Phone (Recommended)

1. Call 1-800-528-4800
2. Say "cancel card" to the automated system
3. You'll be transferred to a retention specialist
4. Be firm — they'll offer retention bonuses, points multipliers, and fee waivers
5. Confirm the cancellation and request written confirmation

Method 2: Chat

1. Open the Amex app or go to americanexpress.com
2. Open the chat feature
3. Select "Account Services" → "Cancel Card"
4. Less retention pressure than phone, but may take longer

What Amex Retention Will Offer You

Amex has one of the most aggressive retention departments in the industry. Expect:

• Statement credits: $100-300 to offset the annual fee
• Bonus points: 10,000-50,000 Membership Rewards for continued spend
• Reduced annual fee: Sometimes 50-75% off for one year
• Upgrade offers: Move to a different card with a sign-up bonus

Tip: If the retention offer covers the annual fee, take it. A $695 Platinum card with a $500 retention credit is effectively a $195 card — often worth keeping.

Protect Your Membership Rewards Points

This is the #1 mistake people make when canceling Amex:

Before canceling:

1. Transfer points to partners: Move MR points to airlines (Delta, JetBlue, British Airways) or hotels (Hilton, Marriott) before closing
2. Open another MR card first: If you want to keep earning, open a no-fee MR card before canceling the premium one
3. Use points for statement credits: Redeem at the Pay With Points rate (worst value, but better than losing them)

Credit Score Impact

Canceling any credit card affects your score through two factors:

• Credit utilization: If you carry balances on other cards, losing the Amex credit line raises your utilization ratio
• Average account age: If the Amex is your oldest card, closing it eventually shortens your history (though it stays on your report for 10 years)

Typical impact: 10-40 point drop, recovering over 3-6 months. If your utilization stays under 30% and you have other old accounts, the impact is minimal.

The Amex "Popup Jail" Warning

Canceling Amex cards — especially shortly after earning a welcome bonus — can put you in "popup jail." This means Amex blocks you from getting new card welcome bonuses in the future with a popup that says "you may not be eligible for the welcome offer."

How to avoid it:

• Keep cards for at least 12 months after earning the bonus
• Downgrade instead of canceling when possible
• Maintain some Amex spending even if small

Annual Fee Calendar for Popular Amex Cards

• Platinum: $695/year — hotel/airline credits offset to ~$395 effective
• Gold: $250/year — dining/Uber credits offset to ~$10 effective
• Green: $150/year — limited credits, hardest to justify
• Blue Cash Preferred: $95/year — 6% grocery up to $6K/yr
• EveryDay: $0/year — keep-open card for MR preservation

After Cancellation

• Pay any remaining balance in full
• Update any autopay services linked to the card
• Confirm cancellation in writing (save the email/letter)
• Check your credit report after 30 days to verify it shows "closed by consumer"
• Destroy the physical card