American Express Launches Massive Welcome Bonuses for Business

American Express has dramatically enhanced their welcome bonuses on their business card lineup, introducing something we rarely see in the UK - retention bonuses for keeping your card into the second year.

As someone who carries both these cards in my wallet, I'm genuinely excited about these offers. They represent some of the most generous point opportunities we've seen from Amex in the UK market, especially for business owners looking to maximise their rewards.

The New Enhanced Offers in Detail

American Express Business Gold Card

• Initial bonus: 45,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend £6,000 in the first three months (up from the standard 22,000 points)

• NEW retention bonus: Additional 20,000 points when you make any purchase between months 14-17 of cardmembership

• Total potential bonus: 65,000 Membership Rewards points

• Annual fee: £195 (£0 in first year)

• Offer ends: 8th April 2025

• You must apply through a referral link to get this offer

American Express Business Platinum Card

• Initial bonus: 85,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend £12,000 in the first three months (up from the standard 55,000 points)

• NEW retention bonus: Additional 40,000 points when you make any purchase between months 14-17 of cardmembership

• Total potential bonus: 125,000 Membership Rewards points

• Annual fee: £650

• Offer ends: 8th April 2025

• You must apply through a referral link to get this offer

Don’t forget that you can receive the welcome bonus for both cards. American Express recently relaxed their rules around this (previously you’d get one or the other, similar to the personal gold/platinum).

Why This Is Significant

What makes these offers particularly interesting is the second-year retention bonus, which is relatively rare in the UK credit card market. American Express is clearly incentivising cardholders to keep their accounts open beyond the first year, which could signal a shift in their acquisition strategy.

For business owners, these offers represent exceptional value, especially when you factor in the additional benefits that come with these cards:

Business Gold Card Benefits:

• 10,000 bonus points when you spend £20,000 per quarter

• Up to 54 days of deferred payment on purchases

• Travel accident insurance up to £250,000

• Purchase protection and refund protection

Business Platinum Card Benefits:

• Monthly bonus of 10,000 points when you spend £10,000

• Access to 1,200+ airport lounges worldwide

• £200 annual travel credit

• Comprehensive travel insurance

• Complimentary Times and Sunday Times digital subscription

Is It Worth It? My Personal Take

As a current holder of both these cards, I've found significant value in the Amex Business lineup. The Platinum in particular has been worthwhile for me despite its higher fee, primarily due to the lounge access and travel insurance benefits that I use frequently when travelling for business.

The Business Gold offers excellent value in the first year with the waived annual fee, making it essentially a no-brainer if you can meet the minimum spend. When the £195 fee kicks in for year two, the 20,000 point retention bonus effectively offsets it (as Membership Rewards points are typically valued around 1p each).

The Platinum's £650 fee is substantial, but the 40,000 point retention bonus alongside the ongoing benefits can make it worthwhile if you'll use the travel perks and can hit the monthly spending bonuses.

Maximising These Offers

If you're considering applying, here are some tips to make the most of these enhanced offers:

1. Plan your timing: Make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spend requirements within the first three months.

2. Calendar the retention bonus: Set a reminder for 14 months after approval to ensure you don't miss the window for the second-year bonus.

3. Combine with referrals: Once approved, you can earn additional points by referring others (9,000 points per referral for Gold and 18,000 for Platinum on average).

4. Utilise our Avios Balance Booster Calculator if you're planning to convert these points to Avios, to ensure you're getting the best value.

5. Consider your business spending patterns: The quarterly bonus on the Gold and monthly bonus on the Platinum can significantly increase your points earning if your business spending aligns with these thresholds.

Final Thoughts

These enhanced offers represent some of the best value propositions we've seen from American Express in recent years. The addition of retention bonuses is particularly innovative for the UK market and suggests Amex is focusing on long-term customer value rather than just acquisition.

For business owners who can comfortably meet the spending requirements, these offers provide an excellent opportunity to earn a substantial number of flexible Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners or used for statement credits.

As always with premium cards, the value proposition depends on your personal circumstances and spending patterns. But if you've been considering an American Express Business card, now is certainly an opportune time to apply with these enhanced limited-time offers.

These offers are valid until 8th April 2025. Terms and conditions apply.

Have you taken advantage of these enhanced Amex offers? How do you plan to use your Membership Rewards points? Let us know in the comments or share your experiences with us on Instagram.