American Express Black Card known as the Centurion Card

Black Card

If you have never heard of the American Express black card or the Centurion card as it is often called maybe it is because this card is exclusively for those who meet the strictest of standards set by American Express. This is an exclusive credit card for those who have an income and credit rating unlike most of the country.

When certain criteria are met an invitation from American Express will be sent along for the Centurion credit card. The requirements are quite different from the other credit cards you may have had in the past. This credit card charges $2500 for their annual fee and there is another fee that must be paid which is an initiation fee of $5000 for the first year.

The black credit card started from a legend which states that American Express issued the black credit card to its cardholders; most of them are celebrities and well-off personalities, allowing them to avail high class products and services from high class establishments.  The fact behind this rumor was the information card issued by the American Express to cardholders containing important American Express Travel numbers and hotel assistant services numbers.

It was also rumored that the black credit card enables the cardholder to buy anything in any establishments or avail of any luxurious services.  Since it was just a mystery, the card never really existed and nobody ever really had it.

In the year 1999, when the rumor was so controversial, American Express grabbed it and used it in the creation and development of a new card.  In addition to their credit cards, they made such card with the exclusive features of high end privileges and benefits like no other cards available worldwide.  The card was known as Centurion Card and it was only offered to Platinum cardholders who met the strictest criteria.

American Express sends invitations to qualified cardholders.  Once the cardholder is qualified to have met the criteria, he will then be invited to avail the Centurion card.  For cardholders located in different countries, they can also be qualified as applicants by the American Express through sending the invitation.  The Platinum card will serve as the exclusive “invitation only” Centurion Card that is electronically linked to the American Express.

When the Centurion card was first issued it had an annual fee of $1000 but it was soon raised to the fee charged now of $2500. The first person deemed worthy of having one of these credit cards was comedian, Jerry Seinfeld. Part of the reason for this may have been because he was a spokesperson for American Express.

Centurion Card became famous around the business industry because of the urban legends in circulation.  The rumors about the black credit card continue to circulate to all people concerned.  Although the rumor was not true, new rumors and tales would still come up.  This will make the Centurion Card more controversial and the promotion would generate more applicants as well.