I’ve had the American Express® Gold Card in my wallet for a while, mainly because it’s my go-to for earning 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 annually, then 1x) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 annually, then 1x).
That alone has made it worth keeping for years. But in July 2024, when Amex increased the annual fee to $325 (rates & fees), I began questioning whether keeping the card made sense.
I already carry other rewards credit cards without such a high annual fee, though the earning rates aren’t as high in the dining and U.S. supermarket categories. I seriously considered canceling my Amex Gold card before my anniversary date last month.
But before doing anything drastic, I contacted Amex to see if they’d be willing to offer me a retention bonus to stick around. Here’s how it went.
