The amex green card is now known as the American Express® Classic Green Card, and as of the latest update, it is no longer available to new applicants. Existing cardholders can continue using the card and receiving its eligible benefits, while some American Express customers may still have the option to switch to the Classic Green Card from another eligible Amex product.
The change is important for consumers searching for the Amex Green Card because older articles and comparison pages may still describe it as an actively available credit card application. The product itself has not simply disappeared for existing cardholders, but its availability to new applicants has changed.
What happened to the Amex Green Card?
American Express changed the product’s name to the American Express Classic Green Card in 2026. The card subsequently became unavailable to new applicants on July 23, 2026.
That means consumers who search for the traditional Amex Green Card should be careful when reading older reviews. Many older pages still describe the card as though a new customer can submit an application and receive a welcome offer. That information is no longer current.
The card remains relevant to existing cardmembers. American Express continues to list benefits for the Classic Green Card, including Membership Rewards earning, the CLEAR+ statement credit, travel protections and no foreign transaction fees.
The change also does not mean that all existing Green Card accounts have been terminated. Existing cardholders can continue to use their accounts under the applicable terms and conditions.
What is the American Express Classic Green Card?
The Classic Green Card is the current name associated with the consumer Green Card product in the United States.
It is a Membership Rewards card designed around three broad spending categories: travel, transit and restaurants. Those categories make it particularly relevant to people who frequently travel, use public transportation or rideshare services, and spend money at restaurants.
The card also carries a $150 annual fee.
Unlike a no-annual-fee rewards card, the Classic Green Card is designed around benefits and rewards that can potentially offset some or all of that annual cost for people who regularly use its features.
One of its most significant current benefits is the annual CLEAR+ statement credit.
Amex Green Card rewards and points
The Classic Green Card earns Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases.
Current earning rates include:
- 3X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide
- 3X Membership Rewards points on eligible travel
- 3X Membership Rewards points on eligible transit
- 1X Membership Rewards point on other eligible purchases
The travel category covers a broad range of purchases rather than being limited to a single airline or hotel company. Transit spending can also include several forms of transportation.
That broad structure is one of the defining features of the Green Card. Instead of concentrating its strongest earning rate on only one type of purchase, it combines several categories that can naturally occur during everyday travel.
Restaurant spending also earns 3X points, including eligible restaurant purchases and qualifying takeout and delivery transactions in the United States.
Membership Rewards points can be used through the American Express rewards ecosystem, including eligible travel and participating transfer partners. The actual value of points depends on how they are redeemed.
The $219 CLEAR+ credit
One of the most notable current benefits is the up to $219 annual CLEAR+ statement credit.
Eligible cardmembers can receive up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year when the Classic Green Card is used to pay for an eligible CLEAR+ membership.
Enrollment is required, and the membership is subject to CLEAR’s own terms and conditions.
The benefit is especially relevant to frequent travelers who already use CLEAR at participating airports. For someone who does not use CLEAR, however, the credit should not automatically be treated as cash value.
The distinction matters because a statement credit only provides practical value when a cardholder can use the underlying service.
The $219 amount is also important when comparing older articles about the Amex Green Card. Earlier versions of the benefit used a lower annual credit amount, so older references to a $199 or $209 CLEAR credit may no longer reflect the latest terms.
The Amex Green Card no longer has LoungeBuddy credit
Another important change concerns LoungeBuddy.
The Amex Green Card previously offered an annual LoungeBuddy statement credit. That benefit ended in January 2025.
As a result, older articles that calculate the card’s value using both the CLEAR benefit and a LoungeBuddy credit are outdated.
Current cardholders should instead focus on the benefits that remain available under the current Classic Green Card terms, including the CLEAR+ credit, Membership Rewards earning rates, travel protections and purchase-related benefits.
This is one reason readers should pay close attention to publication dates when researching the Amex Green Card.
Travel benefits and protections
The Classic Green Card continues to provide several travel-related benefits.
One of them is trip delay insurance. When eligible travel is purchased entirely with the card and a covered delay occurs, qualifying expenses may be reimbursed subject to the applicable terms, conditions and limits.
The card also provides baggage insurance for eligible travel when the required fare is charged to the card.
Eligible cardmembers can also receive secondary car rental loss and damage coverage when the rental requirements are satisfied. Coverage has exclusions and limitations, so cardholders should review the applicable terms before relying on the benefit for a rental vehicle.
Another useful feature is the Global Assist Hotline. When traveling more than 100 miles from home, eligible cardmembers can access emergency assistance and coordination services. Third-party costs associated with services arranged through the hotline can still be the responsibility of the cardmember.
These protections can add value for travelers, although they should not be treated as a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance in every situation.
No foreign transaction fees
The Classic Green Card does not charge a foreign transaction fee on eligible purchases made outside the United States.
That can make the card useful for international travel, particularly for cardmembers who want to earn Membership Rewards points while spending abroad.
A lack of foreign transaction fees does not necessarily mean that every international transaction is completely free of additional costs. Foreign merchants or ATM operators can impose their own fees, and currency conversion considerations can still apply.
Purchase protections
The card also includes several purchase-related protections.
Eligible purchases may receive purchase protection for covered theft or accidental damage for a limited period after the purchase date, subject to coverage limits and exclusions.
American Express also provides an extended warranty benefit on certain eligible purchases. Qualifying purchases may receive additional warranty coverage beyond the original manufacturer’s warranty, subject to the applicable requirements.
These benefits can be useful for eligible purchases, but coverage is not automatic for every product or situation. Cardmembers should check the terms governing the specific transaction.
What happened to the Green Card welcome offer?
One of the biggest differences for people researching the Amex Green Card in 2026 is the lack of a new-application pathway.
Because the Classic Green Card is closed to new applicants, consumers should not rely on older pages advertising a Green Card welcome bonus as though it remains generally available.
Historical versions of the card were promoted with Membership Rewards welcome offers that required applicants to meet a specified spending requirement within a certain period. Those offers were tied to the application opportunities available at the time.
Current readers should distinguish those historical offers from what is actually available now.
Existing cardholders do not need a new welcome offer to continue earning points. Their accounts can continue earning Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases under the applicable card terms.
Can existing cardholders still use the Amex Green Card?
Yes. The closure to new applicants does not mean existing cardholders suddenly lose access to the product.
Existing Classic Green Card members can continue to use the card and earn rewards, assuming their accounts remain open and in good standing.
This distinction is important because the words “not available” can be misleading when used without context. The card is not available for new applications, but that is different from the product being completely discontinued for people who already have an account.
Some existing American Express Gold Card and Platinum Card members may also have product-change options involving the Classic Green Card, subject to American Express eligibility and applicable account terms.
A product change is different from applying for a new card and should not be confused with a new-card welcome offer.
Is the Amex Green Card a credit card?
The American Express Green Card has historically operated differently from a conventional credit card with a fixed preset spending limit.
American Express provides flexible payment and spending features, and eligible cardmembers may have options to carry certain balances subject to the applicable terms and limits.
The exact spending power available to an individual cardmember can vary. It should not be assumed that the card provides unlimited spending simply because it does not operate with a traditional fixed credit limit.
Cardmembers should review their individual account terms and available spending information before making large purchases.
Amex Green Card annual fee
The current annual fee associated with the Classic Green Card is $150.
That fee is important when evaluating the card because its value depends partly on how much a cardmember uses the available benefits.
For someone who already pays for eligible CLEAR+ membership and regularly earns 3X Membership Rewards points on travel, transit and restaurants, the card’s benefits can have significant practical value.
For someone who does not use CLEAR+ and has limited spending in the bonus categories, the annual fee becomes a more important consideration.
Because the card is no longer open to new applicants, however, the question for most new consumers is no longer simply whether to apply. Instead, the relevant questions may involve other currently available American Express products or whether an existing Amex cardholder has an eligible product-change option.
Why older Amex Green Card information can be confusing
Search results for the Amex Green Card contain a mixture of current and historical information.
Older articles may use the original “American Express Green Card” name, discuss the former LoungeBuddy credit, advertise an old welcome bonus or list an earlier CLEAR benefit amount.
Those details can still be useful for understanding the card’s history, but they should not automatically be treated as current terms.
The 2026 changes make the publication date especially important.
Readers should also distinguish between the consumer Classic Green Card and the American Express Corporate Green Card. These are different products with different eligibility rules, fees, rewards arrangements and intended uses.
Similarly, American Express Green Cards issued in other countries can have entirely different fees and benefits. The information discussed here concerns the U.S. consumer product.
Latest verified status of the Amex Green Card
As of the latest available information, the consumer American Express Green Card is now referred to as the American Express Classic Green Card.
The product is no longer accepting new applications as of July 23, 2026. Existing cardmembers can continue using the card, and eligible customers may have product-change opportunities.
The current benefit structure includes 3X Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit and restaurant purchases, 1X points on other eligible purchases, a $150 annual fee and up to $219 per calendar year in CLEAR+ statement credits.
The former LoungeBuddy credit is no longer part of the card’s benefits.
For consumers researching the Amex Green Card today, these changes are more important than older application offers and benefit descriptions that remain visible across the internet.
Final thoughts
The Amex Green Card has entered a different phase in 2026. It is now the American Express Classic Green Card, remains active for existing cardmembers, but is no longer available to new applicants.
Its current structure continues to center on Membership Rewards points, travel, transit and restaurant spending, along with the CLEAR+ statement credit and several travel and purchase protections. At the same time, the removal of the LoungeBuddy benefit and the end of new applications mean older descriptions of the product can give readers an inaccurate picture of its current status.
For anyone who already holds the card, the important information is the current earning structure and benefits. For someone who does not have it, the key fact is that a standard new application is no longer available.
Have you used the Amex Green Card or Classic Green Card? Share your experience in the comments or stay updated for the latest changes to American Express cards.
