The Legendary No Limit Credit Card - AMEX Black

Centurion 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.

As with anything new or different, a sort of urban legend started to circulate about the ‘black credit card‘. The legend said there was a black credit card that allowed celebrities and persons of high rank unlimited credit and the ability to visit very high class stores after business hours. The unconfirmed reports first started being spread in the 1980s. The truth of the matter was it was not a credit card at all but an information card that had American Express Travel numbers as well as hotel assistants 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.

This rumor was eventually capitalized by the American Express.  A Centurion card was created in the fall of 1999.  It is offered through an invitation from the American Express.  This card is only offered to those who have the Platinum card, and that the card is not made of plastic but of metal.  Because of its elegance and value, most people use it as status symbol.  American Express Platinum credit cards are considered to be the best of all credit cards in the business.

American Express issued Centurion Card as “invitation only” card to the Platinum cardholders in different countries.  Since Centurion Card is not available in other countries, the Platinum card serves as the exclusive card that can be used for almost all of services available anywhere.  Even the services and purchases for VIPs can be availed through this Platinum card.  It gives benefits to the cardholders even when they are in other places and countries because of its worldwide acceptance and online account access.

American Express black Centurion card started in 1999 with an introduction of $1000 as an annual fee and a one-time initiation fee of $5000.  Now the annual fee was raised to $2500, the highest annual fee for credit cards as of today.  Among the first persons who got one was the comedian and American Express spokesperson, Jerry Seinfeld.

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.