Strategy to obtain US Amex

[qq830821]

It’s a Marriott card, spending around 3k last year when staying at Marriott or for food.

You mean to wait and apply when there’s a large SUB?

Post automatically merged: Nov 13, 2023

Is it a new account? Might have to wait a bit

yeah its a new account but opened two weeks ago does that usually take that long to get acct details?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

This is what i get when i click on the USD tile. unless i am not doing it right...

Damn that's something new. Is there an official post that they're no longer granting checking accounts?

It’s a Marriott card, spending around 3k last year when staying at Marriott or for food.

You mean to wait and apply when there’s a large SUB?

Yep. Normally when there is a larger sub, they're a bit more lax with the rules I've heard. That's also how I got my CSP.

 

[mrsquare]

also I am now trying to transfer funds from my WISE USD account to my Amex cc acount to payoff my balance. however, for the reference, it requires both my amex account number and name and the reference box wont allow me to put in all the account numbers and name due to length limit.

Anyone have any idea how to start a payment to AMEX from WISE account? and what to put in for reference? thanks in advance

You don’t start the payment process from the Wise end. Add your Wise bank details to your Amex account and use that to pay off your statements.

Also, not sure if the checking thing is a new development, but unless there’s an official statement somewhere, I’d say give it some time to come through.

 

[mrsquare]

How do people get instant payments to pay off card? I have a 3k limit and need to spend $15k and it takes ages. My usual process
Transfer funds into wise -> transfer funds from wise to Amex checking/uS HSBC -> select on US amex app to make payment from designed account

The whole process takes way too long. Anyway to make it faster?

That looks pretty convoluted, can’t you just add your Wise checking details to your Amex account and use that when paying off card? That’s what I’m currently doing. Initial bit to add bank details takes a bit of effort, but the ongoing convenience to hit the button in the Amex app to pay off the card is worth it.

 

[Franko Costa]

That looks pretty convoluted, can’t you just add your Wise checking details to your Amex account and use that when paying off card? That’s what I’m currently doing. Initial bit to add bank details takes a bit of effort, but the ongoing convenience to hit the button in the Amex app to pay off the card is worth it.

I tried to setup a US account with wise now and they said they don't offer it. Do I just have a balance in AU and use the US amex to withdraw US from my AU account?

 

[qq830821]

I tried to setup a US account with wise now and they said they don't offer it. Do I just have a balance in AU and use the US amex to withdraw US from my AU account?

they still offer USD account just not with account name and routing numbers......so its effectively useless for AMEX cc payment

 

[Sora]

Unless you can link AMEX to a checking account, then the process is going to become annoying. I know if you start falling into default they do offer a "card" transaction later down the track, but that isn't available whilst your account is positive, and I'm not sure you'd want your account behind for the sakes of credit worthiness.

So, unless you can link it to your AMEX or US based primary checking account then I'm not sure there is any other convenient option, not between the AU and US anyways.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

they still offer USD account just not with account name and routing numbers......so its effectively useless for AMEX cc payment

Is there any communication about it?

 

[Tiki]

I use Wise to transfer money from Nab debit card number to my account at B of A and start the transaction from Wise. The process hasn't changed in years for this procedure. I have my B of A account set up as a payee and it always posts in maximum 24 hours, usually less.

 

[Sora]

I use Wise to transfer money from Nab debit card number to my account at B of A and start the transaction from Wise. The process hasn't changed in years for this procedure. I have my B of A account set up as a payee and it always posts in maximum 24 hours, usually less.

That would be the most effective way. The issue is if you did not have a US account.

Many years ago, you could sign up with AMEX without the need for an ITIN and simply use your passport. I closed my AMEX account about a year after I had obtained the card because I found it hard to maintain paying it, mainly because I was transferring funds directly to their bank account, and suffering an intermediary fee of about $35 per transaction.

As I was not in the US at that time I could not open a US account, and AMEX did not have a checking account I could open. So, it was frustrating to try and control.

Now that I have learned more about processes my approach could have been to:

1. Obtain an ITIN; OR
2. Use my brother's account

Lack of experience and pure common sense can easily get you into trouble

 

[Sora]

my first card which was w/o ITIN, done via GT was 15k Amex.
Post ITIN -
hsbc - 7k (credit history 6mo)
2XAmx biz 5 k each (credit history 5/6mo)
another personal amx - 15k (credit history 9mo)

That is pretty good overall for all the cards.

I wanted to open an HSBC account since I have an HSBC back home, but for $50 a month, it is not worth me opening one to pay for any US accounts or send fee-free transfers.

I wish there was an option like BOFA with HSBC. But oh well.

 

[blacksultan]

That is pretty good overall for all the cards.

I wanted to open an HSBC account since I have an HSBC back home, but for $50 a month, it is not worth me opening one to pay for any US accounts or send fee-free transfers.

I wish there was an option like BOFA with HSBC. But oh well.

Heard of hsbc premiere ? Will be free if you qualify in oz and open an act in US .

 

[maverick1]

That is pretty good overall for all the cards.

I wanted to open an HSBC account since I have an HSBC back home, but for $50 a month, it is not worth me opening one to pay for any US accounts or send fee-free transfers.

I wish there was an option like BOFA with HSBC. But oh well.

Open a HSBC Prem in Aus. Wire 9k in/out of that account every month (there are other ways as well like maintaining high bal etc) and you would qualify as Prem regardless of the country you open an HSBC a/c in.

 

[Sora]

Heard of hsbc premiere ? Will be free if you qualify in oz and open an act in US .

I don't have $75k :/

Post automatically merged: Nov 14, 2023

Open a HSBC Prem in Aus. Wire 9k in/out of that account every month (there are other ways as well like maintaining high bal etc) and you would qualify as Prem regardless of the country you open an HSBC a/c in.

Once I have $9k, I can give this a go

 

[blacksultan]

I don't have $75k :/

Don’t need . In oz you just need to deposit $9k every few months ( can transfer right out ) . You then apply for an account Witt reciprocal status in the US .

Post automatically merged: Nov 14, 2023

Don’t need . In oz you just need to deposit $9k every few months ( can transfer right out ) . You then apply for an account Witt reciprocal status in the US .

Not every few months . Every month for a few months .

Post automatically merged: Nov 14, 2023

I don't have $75k :/

Post automatically merged: Nov 14, 2023

Once I have $9k, I can give this a go

It does not have to be $9 k in one shot . Total deposits should be $9 k !

 

[Sora]

Don’t need . In oz you just need to deposit $9k every few months ( can transfer right out ) . You then apply for an account Witt reciprocal status in the US .

Post automatically merged: Nov 14, 2023

Not every few months . Every month for a few months .

Post automatically merged: Nov 14, 2023

It does not have to be $9 k in one shot . Total deposits should be $9 k !

Oh perfect, yes, I wanted to open an account to make life easy, so this will be on my radar 100%, if I can get that far I will definitely look at opening the US HSBCS account to work alongside my existing account.

Right now I primarily use HSBC AU vs Revolut, because it offers 1% cashback and to get that with Revolut you need to pay $10 a month or more.

Sometimes its difficult to try and stick to just 1 bank account when you're always shuffling money about

 

[anyonebutqantas]

they still offer USD account just not with account name and routing numbers......so its effectively useless for AMEX cc payment

Even for existing users? Have our USD Wise accounts been closed?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Even for existing users? Have our USD Wise accounts been closed?

It hasn't because I still have mine.

 

[Tiki]

That would be the most effective way. The issue is if you did not have a US account.

Many years ago, you could sign up with AMEX without the need for an ITIN and simply use your passport. I closed my AMEX account about a year after I had obtained the card because I found it hard to maintain paying it, mainly because I was transferring funds directly to their bank account, and suffering an intermediary fee of about $35 per transaction.

As I was not in the US at that time I could not open a US account, and AMEX did not have a checking account I could open. So, it was frustrating to try and control.

Now that I have learned more about processes my approach could have been to:

1. Obtain an ITIN; OR
2. Use my brother's account

Lack of experience and pure common sense can easily get you into trouble

I am one of the few on here who is a dual citizen US/Australian. So I already had a SSN and US bank account and 36 years of credit history and Fico scores. But I still can’t churn as much as some other people here because I am limited by minimum spends. I can’t do $4000 USD in 3 months unless there is a major purchase planned like travel, renovations or (next year) a car. I envy those who can afford to churn Chase business cards!

 

[Franko Costa]

Has anyone tried to use the resort credit through buying a GC from a Hilton resort hotel? I'm going to Bora Bora in July next year and thinking I could get a US$250 GC that will be refunded on the Hilton surpass card.

If not, then surfers Paradise might need to be used for a GC

Post automatically merged: Nov 14, 2023

I am one of the few on here who is a dual citizen US/Australian. So I already had a SSN and US bank account and 36 years of credit history and Fico scores. But I still can’t churn as much as some other people here because I am limited by minimum spends. I can’t do $4000 USD in 3 months unless there is a major purchase planned like travel, renovations or (next year) a car. I envy those who can afford to churn Chase business cards!

You just need to up your manufacture spend