We are an independent publisher. Our reporters create honest, accurate, and objective content to help you make decisions. To support our work, we are paid for providing advertising services. Many, but not all, of the offers and clickable hyperlinks (such as a “Next” button) that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. The compensation we receive and other factors, such as your location, may impact what ads and links appear on our site, and how, where, and in what order ads and links appear. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, our site does not include information about every product or service that may be available to you. We strive to keep our information accurate and up-to-date, but some information may not be current. So, your actual offer terms from an advertiser may be different than the offer terms on this site. And the advertised offers may be subject to additional terms and conditions of the advertiser. All information is presented without any warranty or guarantee to you.

This page may include: credit card ads that we may be paid for (“advertiser listing”); and general information about credit card products (“editorial content”). Many, but not all, of the offers and clickable hyperlinks (such as a “Apply Now” button or “Learn More” button) that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. When you click on that hyperlink or button, you may be directed to the credit card issuer’s website where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer. Each advertiser is responsible for the accuracy and availability of its ad offer details, but we attempt to verify those offer details. We have partnerships with advertisers such as Brex, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo and Discover. We also include editorial content to educate consumers about financial products and services. Some of that content may also contain ads, including links to advertisers’ sites, and we may be paid on those ads or links.

For more information, please see How we make money.

How to Get Your AMEX Welcome Bonus Points Faster!

  • Million Mile Secrets

    • Signing up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Here’s our full advertising policy: How we make money.

    Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.

    Have you recently opened an AMEX credit card account and are anxiously awaiting the welcome bonus?

    It could be a while before those points hit your account!

    Welcome Bonus Points Can Seem to Travel at a Snail’s Pace! But There Are Ways to Speed Things Up!
    Miles to Memories points out that you may be able to get your AMEX welcome bonus points in your account faster.  Find out the steps to getting your points quickly!

    How Long Does It Typically Take to Get Your Welcome Bonus?

    You can usually expect to see your welcome bonus credited to your account after:

    This process means it may be 2 to 4 months after you’re approved for your card before the bonus points hit your account.  But what if there’s a limited-time deal or you want to book a last-minute trip?

    Tips for Getting Your Points Faster!

    Here are ways you can expedite the process:

    1.   Change the Statement Closing Date

    Once you receive your card in the mail, you can contact AMEX using the number on the back of your card to change your statement closing date.  The sooner your statement closes, the sooner you’ll receive your bonus!

    A Quick Call to AMEX to Change Your Statement Closing Date Can Reduce the Time You Have to Wait for Your Points!

    2.   Complete Minimum Spending Requirements Quickly

    An important step to earning the welcome bonus is meeting the minimum spending requirement on your new card.

    Some folks who have a good history with AMEX have reported receiving their points as soon as they complete the spending on the card.  So it’s important to get this step out of the way quickly.

    Don’t Waste Time, Start Charging Up Your New Card Right Away!

    Check out my 40+ ways to meet minimum spending requirements, if you need some help!

    3.   Make Your Payment as Soon as Possible

    American Express usually wants to make sure you can pay your bills before they fork over the points.

    You’ve Gotta Pay to Play

    4.   Turn on the Charm!

    If you’ve completed the above steps and still don’t have your points, it’s time to start turning on the charm and ask nicely!

    Have You Told AMEX How Beautiful They Are Lately?

    You can get in touch with American Express using the number on the back of your card.  Or log into your account to use the online chat and secure message features.  This doesn’t work for everyone, but many folks have had success.

    More importantly, be persistent!  Some folks were denied 3 or 4 times before they finally found someone who was willing to help!

    Bottom Line

    It can take a few months to get the welcome bonus from your new American Express card.  But if you’re in a pinch and really want those points right away, there are steps you can take to speed up this process.

    When your card arrives, call AMEX to request an earlier statement closing date.  Then meet your minimum spending requirements and pay your bill quickly.

    Finally, explain why you need the points and ask nicely.  Being persistent with this last step can really pay off and many folks have received their points early!  Good Luck!!!

    Let me know in the comments if you’ve been able to get your AMEX welcome bonus expedited!

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)