The American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card has officially arrived to make racking up those Membership Rewards® points that much easier.
When you apply via the link on this page, receive an additional 20,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points on top of the current 60,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points offer when you apply by 27 May 2025, are approved and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express® Essential Rewards Credit Card within 3 months of your approval date.1 T&Cs apply. Available for new American Express Card Members only.
But that’s not all.
As you’ll soon discover, this card is designed to help you maximise returns on your regular spending. Up to 80,000 Membership Rewards® Bonus Points1 aside, you can also earn:
- Up to 5 points on your first 10,000 points per month, and then continue earning 1 point per $1 spent after that2
- 5 points per $1 spent on eligible eats & drinks purchases in Australia2
- 3 points per $1 spent on selected streaming subscriptions in Australia2
- 2 points per $1 spent at selected major retailers in Australia2
- And of course, 1 point per $1 spent on everything else2
American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card
The American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card In Detail
When you apply using the link on this page by 27 May 2025, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card within the first 3 months (offer available to new Card Members only, T&Cs apply), you can expect:
- Up to 5 points on your first 10,000 points per month, and then continue earning 1 point per $1 spent after that
- 5 points per $1 spent on eligible eats & drinks purchases in Australia
- 3 points per $1 spent on selected streaming subscriptions in Australia
- 2 points per $1 spent at selected major retailers in Australia
- 1 point per $1 spent on everything else
- Phone screen repairs up to $500 for two events a year (10% excess applied to claimed amount; waiting periods may apply)
- Exclusive access to some of the best experiences in live music, sports, theatre, and more (including exclusive Card Member benefits at American Express partner venues)
- 24/7 Card Member service
- Card Purchase Cover, Card Refund Cover, Fraud Protection
- 23.99% interest rate (up to 55 days interest-free period)
- An extremely low annual fee of $108 ($9 per month)
Already sold? Check out the full American Express Essential Rewards Credit Card offer here.
American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card
What Can You Spend Your American Express Membership Rewards® Points On?
You can use your Membership Rewards® points for almost anything:
- Gift Cards with leading retailers
- Online shopping at Myer
- Transfer them to over 10 major Airline Reward Partner Programs
Or if you prefer cash, you can use them for eligible charges on your Account with American Express’ Cover Charges with Points.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card you need to:
- Have no history of debt or payment default
- Be aged 18 years or over
- Agree to access statements online through American Express
- Agree to a credit check as part of your application
- Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a long-term visa
To score the 80,000 Membership Rewards® point bonus,1 you must be a new American Express Card Member. If you currently hold or have previously held any American Express Card within the past 18 months, you are ineligible for this offer. T&Cs apply.
To apply for the American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card, click here.
American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card
Boss Hunting earns a referral bonus from American Express for anyone that’s approved through the links in this article. This commission helps keep Boss Hunting running, and we thank you for your support.
- Bonus & Eligibility:
60,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points + additional 20 000 bonus points: Offer only available to new American Express Card Members who apply by 27 May 202 via the link on this page, are approved and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on their new Card in the first three (3) months from the Card approval date. If you apply via a different link or visit the Amex site separately, you will not be eligible for the offer. Eligible purchases do not include Card fees and charges, for example annual fees, interest, late payment, cash advances, balance transfers, traveller’s cheques and foreign currency conversion. If you previously held a David Jones American Express Card and have not held any other American Express Card(s) in the past 18 months, you will be eligible for the offer. All other Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the past 18 months are ineligible for this offer. 80,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points will be awarded to the eligible Card Member’s account 8-10 weeks after the spend criteria has been met. Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards Program available at https://www.americanexpress.com/en-au/benefits/rewards/membership-rewards/. This advertised offer is not applicable or valid in conjunction with any other advertised or promotional offer. - Membership Rewards® Program for The American Express Essential Rewards Card.
Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards® program available at americanexpress.com/en-au/rewards/membership-rewards/terms.
Earn 5 points per $1 spent at restaurants, fast food outlets, cafes, bars and selected food delivery services in Australia (“Eats and Drinks”). See the list of selected food delivery services here. Earning points at this rate is dependent on how the merchant categorises their business and provide us this information (directly or through their financial institution). Locations such as a bar in an entertainment venue or a restaurant in a hotel may not be eligible for accelerated points earn. Spend through an aggregator or intermediary platform for these transactions may not be eligible for accelerated points earn. The Eats and Drinks category does not include supermarket, grocery store or catering spend.
Earn 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions at selected providers in Australia. The current list of streaming services is available here. Purchases must be made directly with the merchant on our list. Spend will not be eligible for accelerated earn if the product is bundled with another product or service or billed by a third party such as a digital platform or a TV, telecommunications or internet provider. Spend through an aggregator or intermediary platform for these transactions may not be eligible for accelerated points earn.
Earn 2 points per $1 spent at selected major retailers in Australia. The following merchants have been classified as Selected Major Retailers: Amazon, Kmart, Bunnings Warehouse, Uniqlo, Myer, The Iconic, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman. Purchases with these Selected Major Retailers are only eligible for additional points if the transactions are made online or in-store in Australia. Spend through an aggregator or intermediary platform for these transactions may not be eligible for accelerated points earn. The current list of selected retailers and corresponding terms and conditions are available here. The list is subject to change.
Eligible spend outside the accelerated earn rate categories will earn 1 Membership Rewards point per $1 spent.
American Express reserves the right to change this list of Eats and Drinks providers, selected food delivery services, selected streaming services and selected major retailers that earn points at an accelerated rate.
Monthly Points Threshold: You will earn points at an accelerated earn rate on spend at eligible Eats & Drinks, select food delivery services, select streaming services and selected major retailers up to a combined maximum of 10,000 points posted to your account monthly. After a total of 10,000 points is earned in a month, you will earn 1 point for every $1 regardless of credits, returns and adjustments until the threshold resets at the start of the next calendar month.
Refunds and returns: When the Basic Card Member or an Additional Card Member obtains a refund or reimbursement for items purchased on the Card or an Additional Card as applicable, Membership Rewards points will be deducted. Points are deducted based on the earn rate applicable on the day a refund or reimbursement transaction is processed.
