Amex adding Pay It Plan It to Green, Gold and Platinum cards

American Express frequently adjusts its offers to match consumers’ changing spending habits.

This has been especially apparent as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation. Amex has made sure cardholders can get value from their cards even during the outbreak by offering limited-time benefits and travel credits, as well as providing more time to earn a welcome bonus.

On Aug. 3, Amex also announced changes to American Express® Green Card, American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express. The issuer is adding the popular Pay It Plan It® feature to these cards, as well as making Pay Over Time* – the ability to revolve an eligible balance with interest – broadly available to all Green, Gold and Platinum cardmembers.

Additionally, Amex is adding Pay Over Time to the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express, American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express at the start of November billing cycle. This will apply to both new and existing cardholders.

What this means for existing cardmembers

The features themselves aren’t new.

Pay Over Time was previously available to eligible cardholders and automatically included with the Amex Gold and Platinum cards, as well as the Amex Green Card. Pay It Plan It was also offered on eligible personal credit cards, but cards already enrolled in Pay Over Time were excluded from the feature.

That means that Green, Gold and Platinum cardholders couldn’t have access to both features, which left them with limited payment flexibility.

With the new changes, cardmembers can take advantage of both Pay It Plan It and Pay Over Time, gaining more control over how they pay for their purchases. They can choose to create monthly payment plans with a fixed fee, carry a monthly balance with interest or pay their bill in full.

With Pay It, cardmembers can use the Amex app to cover small purchase amounts (under $100) throughout the month. Plan It splits up large purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly payments for a fixed fee. Using this feature, cardholders know upfront exactly how much they’ll pay each month.

With Pay Over Time, eligible charges are added to a balance that can revolve with interest month-to-month, up to the cardholder’s Pay Over Time limit.

Business owners with Green, Gold or Platinum business cards will be able to use this option starting November 2020 to either carry a balance with interest on eligible purchases or to pay the balance in full. The cards will continue to have no pre-set spending limit, and cardholders will be able to turn the Pay Over Time feature off and back on, getting more flexibility in how they want to pay.

In the current economic environment, these features can be especially valuable. They offer a way to create a predictable payback plan when other options, such as a balance transfer credit card or a low-rate personal loan, might not be readily available.

Should you apply for a Green, Gold or Platinum card?

Amex Green, Gold and Platinum cards are all excellent credit products that offer plenty in rewards value and benefits. However, some consumers might have chosen to stay away from these popular cards – finding the limited options to revolve a balance too restrictive.

If you’re interested in one of these cards but have been reluctant for the same reason, the expansion of Pay It Plan It and Pay Over Time features can provide you with the flexibility you need.

On top of that, having a card that allows you to create a payment plan can be a good alternative to installment payment services such as app-based payments and retailer installment plans.

* All charges not added to a Pay Over Time balance or monthly payment plan or Cash Advance balance must be paid in full each month by the payment due date.