Does American Express Use FICO Fair Isaac Credit Score?

Yes, Amex relies on your FICO score when evaluating most personal credit cards. The issuer typically pulls a soft inquiry for pre‑approval checks and a hard inquiry once you submit an application.

Amex usually looks at the latest versions of the FICO model - most often 8 or 9 - and favors scores of 700 plus for the strongest approval odds. The FICO score is just one part of the decision; Amex also runs its own internal risk algorithms that consider spending patterns and existing relationships. (See FICO score basics for more on the models.) The next section explains exactly which version Amex will check for a given card.

Amex typically checks the newest FICO model that each bureau provides - most often FICO 8 on Experian and TransUnion and FICO 9 on Equifax, with newer versions (like FICO 10 T) appearing only when a specific issuer has upgraded its underwriting system.

• Experian: reports FICO 8 in most consumer pulls.
• TransUnion: also reports FICO 8 for the majority of applications.
• Equifax: supplies FICO 9, the newer model many lenders favor.
• Upgraded issuers: some Amex business or premium cards may request FICO 10 T if the card's underwriting platform supports it, but this is less common.
• Soft vs. hard: Amex uses a soft inquiry for pre‑approval checks and a hard inquiry when you submit a full application, pulling the same version listed above.

This aligns with the earlier discussion on Amex's general use of FICO scores and sets up the next section on whether Amex ever prefers VantageScore.

• Amex relies on the FICO score that a credit bureau provides during a hard pull.
• If a bureau only offers a VantageScore, Amex does not switch to it; the application may be declined or the bureau must supply a FICO.
• Amex never uses a soft‑inquiry VantageScore for its credit decision.
• Amex may add its own internal scoring model to the FICO data.
• Consequently, Amex does not replace FICO with VantageScore in any circumstance.

Amex does use its own proprietary risk model in addition to the FICO score you see on your credit report.

The internal score weighs elements that the FICO formula ignores, such as how long you've been a cardholder, your average monthly spend, payment timeliness on existing Amex accounts, and the overall relationship value to Amex.

Typical internal factors Amex evaluates

• Length of Amex relationship and account age
• Total revolving and charge‑card balances across all Amex products
• Average monthly spend and usage patterns (e.g., travel vs. everyday purchases)
• Payment history on any Amex account, including on‑time vs. late payments
• Public records or inquiries that affect the broader risk profile
• Interaction with Amex promotions or loyalty programs

Because Amex runs a soft pull first, it can gauge this internal score without affecting your credit file; if the soft assessment looks promising, a hard inquiry follows to finalize the decision. Understanding that Amex blends its internal model with the FICO score (usually versions 8 or 9) explains why applicants with similar FICO numbers sometimes receive different outcomes.

Amex business cards check your personal FICO score and run a hard inquiry on the applicant's credit file. The hard pull (not a soft inquiry) is recorded on the credit report, can lower the score by a few points, and is the primary factor Amex uses alongside business revenue and cash flow. The FICO score examined is typically version 8 or 9, matching the personal‑card process described earlier.

Because a hard inquiry can affect your credit, many applicants monitor their score before applying; the next section explains when Amex uses a soft inquiry versus a hard inquiry, helping you plan the timing of your business‑card request.

Amex runs a soft inquiry whenever it previews offers, checks eligibility for a card upgrade, or reviews an existing account for fraud or credit line adjustments; the pull stays invisible to credit bureaus and does not dent your FICO score, letting you gauge potential approvals without risk.

Amex triggers a hard inquiry when you submit a fresh personal or business card application, request a substantial credit limit increase, or move from a pre‑approved soft pull to a full application; the inquiry appears on your credit report, counts toward the usual 10‑in‑12‑month hard‑pull limit, and can temporarily lower your FICO score.

Amex typically approves applicants with a FICO score of 700 or higher. Scores in the 720‑740 range give the strongest odds, while scores below 680 rarely clear the internal threshold.

• 720 + (FICO 8/9): excellent; soft inquiry often enough for most personal cards; hard pull rarely rejected.
• 700‑719: very good; approval common if income and payment history are solid; may trigger a hard inquiry on premium cards.
• 680‑699: good but borderline; Amex may still approve when you have high spend or longstanding relationship; expect a hard pull.
• 660‑679: fair; usually denied on new applications; could be accepted for business cards with strong revenue or as a card‑member add‑on.
• Below 660: poor; approval unlikely regardless of other factors; consider credit‑building steps before reapplying.

Amex indicates the exact credit‑score model it used in the inquiry details you receive.

1. Pull your full credit report (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) and locate the Amex inquiry.
2. Note the line that reads 'FICO® Score 8 (soft)', 'FICO® Score 9 (hard)', etc.; the number after 'Score' is the version Amex checked.
3. If you applied online, the pre‑approval screen often displays the model beside the score preview - look for 'Based on your FICO 8'.
4. Use the Amex 'Score Check' feature in your account; it lists the model used for the most recent pull.
5. Still unsure? Call Amex customer service, reference the inquiry date, and ask which FICO version was accessed.

These steps let you confirm whether Amex checked a FICO 8, FICO 9, or another version, building on the earlier discussion of which versions Amex typically uses.

Real‑world Amex approvals with disclosed FICO scores illustrate the range Amex typically accepts.

• FICO 720, Amex Gold - Hard pull, version 8, approved after 30‑day review. Source: Reddit Amex Gold approval thread
• FICO 735, Amex Platinum - Hard pull, version 9, approved with a $550 annual fee card. Source: Credit Karma Amex Platinum approval story
• FICO 710, Amex Blue Cash Everyday - Soft inquiry turned hard, version 8, approved for a no‑annual‑fee card. Source: NerdWallet Amex Blue Cash Everyday approval story

These documented approvals confirm that Amex incorporates FICO scores (primarily versions 8 or 9) into its underwriting, and scores in the low‑to‑mid‑700s usually satisfy the threshold alongside its internal models.

Getting added as an authorized user on a seasoned account may improve your Chase FICO score (Experian). An authorized user (AU) is a secondary holder on someone else's credit card; the primary's payment history, age of the account, and utilization all flow onto the AU's credit file, even if the AU never uses the card.

Typical scenarios work best: a parent with a 10‑year Visa that carries a low balance adds you as an AU; the primary continues to pay in full each month and keeps the account open; you avoid cards with recent delinquencies or high balances because they could drag down your score. The credit bureau updates the AU data during its monthly refresh, so you may see a lift on your Chase FICO score within the next cycle. Once the benefit wanes, you can ask the primary to remove you without harming either credit file. For more detail, see how authorized‑user status boosts credit.

Using an EIN does not avoid a hard personal credit pull; Amex typically runs a hard inquiry on the applicant's FICO score even for business‑card applications that require an EIN.

The underwriting process may also look at business revenue and a D&B or Experian Business score, but those metrics supplement - not replace - the personal credit check, and you cannot choose a 'soft‑pull only' option.

If you want to limit the impact, start with Amex's pre‑qualification tool or wait until your personal score is comfortably above the 700‑plus range discussed earlier, knowing the EIN mainly helps keep business expenses separate rather than shield your credit.American Express business card underwriting