When Do American Express Points Post to Your Account?
Learn when your Amex Membership Rewards points post to your account, from daily spending to bonus offers. Understand timelines & what to do if points are missing.
American Express Membership Rewards points are a valuable loyalty currency for cardholders. These points can be redeemed for travel, statement credits, gift cards, and shopping. Understanding when these points appear in your account allows for better financial planning and helps cardholders anticipate when their accumulated rewards become available for use.
How Points From Everyday Spending Post
Points earned from regular purchases with an American Express card post to your account within a few days after the transaction is processed and reflects on your statement. While points might initially show as pending, they become available for use shortly after the charge finalizes. American Express advises that points are tallied and posted based on the calendar month’s transactions, becoming accessible once a card’s monthly payment requirements are met. For co-branded cards, points from standard spending often post around the statement closing date, typically after the billing cycle concludes and minimum payment requirements are satisfied.
It is important to maintain a current account status by making timely payments. If the minimum payment due on a credit card statement is not received by the payment due date, American Express may not add the points earned during that billing period to your balance. Points that are not posted due to late or missed payments can often be reinstated, though this may involve a fee and specific conditions for recovery.
When Bonus and Promotional Points Post
Points from special offers, such as sign-up bonuses for new cardholders, often follow a different posting schedule than everyday spending. While American Express officially states that welcome bonuses may take 8 to 12 weeks to post after meeting minimum spending requirements, many cardholders report receiving them much sooner, often within a few days or 1 to 2 weeks after the spending threshold is met.
Points earned from limited-time promotional offers, like Amex Offers, or referral bonuses, tend to post relatively quickly. These types of bonus points typically show up within 1 to 2 business days after the qualifying charge has finalized. It is always advisable to review the specific terms and conditions associated with any bonus or promotional offer, as these documents outline the requirements and expected posting timelines for the rewards.
Monitoring Your Points and Addressing Missing Points
Regularly checking your Membership Rewards points balance is straightforward. Cardholders can access their points summary by logging into their American Express online account or using the Amex mobile application. The points balance is displayed under the ‘Rewards’ or ‘Membership’ tab, usually with a ‘Points Summary’ option providing detailed transaction information.
If points are not posting as expected, several steps can investigate the discrepancy. First, verify that the transaction has fully posted and cleared on your statement, as points do not accrue on pending charges. Next, re-check the terms and conditions of any applicable offers or bonuses to ensure all criteria were met. If points remain unposted after a reasonable timeframe, a few additional business days beyond the expected period, contact American Express customer service.
When reaching out for assistance, have specific details ready, such as transaction dates, the merchant’s name, and the purchase amount. American Express customer service can be reached via phone or their online chat support feature. If points were forfeited due to a late payment, they can be reinstated by bringing the account to good standing and paying a reinstatement fee, which is $35 per billing period for which points were lost.