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30,000 Membership Rewards Points with the American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card
Card Overview
Earn 30,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points* when you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of the approval date. (T&Cs apply. New Amex Card Members only.) The Card earns up to 5 points per $1 spent for the first 10,000 points per month and has a range of insurance options for consumers (Mobile, Card Purchase, Card Refund, Buyer's Advantage), all for $9 per month. Use Membership Rewards Points for gift cards, to cover charges, or transfer to over 10 airline and hotel partners for maximum value. Monthly fee is $9.
Key Attributes
30,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points*, when you apply, are approved and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New American Express Card Members only
Includes Mobile Coverage, Card Purchase Cover, Card Refund Cover, and Buyer's Advantage Cover (Terms & Conditions apply)
Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay
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 and 1 point per $1 spent on everything else including government spend
Annual Fee: $9 per month
Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the proceeding 18 month period are ineligible for this offer. Minimum spend, T&Cs apply and new American Express Card Members only.
The American Express Essential Rewards Card is offering 30,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points* to new American Express Card Members who apply, are approved and spend $3,000 or more on eligible purchases within the first 3 months.
Benefits of the American Express Essential Rewards Credit Card
The American Express Essential Rewards Credit Card is a refreshed new offering that will appeal to many people. The Card rewards you with an elevated points earning rate when spending on many popular spending categories. And for just a $9 monthly fee, the Card offers rewards in excess of many offered at this low-to-middle segment of the credit card market for a low fee.
Card Details
Card
American Express Essential Rewards Credit Card
Loyalty program
American Express Membership Rewards
Points earned from spend
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
Points cap
Accelerated earn rates are soft capped at 10,000 points per month, and 1 point per $1 on all eligible spend thereafter
It’s great to see another American Express Card, in addition to The American Express Platinum Edge Card, that offers bonus points on popular spending categories.
Earn 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
2points per $1 spent at selected major retailers in Australia
1 point per $1 spent on everything else
You can boost your points balance by adding up to 4 Additional Cards to your Account for family or friends at no extra charge.
Using Membership Rewards Points
You can use your Membership Rewards Points in a number of different ways. From redeeming gift cards with a number of different retailers to paying for eligible charges on your Account. But the best use of your Points in terms of maximising value is still by transferring your Points to one of over 10 airline and hotel partners.
The Card comes with a number of insurance covers. These include the following:
Card Purchase Cover
When you make a purchase on your American Express Essential Rewards Card, you can be reimbursed for up to 90 days from the date of purchase if the eligible item is stolen or accidentally damaged.
Card Refund Cover
Card Refund Cover can help if you’re having trouble getting a refund for an eligible item purchased within 90 days on your eligible American Express Essential Rewards Card.
Buyer’s Advantage Cover
If your warranty has run out just as you need it, Buyer’s Advantage Cover may have you covered. With the American Express Essential Rewards Card, you could enjoy an extended manufacturer’s warranty of up to 12 months for eligible purchases made on your Card.
You can read the terms and conditions for the insurance benefits of the Essential Rewards Card here.
This guide references some of the benefits of insurance policies provided with this card. You should read the PDS and obtain independent professional advice before obtaining this product.
American Express Plan It
American Express ‘Plan It‘ is a feature on your American Express Credit Card that allows you to pay off eligible transactions over $100 or a portion of your balance in equal monthly instalments. Choose between 3, 6 and 12 month terms, with no interest and a fixed monthly fee.
Mobile wallet integration
American Express Cards work with Apple Pay®, Google Wallet™ and Samsung Pay, meaning you can use this card on your smartphone for easier payments.
Read the Point Hacks guide to using Apple Pay or for using Google Wallet and Samsung Pay, including instructions on how to add your American Express card to those services.
With this feature set up, it means you could still use your NFC-enabled phone to make purchases with your American Express account, even if your physical card is lost or stolen and pending replacement.
Considering this card for Business-related transactions?
American Express offers a range of both Business and Consumer Charge and Credit Cards. They permit business transactions to be made on personal cards, unlike some other banks, but you might find some of the other business-focused benefits of the business cards to be appealing or more appropriate.
Eligibility criteria for bonus points for existing American Express Card Members
American Express is quite specific about whether existing Card Members will be eligible for bonus points if they apply for a card, are approved, and meet the minimum spend criteria.
Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any other Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the past 18 month period are ineligible for this offer.
American Express doesn’t allow existing Card Members, even for different types of American Express cards (e.g. Charge, Credit or Business) to be eligible for bonus points offers for cards in a different family.
Summing Up
The new American Express Essential Rewards Credit Card is a welcome development. It really punches above its weight for the introductory segment of the credit market, offering a competitive earning rate usually reserved for mid—or even premium-tier cards.
Also included are Amex direct benefits such as Amex Experiences, which sweeten the Card’s appeal.
Overall, this Card can be a great low-cost introduction to American Express, but as always, make sure to read the Product’s PDS, and if you still have questions, speak to your accountant or a finance professional to ensure that this Card is suitable for you.
Terms & Conditions
* 30,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points
30,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points are only available to new American Express Card Members who apply online, are approved and spend $3,000 or more on eligible purchases on your new American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card in the first 3 months from the Card approval date. 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. Please allow 8-10 weeks for the bonus points to be credited to your Account after the spend criteria has been met. 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. The American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card has a monthly Card fee of $9 ($108 per year). This advertised offer is not applicable or valid in conjunction with any other advertised or promotional offer.
30,000 Membership Rewards Points with the American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card was last modified: January 29th, 2026 by
Community Comments
What food (eats and drinks) places are covered for the 5 points per dollar? what streaming services are applicable to the 3 points per dollar? what does ‘major retailers’ include in Australia?
What food (eats and drinks) places are covered for the 5 points per dollar? what streaming services are applicable to the 3 points per dollar? what does ‘major retailers’ include in Australia?
Thanks