Does American Express close credit cards for inactivity?
American Express often closes after 12-13 months of inactivity. They usually email a warning giving you ~35 days to use the card before closure.
Closure window
~12–18 mo
Advance notice
usually
Suggested charge
every 120d
How American Express's inactivity policy works
American Express usually emails or mails a warning before closing. Like every issuer, they don't publish an official inactivity threshold, and the exact timing depends on factors like your overall relationship, credit line, and account age. Based on widely reported cardholder data, an unused American Express card is at risk somewhere between 12 and 18 months without a posted transaction.
How to keep your American Express card open
Put a small transaction on the card before that window closes, roughly 3 times a year for American Express. The charge can be tiny; what matters is that it posts. Then make sure the statement balance is paid (autopay is easiest) so the activity doesn't turn into a missed payment.
Don't want to track this yourself?
KeepCardAlive runs a $0.99 charge on your American Express card every 120 days automatically, so it never goes idle. Cancel anytime.
Keep my American Express card aliveInactivity windows are approximate, based on public reports, and not guaranteed. KeepCardAlive is not affiliated with American Express.