American Express personal loans: 2023 review

American Express is best for fast funding

To apply for an American Express personal loan, you must be an American Express card member and get preapproved. If you’ve received a preapproval offer, you can apply in minutes. 

American Express even populates your application to make the process faster. Once you have applied, you will receive a decision almost instantly. You can expect to receive funding within one to two business days. The American Express personal loan application and funding process is faster than many of its competitors, making American Express a great choice for borrowers who need their funds as soon as possible.

This lender might not be right for you if you are not and do not want to become an American Express card member. Although American Express does not specify a minimum credit score requirement, borrowers with bad credit may have a difficult time qualifying.

American Express: in the details

What we like and what we don’t like

Every personal loan product has pros and cons that you’ll need to consider in your decision. Below is our take on the advantages and disadvantages of personal loans from American Express.

What we like

• Flexible loan amounts. The lower limit of $3,500 ensures that you aren’t forced to borrow more money than you need. While the maximum borrowing threshold of $40,000 is flexible enough to cover high-cost expenses related to a home renovation or other life expenses.
• Fully online process. Applying for an American Express personal loan is completely digital, taking just a few minutes to apply. You’ll also receive a decision nearly instantly to help you avoid wasting time as you search for the right personal loan for your needs. 
• Minimal fees. You won’t get dinged for being a responsible borrower when you pay down your loan early with American Express. You also won't be charged an origination fee — also known as a loan processing fee.
• Fast funding. Borrowers can receive funding for their personal loan needs in three to five business days following the initial application.

What we don't like

• Membership requirement. Only existing American Express card members are eligible to apply for a personal loan through the lender. If you’re not already a member, it might not make sense for you to open a new revolving credit card account just to meet this eligibility criteria. 
• You must be preapproved to apply. American Express personal loans applications are available by invitation only. Even if you open an American Express credit card account to address the first disadvantage, there’s no guarantee that you’ll automatically receive a personal loan offer.
• No option to change your due date. Your loan payment due date is the date your personal loan is approved, and there’s no option to change it. This can be problematic if you’d like your payment due date to fall after pay day or on a specific date to better align with your monthly budget. Some lenders offer the option to change your due date.
• No autopay discount. Although American Express gives you the option of setting up autopay when you apply for its personal loan, there’s no additional incentive for enrolling in automatic payments. Some lenders give their borrowers a nominal interest rate discount when enrolling their personal loan account in autopay.

How to contact American Express

If you are an American Express card member and have any questions about the personal loan process, you can contact the American Express support and help center over the phone, online chat or through the mobile app. 

The American Express mobile app is available for both Android and iOS users. You can call the personal loan customer service direct line at 844-273-1384 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

How to apply for a personal loan with American Express

Applying for an American Express personal loan is straightforward, as long as you’re already an existing card member and have been preapproved. Here’s how to apply:

Each of the steps are completed on a single application page, making it easy to navigate the process. In total, the application for an American Express personal loan takes a few minutes to complete.

Fees and penalties

American Express does not charge origination fees, application fees or prepayment penalties. The only fee associated with the American Express personal loan is a $39 fee for late payments.

Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the lender’s website for the most current information.