Does American Express close credit cards for inactivity?
American Express can review or close an unused credit card, but it does not publish a guaranteed inactivity deadline for every account.
Reviewed 2026-08-27 by the KeepCardAlive Editorial Team.
Closure window
No published deadline
Advance notice
Not guaranteed
Suggested charge
every 120d
How American Express's inactivity policy works
American Express can review or close an account that goes unused. The issuer does not publish a universal inactivity threshold, and timing may vary by card product, credit line, account history, and broader banking relationship.
Do not treat forum timelines or individual cardholder reports as a deadline. A warning is not guaranteed, so monitor issuer messages and create posted activity with margin if you want to retain the card.
How to keep your American Express card open
Put a small purchase on the card before a long inactive stretch develops. The suggested 3-times-per-year cadence leaves room to catch a declined transaction before the account approaches the reported range.
Pay the statement balance in full and review each statement. No activity schedule can guarantee that an issuer will keep an account open.
Sources
Don't want to track this yourself?
KeepCardAlive schedules a $0.58 charge on your American Express card every 120 days. Review the receipt and card statement to confirm each charge posts. 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.