The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley offers the same perks as the standard version but also includes some valuable additions.
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Frequent travelers are probably familiar with The Platinum Card ® from American Express, but you may not know there is another version of the card specifically for individuals who invest through Morgan Stanley. The Platinum Card ® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley offers most of the benefits of the standard Platinum Card, but with a few key differences.
The question that needs to be asked is whether it makes sense to apply for this travel rewards credit card simply because it can be linked to your brokerage account. For those who aren’t currently Morgan Stanley customers, is it worth opening an investment account just to apply for this specific card?
You can use this Morgan Stanley American Express Platinum Card review as a guide to determine if this card is right for you.
All information about The Platinum Card ® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley has been collected independently by FinanceBuzz.
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Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months
5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Benefits and DrawbacksThe Amex Platinum Card Exclusively for Morgan Stanley is great for frequent travelers who spend money on flights and hotels year-round. More specifically, the card offers a host of benefits that fans of luxury travel can appreciate. The benefits cardholders can enjoy include an airline credit, a Global Entry or TSA Precheck fee credit, airport lounge access, and hotel status upgrades. Select benefits require enrollment.
With a $695 annual fee attached, you should only apply for this card if you plan to take advantage of most of the included benefits and perks each year. But there is a workaround that essentially cancels out the fee each year.
Customers with a Stanley Morgan Platinum CashPlus account and the Amex Platinum Card Exclusively for Morgan Stanley can earn an annual $550 engagement bonus. That essentially makes this card free to have in your wallet.
The bulk of the card’s earning power is tied to travel, so if that’s not you, you’re probably better off with one of the best cash back credit cards instead. Also, keep in mind that this card is exclusively for Morgan Stanley customers. If you don’t have a Morgan Stanley brokerage account, you’ll need to open one to be eligible for this card or opt for another travel rewards credit card instead.
Card type | Travel |
Credit card issuer | American Express |
Annual fee | $695. Terms apply. |
Welcome bonus | Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months |
Reward rate | 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
Recommended credit score | Excellent, Good |
Foreign transaction fee | None |
All information about American Express Platinum Card ® for Schwab has been collected independently by FinanceBuzz.
Here's a look at how your Membership Rewards points can add up with the Amex Platinum Card Exclusively for Morgan Stanley. To calculate these values, we used a point valuation of 1 cent per MR point.
Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.
Year one earnings: $2,270
Year two earnings: $1,470
This value is based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model which takes a look at points earned via spending, the welcome bonus, and the annual fee. If you take advantage of other card benefits, then its value to you could be higher.
Spending on your Morgan Stanley Platinum Card earns Amex Membership Rewards Points. Frequent travelers love the Membership Rewards program because of its versatility with redemptions, and the Platinum Card makes earning points relatively easy.
Qualifying for the welcome offer is the key to earning points quickly with this Amex card. You’ll have plenty of chances to earn more points after that. The Amex Platinum Card especially rewards travel purchases, but you’ll still earn points on other purchases.
Categories | Rewards rate |
Flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotels booked with American Express Travel | 5X |
All other eligible purchases | 1X |
Unfortunately, the Morgan Stanley version of this card doesn’t earn the bonus points at like the standard card.
Amex Membership Rewards Points never expire and aren’t capped. All of your spending is rewarded and can be redeemed for travel and much more.
Your best value with the Amex Platinum Card is using your points to book travel. Points are worth $0.01 when booking flights through Amex Travel. You aren’t limited to booking travel directly through American Express, either. You can also transfer your points to participating American Express travel partner’s loyalty programs. In some cases, your points might hold more value through one of Amex’s travel partners.
You can enjoy more comfortable travel by using your Membership Rewards points toward seat upgrades on airfare through 17 participating airlines. Amex allows you to use points to pay for all or part of the upgrade amount.
Redemptions aren’t limited to only travel, although that usually offers the most value. You can also redeem Membership Rewards points for:
As a rewards card specifically for Morgan Stanley account holders, points can also be redeemed as deposits into qualifying Morgan Stanley brokerage accounts, starting at a 1,000-point minimum. Points are worth $0.01 when redeemed as brokerage deposits. Note that there may be tax implications for this type of reward redemption, so consult a tax professional before choosing this option.
Few loyalty rewards programs offer the flexibility of Membership Rewards, and this Platinum Card gives you a chance to earn plenty of points through the program.
One of the best features of the Membership Rewards program is the ability to transfer Membership Rewards points to Amex travel partners. There are currently over a dozen travel transfer partners that participate in the program:
Transfers can take several days, so it’s a good idea to make transfers a few days before you plan to redeem the points. Each travel transfer partner has minimum transfer requirements, so always check before you formulate a plan for using your points.
To be approved for a Morgan Stanley Amex Platinum Card, you must be a Morgan Stanley customer with a qualifying brokerage account in addition to meeting the creditworthiness standards for the Platinum Card.
A minimum of $5,000 is required to open a Morgan Stanley investing account. This is for the Morgan Stanley Access Investing account.
Credit card issuers typically do not publish specific credit score requirements online, but you’ll likely need a good to excellent FICO credit score to qualify for the Amex Platinum Card, which is a score of at least 670.
As noted, the Morgan Stanley card requires a Morgan Stanley brokerage account. If you love the card benefits but don’t love the thought of being tied to another financial account, there are other credit card offers you might consider.
The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with almost identical perks and features but has a bigger welcome offer and extra spending categories (for the first six months). There’s no obligation to open any other accounts either. Few cards compare to the luxury perks of the American Express Platinum Card, which is why it's one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards available today.
Another top credit card that offers a taste of luxury travel perks is Chase Sapphire Reserve ® . It also carries a $550 annual fee, but it's packed with value thanks to its massive welcome offer and bonus spending categories. The card is a frequent traveler’s dream with perks like a $300 annual travel credit, lounge access, a Global Entry or TSA Precheck fee credit, and partner benefits through Lyft, DoorDash, and Peloton. You’ll also have access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, one of the few loyalty programs that rival the versatility of Membership Rewards.