Personal & Student Loans
American Express Personal Loans: rates, fees and who can get an offer
American Express Personal Loans are fixed-rate, unsecured installment loans offered only to eligible Amex Card Members who receive an offer in their online account.
They can cover credit card debt with other issuers, home projects or large purchases, but not Amex card balances.
When we checked American Express's pages on September 30, 2026, they listed fixed rates of 6.99% to 19.99% APR (labelled as rates as of July 19, 2026), repayment terms of 12 to 60 months and loans starting at $3,500. American Express charges no origination fee or prepayment penalty, but a $39 fee applies to a late or returned payment.
This is an independent guide. We are not a lender or card issuer, we do not take applications, and this is not financial advice: American Express decides whether you get an offer, whether you are approved and what rate you pay. Use this page to decide whether checking your account for an offer is worth your time.
At a glance
- Lender
- American Express National Bank; eligible Basic Card Members only
- APR range
- 6.99% to 19.99% fixed (rates as of July 19, 2026; checked September 30, 2026)
- Loan amount
- From $3,500; your maximum is shown only in your offer
- Repayment terms
- 12 to 60 months
- Fees
- No application or origination fee and no prepayment penalty; $39 late or returned-payment fee
What you'll learn
- Who American Express lets apply, and why you need an offer first
- What the published APR range, terms and fees mean in practice
- What the loan can and cannot pay for, including the rule on Amex card balances
- How the credit check, loan agreement and funding steps work
Who it suits
- Basic Card Members who already see a personal loan offer in their American Express online account
- Borrowers consolidating higher-interest credit card debt held with other issuers into one fixed payment
- People who want a lump sum for a home project or big purchase, repaid over one to five years
Check before you decide
- You need an offer from American Express to apply, and you must be an eligible Basic Card Member, 18 or older, and a U.S. citizen or resident of the U.S. or its territories.
- The loan cannot pay down American Express card balances, or pay for post-secondary education, real estate, business, securities or a vehicle (other than a down payment).
- The maximum loan amount is not published: it depends on your creditworthiness and appears only in your offer.
- A $39 fee applies to each late or returned payment, and the payment due date cannot be changed.
- After accepting one Amex Personal Loan you must wait at least 60 days, and receive a new pre-approved offer, before applying again.
Opens the full guide on this site, with more detail and the sources we used.
Based on 3 sources. How we research our guides