I just got an AMEX card. Is this vastly different from Visa? Why is there a 4 and a 3 digit code on this?

Submitted by BlueSky1877 t3_zwvx7q in personalfinance

I've always used my bank's Visa credit card which is the standard 16 digit whatever and digit on the back to do online shopping. But this AMEX card looks so different with the numbers, has two printed on numbers, and the website is a bit weird with a "check your spend limit" feature.

What's the purpose of having a 4 and a 3 digit code?

Isn't my spending limit simply the credit limit on the card?

Curious question: When did AMEX change from everything being due at the end of 30 days to making payment like a regular card?

Is there anything else I should know before swapping my main use from Visa to AMEX?

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Werewolfdad t1_j1x23t4 wrote

> What’s the purpose of having a 4 and a 3 digit code?

The four digit code on the front is the cvv

> Isn’t my spending limit simply the credit limit on the card?

Charge cards have no credit limit. They have a “floating spending limit”

> Curious question: When did AMEX change from everything being due at the end of 30 days to making payment like a regular card?

They didn’t. You have to use the pay over time feature

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mbcook t1_j1x5lmm wrote

> They didn’t. You have to use the pay over time feature

Not entirely true. It depends on the card. So the classic cards like the green, gold, and platinum must be paid off every month in the traditional AmEx style unless you use pay over time.

But they have a few cards, like Blue Cash Everyday, that work exactly like a Visa or MC and let you carry a balance.

So it’s important to know exactly which card you own.

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Werewolfdad t1_j1x5qg1 wrote

Oh sure, I had assumed by the questions he meant the charge cards. That’s good clarification though

Amex has had regular credit cards like the Blue cash since at least..2006? Maybe earlier.

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mbcook t1_j1x6fba wrote

That was my first AmEx but I got it less than 5 years ago. I had no idea they went back that far.

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Werewolfdad t1_j1x8a0w wrote

I got my blue cash in like 2010 I think? And saw posts about it being amazing back to around the mid 2000s back when I was doing big manufactured spend

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TheLiberalTexan t1_j1x2aqy wrote

They have a 4 digit code for the same reason they have a 15 digit card number. They come out to being the same as other cards.

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mbcook t1_j1x682t wrote

> Curious question: When did AMEX change from everything being due at the end of 30 days to making payment like a regular card?

Depends on the kind of card. Some like the Blue Cash series let you carry a balance. The classics like green and gold don’t. So make sure you know which one you have.

> Is there anything else I should know before swapping my main use from Visa to AMEX?

Know your benefits! If you get better rewards on one kind of purchase (say gas or grocery) then use that card for that kind of purchase.

Also if your card has AmEx offer support, keep an eye on them. Some of them can be really good, especially if you were going to shop there anyway.

Example: I’ve seen an offer for a normal grocery chain (think Kroger/Safeway/etc) for a $20 refund after spending $100 in groceries over multiple purchases. It was so easy to do that in the 90 days or whatever it was and you basically got 20% for using your AmEx.

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ahj3939 t1_j1x6qcq wrote

McDonalds has chicken nuggets, burger king has chicken tenders.

Visa has a 16 digit number + 3 digit code (on the back), Amex has a 15 digit number with 4 digit code (on the front)

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