PAYBACK American Express Card
Collect points with no annual fee – ideal for PAYBACK fans.
Score: 7.1 / 10 · Good
Rating: 8.3 / 10 · No reviews yet
Best for: PAYBACK collectors
Overview
The PAYBACK American Express Card is a charge card from American Express on the American Express network. Collect points with no annual fee – ideal for PAYBACK fans. It comes with no annual fee on a permanent basis. A surcharge of 2 % applies to payments in foreign currency.
Who is it for?
Our take: PAYBACK collectors. Its strengths lie in collecting points or miles (worth approx. 0.33 %) and mobile payments. It is issued without a German IBAN, so no additional checking account is strictly required. Transactions are collected and billed periodically.
How the score is calculated
Overall score: 7.1 / 10 · Good
| Costs (30 %) | 10.0 / 10 |
|---|---|
| Foreign currency (18 %) | 3.3 / 10 |
| Cash worldwide (14 %) | 2.5 / 10 |
| Interest (10 %) | 7.5 / 10 |
| Cashback & bonus (10 %) | 1.9 / 10 |
| Features (6 %) | 1.8 / 10 |
| Community signal (12 %) | 6.9 / 10 |
Highlights
- Permanently no annual fee
- PAYBACK points on every purchase
- Redeem points flexibly
- Apple Pay / Google Pay
Costs & Fees
| Annual fee | €0 |
|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 4,000 points |
| Eff. annual interest | — |
| Type | Charge card |
| Network | American Express |
| Issuer | American Express |
Cashback: 1 °point per €3 spent (excluding fuel stations); optional PAYBACK American Express PLUS for €35/year: 2 °points per €3 up to €20,000 annual spend
Up to 4,000 bonus points (offer until 1 Nov 2026): 2,000 once the card is issued + 2,000 after €500 spend in the first 2 months
There is no annual fee. Outside the euro area a 2 % foreign currency fee applies. A fee of 4 % (min. €5) + 2 % foreign currency fee applies to cash abroad. In Germany, cash withdrawals cost 4 % (min. €5). Billing: Monthly billing, full balance settled by direct debit.
Redirect to provider · non-binding
This card in our comparisons: Free Credit Cards · Miles & Cashback Credit Cards · American Express Credit Cards: Comparison & Overview
Related guides: Student credit cards in Germany: what matters · Virtual credit cards, Apple Pay & Google Pay · Credit card instalments: interest explained
Similar credit cards
- Moss Credit Mastercard – Business credit card with spend control – Starter with no base fee.
- Consors Credit Card Gold Light – Free credit card with the Consorsbank account and fee-free withdrawals worldwide.
- DKB Visa Credit Card – Genuine DKB credit card with a credit line for bookings and deposits.
- PAYBACK Visa – Credit card for PAYBACK fans — collect points on every purchase.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the PAYBACK American Express Card cost per year?
- The PAYBACK American Express Card has no annual fee on a permanent basis — there are no fixed yearly costs.
- Does the PAYBACK American Express Card charge foreign currency fees?
- Yes. Outside the euro area the PAYBACK American Express Card charges a 2 % foreign currency fee.
- Is the PAYBACK American Express Card a genuine credit card?
- The PAYBACK American Express Card is a charge card — transactions are collected and billed periodically.
- Does the PAYBACK American Express Card require a SCHUFA check?
- Yes, American Express runs a SCHUFA credit check for the PAYBACK American Express Card; a negative SCHUFA record can lead to rejection.
- How is money on the PAYBACK American Express Card protected?
- Not applicable – American Express charge cards carry no deposit account. No deposit guarantee applies.