The Green Card is the cheapest way into American Express Membership Rewards: no annual fee, 1 point per dollar on everything, and the same 1:1 transfers to airline and hotel programs that the paid Amex cards get. For someone curious about points, that is a low-risk place to start.
What I'd be clear about is the earn rate. One point per dollar is low next to no-fee cards with bonus categories, and the only boost is 2 points on hotels and car rentals booked through Amex Travel Online. I see it as a points account with a card attached, best for building a Membership Rewards balance or keeping one alive after downgrading from a paid Amex.
Welcome offer
American Express is offering 10,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $1,000 in your first 3 months, verified on the Amex page on October 13, 2026. Amex values the bonus at $100, which matches its 1,000 points = $10 statement-credit rate.
Current or former Green Cardmembers are not eligible. No end date is printed, and the page notes that other terms apply, so confirm the offer before you apply.
The $1,000 target is about $335 a month, reachable with ordinary spending. Since the card earns only 1 point per dollar, the bonus is most of the first-year value: 10,000 points is the same as $10,000 of regular spending.
Fees & eligibility
The card has a $0 annual fee, and additional cards are also free. It is a credit card, and eligibility is simple: be a Canadian resident with a Canadian credit file and the age of majority in your province or territory. Amex advertises an instant decision with no impact to your credit score when you check eligibility.
Purchases and funds advances both carry 21.99% interest. After two separate missed payments the rate rises to 25.99%, and after three or more to 29.99%. The product page does not print the foreign currency conversion commission, so confirm it before using the card abroad.
Earning rewards
Everyday eligible purchases earn 1 Membership Rewards point per $1, with no categories and no caps to track. Eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through Amex Travel Online earn 1 additional point, for 2 points per $1.
At the statement-credit rate of 1 cent per point (cpp), that is a flat 1% back, or 2% on Amex Travel hotels and cars. The upside comes from transfers: moved 1:1 to an airline program and used well, the same points can be worth more than 1 cpp.
Redeeming rewards
Membership Rewards gives you a floor and a ceiling. The floor is Use Points for Purchases: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit against eligible card purchases, which is 1 cpp on anything from groceries to a flight. Amex's $100 valuation of the welcome offer uses the same rate.
The ceiling is transfers. The product page says points move 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs, and the value from there depends on the program, route and cabin. Gift cards, merchandise and Amazon.ca purchases are also available at their own rates. From January 6, 2027, the Fixed Points Travel Program is no longer available on the Green Card.
Perks & benefits
The main perk is access to Membership Rewards transfers, which most no-fee cards cannot offer. Points move 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs, the same option the paid Amex cards offer.
Beyond that, you get Amex Offers for shopping, dining and travel, Amex Experiences for events, and Plan It installments that split large purchases into monthly payments for a fixed monthly fee instead of interest. There is no lounge access, no travel credit and no hotel status.
Insurance
Insurance covers purchases only, underwritten by Belair. Purchase Protection covers theft or physical damage for 90 days from purchase, anywhere in the world, up to $1,000 per occurrence, when at least part of the price goes on the card.
Buyer's Assurance doubles the manufacturer's warranty by up to 1 extra year on warranties of five years or less, up to $10,000 per item and $25,000 per year. There is no travel insurance: no medical, trip cancellation, delay, baggage or rental car cover.
My take
I'd get the Green Card if you want a no-fee way to collect transferable Membership Rewards points; if you just want the most cash back from everyday spending, I'd skip it.
What I like is the currency. Membership Rewards points at 1 cpp are easy to use, and 1:1 transfers to frequent flyer programs give a beginner the same options as someone paying for a premium card. The 10,000-point bonus for $1,000 is a fair start, and with no fee there is no pressure to cancel.
The weak point is earning. A flat 1 point per dollar loses to most no-fee cards with categories, the insurance stops at purchases, and Amex is not accepted everywhere in Canada. I think it works best next to a stronger everyday card, or as the card you keep to hold onto your points after leaving a paid Amex.
The good
- No annual fee, including additional cards
- 1:1 Membership Rewards transfers at $0
- 10,000-point welcome bonus ($100 per Amex) for $1,000
The catch
- Flat 1 point per dollar outside Amex Travel hotels and cars
- No travel insurance
- Foreign currency commission not printed on the product page