American Express Platinum Card Review 2025: Benefits, Features, and Expert Insights

If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you.

Business Insider's personal finance team compared the Amex Platinum Card to the best travel rewards cards and found it to be an industry leader despite the high annual fee, thanks to a long list of travel benefits.

While many cards have no annual fee, here's why the Amex Platinum Card's fee might be worth it for you.

Compare the Amex Platinum Card

Amex Platinum Overview

If you want a premium rewards card that offers benefits such as airport lounge access and annual statement credits for travel, The Platinum Card® from American Express should absolutely be on your shortlist for consideration.

It has a $695 annual fee (rates and fees), but you get some great perks in return, including access to fancy Amex Centurion lounges at airports worldwide.

Most of the card's benefits are travel-related — such as complimentary elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy and up to $200 in annual airline fee credits. But the Amex Platinum Card also offers statement credits for select digital subscriptions and Equinox fitness membership to help offset the annual fee. Enrollment is required for these benefits and terms apply.

Authorized Users

If you'd like to share your Amex Platinum Card benefits with a partner or family member, you can add additional cardholders, often called authorized users, to your card account. As the primary account holder, you're responsible for all charges incurred across all of the cards on your account.

There are two types of authorized user cards to choose from. "Additional Cards" come with select Amex Platinum Card benefits for a $195 annual fee each year. Meanwhile, "Companion Cards" allow another person to make purchases on the account but do not come with the same benefits or an annual fee (rates and fees).

For example, you may want to give your spouse an additional card for $195 a year so they have access to travel benefits, but get a no-annual-fee companion card for your teenager to use for emergencies.

Amex Platinum Rewards

The Platinum Card® from American Express earns Amex points that can be transferred to over 20 airline and hotel partners. Terms apply.

What are Amex Points?

American Express Membership Rewards points, often simply called Amex points, are the currency of the Amex loyalty program. You can exchange them for statement credits or cash back, use them to book travel through the American Express Travel portal, or transfer them to any of 18 airline and three hotel transfer partners. Terms apply.

Transferable credit card rewards like Amex points are among the most valuable rewards you can earn from cards because you can use points to book flights and hotel rooms instead of paying with cash.

Amex points don't have a fixed value, so it can be tricky to figure out what they're worth. To give you a ballpark value, Business Insider's experts developed a set of points and miles valuations that pegs the average value of Amex points at 1.8 cents apiece.

This number is a guideline to help you decide if a points redemption is strong. You're getting a good deal if the cash value of your flight or hotel room divided by the number of points you spend is equal to or higher than 1.8 cents per point.

Using Amex points to book international flights often offers the best value, especially if you can score a seat in business or first class.

Welcome Bonus

The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a welcome offer of 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

Based on Business Insider's points and miles valuations, this card's current welcome bonus is worth about $1,440, which alone makes up for more than two years of the annual fee. Terms Apply.

Earning Rewards

The Amex Platinum Card has a simple earning structure. Cardholders earn (Terms apply):

• 5 Amex points per dollar on flights purchased directly through the airline or via Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year)
• 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Redeeming Rewards

There are many ways to redeem your Amex points, but the best way to get the most value from your rewards is to redeem them for travel.

Redeem for Travel

There are two primary ways to redeem Amex points for travel. You can book through the Amex Travel portal and pay with points at checkout, or you can transfer your points to airline and hotel chains that partner with Amex.

Redeem for Non-Travel

If you're staying close to home, you can still use Amex Membership Rewards points for many non-travel redemptions, including:

• Statement credits to cover charges on your account (0.6 cents per point)
• Merchandise — pay with points at checkout with Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and other merchants (0.7 cents per point)
• Food delivery with GrubHub and Seamless (0.7 cents per point)
• New York City taxi fare (1 cent per point)
• Charity donations via JustGiving (0.7 cents per point)
• Gift cards (1 cent per point)

Amex Platinum Benefits

Even among premium cards, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers some of the most extensive benefits available. This includes both a healthy selection of travel credits and perks like lounge access, statement credits for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases, and access to the Amex concierge service.

Statement Credits

The Platinum Card® from American Express is unparalleled when it comes to the number of statement credits it offers. With an annual fee of $695 (rates and fees), it includes:

• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit**

Up to $200 in Uber Cash each year ($15 per month, with an extra $20 in December)** (As of November 8, 2024, in addition to having Uber Cash toggled on, you must select an Amex card as the payment method for your transaction to redeem Uber Cash received through this Amex benefit.)

• Up to $100 in Saks credit ($50 each for the first and second half of the year)**
• Credit to cover the cost for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® ($120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or up to $85 statement credit every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck®)
• Up to $200 in credits a year toward prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection (minimum two-night stay)
• $199 credit for CLEAR® Plus expedited security screening program**
• Up to $240 digital entertainment credit (up to $20 per month for eligible services)**
• Up to $300 Equinox credit**
• $155 Walmart+ membership credit**
• $300 SoulCycle at-home bike credit (Equinox+ subscription required)

Terms Apply. **Enrollment required.

Airport Lounge Access

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers access to various airport lounges, in addition to Priority Pass™ lounges. Enrollment required. Terms apply. (You can also access Priority Pass lounges if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card).

Amex Platinum Card lounge access includes:

Amex Centurion Lounges

Amex's proprietary Centurion lounges are located at 15 airports in the U.S. and more than 10 international airports. These lounges offer comfortable seating, complimentary cocktails, and food created by award-winning chefs.

Access to these lounges is limited to holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, Corporate Platinum card members, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, or Amex Centurion cards (Terms Apply).

Cardholders may purchase guest passes for guests at a rate of $50 per adult guest, or $30 per child between the ages of 2 to 17. Cardholders who spent $75,000 or more in eligible purchases on the Amex Platinum Card in the previous calendar year can bring up to two guests for free on any Centurion lounge visit. In other words, if you spent the required minimum on this card in 2024, you will have complimentary access for two additional guests throughout 2025.

Delta Sky Clubs

If you have an Amex Platinum Card, you can also access any Delta Sky Club lounge up to 10 visits per calendar year on the same day you fly a Delta-operated or Delta-marketed flight operated by WestJet. You will also have unlimited visits if you spend $75,000 or more in a calendar year. With more than 50 locations, Sky Clubs offer snacks, complimentary soft and alcoholic drinks (with more "premium" drinks available for purchase), fast WiFi, and a place to unwind. Some locations also feature showers. Terms apply.

Priority Pass Membership

The Platinum Card® from American Express also comes with a membership to Priority Pass™, a network of over 1,700 airport lounges worldwide. With free Priority Pass membership, you and two guests can access any lounge location (as long as there's room) to enjoy free snacks, drinks, newspapers and magazines, showers, and more. Terms Apply. Enrollment required.

Other Airport Lounge Networks

Amex Platinum Card holders also have access to the following lounges:

• Escape Lounges, with access for the cardholder and up to two guests
• Lufthansa Lounges when flying same-day on a Lufthansa Group-operated flight (Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines)
• Terms Apply.

Up to $200 Annual Airline Fee Credit

Every calendar year, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers up to a $200 credit toward incidental fees when you enroll with one airline of your choice. Terms Apply.

This credit doesn't cover your ticket itself but applies to a wide range of related charges such as checked bags, flight-change fees, inflight food and drinks, fees for traveling with a pet, day passes to airport lounges if you don't already have complimentary access. It may even cover expenses such as seat assignments or extra-legroom upgrade fees, depending on the airline.

Up to $200 in Uber Cash Each Year

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers up to $200 in Uber Cash credits each year when you use the card as the payment method in the Uber app. Terms Apply.

The credit is broken into chunks: Each month, you'll get a $15 credit added to your linked Uber account, with an extra $20 for a total of $35 each December. An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.

If you travel regularly or live close to a major city, Uber Cash is an easy perk to use. You can also use your credits toward UberEats orders for food, or even toward groceries and household supplies.

If you're a Amex Platinum Cardholder, you can also link your card to your Uber profile to be upgraded to Uber VIP status, which connects you with drivers who have a 4.8-star rating or higher. This benefit has few perks, however, and it is available only in certain cities.

Up to $100 in Saks Credit Each Year

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers up to $50 in statement credits with Saks when you enroll and use the card to make a Saks purchase from January to June, and up to $50 again from July through December each year. There's no minimum purchase amount required. Terms Apply.

Elite Status With Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy

The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with Gold-tier elite status at both Marriott and Hilton loyalty programs (you must enroll to receive this benefit). Terms Apply.

If you stay at hotels even a few nights a year, these benefits can be extremely valuable: Hilton offers Gold Elites free breakfast for two each morning at select hotel brands, currently awarded in the form of a food and beverage credit in the U.S.

Up to $120 to Cover the Application Fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry are absolute musts for just about any traveler.

Once you enroll in TSA PreCheck®, you can use special lanes to breeze through airport security — you won't have to remove shoes and light coats, and you can leave your laptop in your bag.

With Global Entry, you can use a fast lane when you return to the U.S. from abroad, which makes clearing immigration and customs easy and quick. Terms Apply.

These programs come with enrollment fees, and you can get up to a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or a credit of up to $85 for TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider.

Cardholders are eligible for the credit once every four years for Global Entry, or once every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck®. Membership in either program is good for five years, so long-term cardholders can use this card to pay the renewal fee again before their membership expires.

Up to $200 Hotel Credit

Cardholders will get up to $200 in credit each calendar year toward prepaid bookings at Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts or Hotel Collection properties (with a minimum stay of at least two nights) when they book with their Amex Platinum Card through Amex Travel. Terms Apply.

If you would have otherwise paid cash for a luxury hotel stay, this perk can effectively shave $200 off your annual fee cost.

This credit expires at the end of every year and doesn't roll over, but you're only required to book by December 31 to receive the credit — your travel dates can be later

Fine Hotels and Resorts bookings include perks such as free breakfast for two, $100 credit toward eligible charges at the property, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, room upgrades when available, and 12 p.m. early check-in when available.

Eligible bookings with The Hotel Collection must also be for a minimum of two nights. Cardholders can enjoy benefits such as complimentary room upgrades and a $100 on-property credit.

$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit

CLEAR® Plus is an expedited security screening program that can save you time waiting in long lines at select U.S. airports and stadiums. A CLEAR® Plus membership normally costs $199 per year for most travelers unless you have access to discounted rates through another program. But if you pay with The Platinum Card® from American Express after enrolling in this benefit, you'll receive a statement credit to offset your CLEAR® Plus application fee up to the full price of membership. Terms Apply.

CLEAR® Plus isn't a government program, so qualification requirements are much less stringent than those of TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry.

When you have a CLEAR® Plus membership, you can jump to the front of the security line. But unlike TSA PreCheck® members, you'll still have to remove items like your laptop and shoes before getting screened unless you also have TSA PreCheck®.

CLEAR® Plus screening is only available at select airports, so this benefit is of little use to you if the ones you travel through don't offer these security lines. However, the program is also available at a number of stadiums and arenas. So if you're a sports fan who likes to attend live games, a CLEAR® Plus membership could still offer you some value.

Up to $240 Digital Entertainment Credit

The card offers various digital entertainment credits, which are awarded in chunks of up to $20 per month, with a maximum of $240 per year. Enrollment is required before you can use this perk. Terms Apply.

Eligible digital subscription services for the credit include:

• Disney+
• ESPN+
• Hulu
• The New York Times
• Peacock
• The Wall Street Journal

Be sure to read the fine print on this benefit's terms and conditions because certain subscriptions may be excluded. A Peacock subscription paid through your cable service, for example, will not be eligible for the Amex Platinum Card credit.

Up to $300 Equinox Credit

Cardholders can receive up to $300 annually in credits toward an Equinox gym membership, or digital subscriptions to on-demand fitness classes through the Equinox+ app. Enrollment is also required to activate this benefit. Terms Apply.

Walmart+ Membership Credit

When you enroll and use The Platinum Card® from American Express to pay for Walmart's subscription service, Walmart+, you'll receive a statement credit for the cost ($12.95 plus applicable sales tax each month). Terms Apply.

A Walmart+ membership offers free delivery, free shipping with no minimums, pharmacy discounts, and other perks. So if you're already a Walmart shopper, it's a no-brainer to use this benefit.

Annual Walmart+ memberships and InHome Plus Up delivery service memberships do not qualify for this perk.

$300 SoulCycle Bike Credit

If you're in the market for a SoulCycle at-home bike, use The Platinum Card® from American Express to receive a $300 statement credit. To be eligible, you must charge the full price of the bike to your card in a single transaction through www.equinoxplus.com/amexbikebenefit. Terms Apply.

SoulCycle bicycles only ship within the 48 contiguous U.S. states and to Washington, D.C. Each eligible purchase requires a 12-month Equinox+ membership to qualify for the discount, and purchases made in-store or through the Equinox mobile app aren't eligible for the credit.

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts

Amex Platinum cardmembers can book hotel rooms through the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts program at any time, even after using up their $200 statement credit for the year.

When you book participating hotels through Amex Travel, you'll enjoy perks like room upgrades, free breakfast, late checkout, and free WiFi. Terms Apply.

Amex Platinum Concierge

Holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express holders also have access to Amex's exclusive concierge service by calling 1 (800) 525-3355. Terms Apply.

This famous concierge service can be helpful for accomplishing tasks such as getting tickets to shows or a desirable restaurant, or helping you plan a trip itinerary.

While concierge services are complimentary, you're responsible for paying for any services booked or purchases made on your behalf.

Cellphone Protection

Amex offers cellphone protection on a handful of premium cards, including The Platinum Card® from American Express.

When you use your Amex Platinum Card to pay your wireless bill, you're covered for the cost of repair or replacement if your phone is damaged or stolen, up to $800 per eligible claim and up to two claims per 12-month period. There's a $50 deductible, and you must file your claim within 90 days of the incident. Terms Apply.

Car Rental Insurance

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers secondary car rental insurance when you use the card to pay for your rental in full and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver.

Coverage is for theft or damage only (not liability) and some rentals, vehicle types, and certain countries including Australia, Italy, and New Zealand are excluded, so be sure to read the terms and conditions before you book and before you travel. Terms Apply.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

The Amex Platinum Card is one of our picks for best cards for travel insurance because it offers generous insurance reimbursements if your trip is impacted by an eligible reason such as injury or serious illness that prevents you from traveling.

If you pay for travel with The Platinum Card® from American Express and your trip is canceled or cut short for a covered reason, you could be reimbursed up to $10,000 for non-refundable expenses per trip, and up to $20,000 per card every consecutive 12-month period. Terms Apply.

Baggage Insurance

When you pay for the full cost of your flight, cruise, or train ticket with The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can be covered for baggage loss or damage, up to $2,000 per person for checked bags, and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on luggage. Terms Apply.

Exclusions apply to high-risk items and some states have different limits, so check the terms and conditions for specific details.

Trip Delay Insurance

You can claim reimbursement for up to $500 on meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal items if you've paid for the full cost of a round-trip ticket with The Platinum Card® from American Express, and your travel is delayed for an eligible reason by six hours or more. You can claim this coverage up to two times per consecutive 12-month period. Terms Apply.

Return Protection

If a merchant won't accept your return on an eligible item purchased within the U.S. and its territories using The Platinum Card® from American Express within the last 90 days, Amex return protection will refund you the full purchase price, excluding shipping and handling.

You're eligible for up to $300 per item and a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year. Terms Apply.

Purchase Protection

When you pay for an eligible item with The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can be covered if it's accidentally lost, stolen, or damaged within the first 90 days after the date of purchase. Terms Apply.

Extended Warranty

Cardholders can also get an extended warranty on eligible items when they use The Platinum Card® from American Express to pay. This benefit adds up to one additional year of coverage to eligible U.S. manufacturer's warranties of five years or less.

Coverage is for up to the amount you paid on the card, with a maximum of $10,000 per item and up to $50,000 per card in a calendar year. Terms Apply.

Premium Global Assist Hotline

The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with an underrated perk that can be a lifesaver if you have an emergency while you're away from home. Cardholders can access Amex's Premium Global Assist Hotline whenever they are more than 100 miles from home. Hotline operators help facilitate services such as passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services. Terms Apply.

The service itself is complimentary, but you may be responsible for any third-party costs.

One big difference from the regular (versus premium) Global Assist Hotline is emergency medical evacuation coverage: Amex may provide you with emergency medical transportation assistance at no cost if the situation is approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline.

Amex Offers

Like other American Express cards, The Platinum Card® from American Express includes targeted discounts and bonus rewards at participating merchants through Amex Offers (enrollment required). Terms Apply.

Amex Offers can provide you with significant savings at different retailers. Common deals can include percentage discounts or cash back as a statement credit after spending a certain amount of money with a particular brand. Some deals are only available if you spend the full required amount in a single purchase, while others allow you to make the required spend over several transactions by a specified date.

American Express Platinum Card Fees

If you're considering getting the Amex Platinum Card, make sure you can pay your statement balance in full each month — both because interest will rack up quickly if you don't, and because there are better 0% intro APR cards if you need to carry a balance from month to month.

Annual Fee

As discussed above, The Platinum Card® from American Express has a $695 annual fee (rates and fees). This amount isn't waived for the first year, so you'll see the fee appear on your statement a few weeks after you're approved for the card.

Other Fees

The Amex Platinum Card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, which makes it a good option to use on international trips (rates and fees).

Other fees you may incur include late payment fees and cash advance fees.

Is the Amex Platinum Worth the Annual Fee?

Whether the Amex Platinum is worth its annual fee ultimately depends on your preferences as a cardholder, and if you can take advantage of the card's many travel-related benefits and statement credits.

If you value benefits such as Centurion Lounge access, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required), and extras like the annual airline fee credit, it could very well be worth paying the annual fee to hold this card.

But if you don't travel very often and don't think you'll be able to put the Amex Platinum Card's many benefits to use, you'll likely be better off with a different choice among the best rewards cards, several of which have annual fees under $100.

Amex Platinum Card Alternatives

The Amex Platinum Card isn't the only premium card you should consider for top-tier benefits. Here are several others worth evaluating before you choose your next card.

Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are often compared because they have some of the highest annual fees among travel rewards cards, although the Chase card's fee is slightly lower.

The Platinum Card® from American Express has a longer list of benefits and credits, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve has better bonus categories and offers a generous annual travel credit that's very easy to use. The card earns 10 points per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Chase Travel℠ and 5 points on flights after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually, 3 points per dollar on dining and other travel, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

You'll want to compare the airline and hotel partners in each issuer's respective reward program to understand which points will be easiest for you to redeem. While the Chase Ultimate Rewards program shares several key transfer partners with Amex, most of its partner airlines are different. For example, Chase partners with Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, while Amex partners with Delta. You cannot transfer Chase points to Delta, and you cannot transfer Amex points to United.

Read our full Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve comparison for more details.

Amex Platinum vs. Capital One Venture X

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a relatively affordable alternative to The Platinum Card® from American Express. It offers benefits like a $300 annual travel credit and Priority Pass airport lounge access.

If $695 a year seems too steep to pay for a card (rates and fees), the Capital One Venture X Rewards card's $395 annual fee could be easier for you to justify. It also has a simple rewards scheme that's easy to remember. Cardholders earn 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.

Capital One Venture X Rewards cardholders also have access to a growing number of Capital One lounges in key airports across the U.S. as well as complimentary Priority Pass membership. Cardholders can also add up to four free authorized users under their card account, each with their own complimentary Priority Pass access.

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Card review for more information.

Amex Platinum vs. Amex Gold

If you spend a lot of money each month on dining out, food delivery, and at U.S. supermarkets, the American Express® Gold Card may be a good fit for you.

This card earns 4 Amex points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x), 4 points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x), and offers up to $10 in monthly statement credits at select restaurants with enrollment. You'll also earn 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amex Travel, 2 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

It has a lower annual fee of $325 (rates and fees), but doesn't come with the various luxury travel benefits of The Platinum Card® from American Express such as airport lounge access.

If you're on the fence between these two cards, read our Amex Gold Card review for more info.

Amex Platinum Cardholder Insights

In addition to compiling our experts' take on the Amex Platinum Card, we skimmed online forums such as Reddit and Facebook to see what everyday cardholders have to say about this card.

Harder to Justify With High Annual Fee

The primary complaint about the Amex Platinum Card is its high annual fee, which has increased more than once in recent years.

A number of cardholders say they're considering canceling or downgrading this card in 2025. While the Amex Platinum Card admittedly boasts a long list of benefits, several Redditors complained that they couldn't utilize enough of them to be worth paying so much each year, especially if they paid an additional cost for one or more authorized users on top of their own fee.

Consider Downgrading to the Amex Green Card

One former cardholder downgraded their Amex Platinum Card to the American Express® Green Card instead, stating that the premium card's perks beyond hotel and airline credits just didn't justify its annual fee. While the Amex Green Card doesn't include many premium travel benefits, it earns 3 Amex points per dollar on eligible travel, transit, and restaurant purchases, and comes with a valuable statement credit of up to $199 for CLEAR® Plus membership each year — all for an annual fee of just $150.

American Express Platinum Card FAQs

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the American Express Platinum

Business Insider's card experts evaluated The Platinum Card® from American Express by comparing it to other premium rewards cards and travel rewards cards. We focused on the following criteria:

• User-friendliness — Are the card's benefits easy to use and activate, or are there many hoops to jump through? Is it easy for cardholders to redeem their rewards?
• Earning potential — Can a cardholder earn significant rewards from the welcome bonus and ongoing bonus categories? We also look at whether any bonus categories are capped.
• Benefits — Are the card's benefits appealing and useful, and do they justify its annual fee? We especially look at whether the card's benefits can save you money.
• Annual fee — If the card has a high annual fee, is it offset by the value of its benefits and rewards? And how does it compare to other similar cards?

Read our full methodology for reviewing credit cards for more details about how we develop ratings.

Angela Fung

Marketing Compliance and Operations Manager

Angela Fung is the marketing compliance and operations manager for Business Insider’s personal finance team. She is a personal finance expert and has been a part of Business Insider for nearly four years. ExperienceAngela leads the compliance team in identifying and reducing risk for readers, the editorial team, and external partners. Her team aims to provide readers with accurate, up-to-date information about financial products and maintain reader trust. She ensures regulatory and partner marketing guidelines are upheld for partners and adheres to the personal finance team’s editorial standards so they can maintain editorial independence. Angela likes helping readers better understand personal finance so that they can build a strong foundation for their financial plan and, hopefully, give themselves the freedom to do more in other facets of their lives.ExpertiseAngela has expertise in and oversees compliance in the following areas of personal finance:

• Personal credit cards
• Business credit cards
• High-yield savings accounts
• CDs

She also has a thorough knowledge of federal regulation for consumer financial protection. A few examples include:

• Regulation Z, Truth in Lending
• Unfair, Deceptive, Or Abusive Acts Or Practices (UDAAP)
• Regulation N, Mortgage Acts and Practices Advertising Rule
• Endorsement Guidelines

EducationAngela graduated from the University of Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience. In her free time, she shoots lifestyle photography, volunteers at Meals for Unity, and plays tennis.

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Katherine Fan

Correspondent, Credit Cards

Katherine Fan is a personal finance expert, journalist, and public speaker with almost 10 years of industry experience. She began her career in tech before transitioning to journalism in 2015. Katherine currently serves as Personal Finance Insider's correspondent for credit card coverage. Before joining Business Insider as Senior Editor of Credit Cards, Katherine covered aviation, award travel, loyalty programs, and credit cards as a senior reporter for The Points Guy, and small business finances as a lead writer for Nerdwallet. Katherine has also freelanced for major media publications such as Bankrate, CreditCards.com, the Dallas Morning News, LendingTree, Upgraded Points, and Slickdeals Money. Her work has been syndicated by Nasdaq, MSN, and Yahoo. ExperienceKatherine has published more than 1,800 articles, guides, and reviews covering credit card benefits and rewards, small business finances, points and miles travel, loyalty programs, and real estate investing. Katherine has been a speaker at TravelCon and a guest on multiple podcasts including NPR Life Kit, Expedia's Out Travel the System, and The Points Guy's Miles Away. In her spare time, Katherine moonlights as a photojournalist covering Formula 1, Austin City Limits, and SXSW for the Austin American-Statesman and other media outlets. When she's not jetsetting around the world, you'll likely find her in Austin cooking up a batch of spicy Chinese food.ExpertiseKatherine's expertise encompasses:

• Small business finances
• Credit cards
• Points and miles travel
• Travel insurance
• Real estate investing

Katherine's interest in personal finance extends to her own interests. Despite a salary of just $28,000 a year from her first full-time job, Katherine built an excellent credit score of 805 from scratch through hard work [and privilege], which allowed her to purchase her first home six years after graduating from college. She's since added five more doors to her real estate portfolio, although she plans to retire on her index fund investments.Thanks to credit card travel rewards, Katherine has flown well over one million miles visiting 44 countries across all seven continents. She's sailed with orcas in Antarctica, flown home in first class from Japan, photographed a wedding at Hobbiton in New Zealand, and gone on safari in South Africa. But her most meaningful trips always bring her home to loved ones in Taiwan. EducationKatherine holds dual degrees in photojournalism and Asian American studies from the University of Texas at Austin, and a certificate in business Chinese proficiency from National Taiwan University. She began her professional career in tech as a software sales executive for seven years before returning to her media roots. 

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