If you’re looking for information on Visa Black Card requirements, you’ve come to the right place — but the card switched networks a few years ago and is now issued by Mastercard.
Long gone are the days when having a gold card was the sign of elite creditworthiness. Nowadays, black is the new gold, and most major networks have their own version, the most well-known of which may be Amex’s Centurion card, with the Mastercard Black Card a close rival.
With its strict application requirements and most VIP of perks, the Black Card is one of the most elusive cards on the market. In January 2016, the Visa Black Card was rebranded to the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Black Card™ with new and enhanced features. We’ll take a look at these features and what it takes to get this card, as well as show you five elite alternatives.
About the Card | Approval Requirements | Credit Card Alternatives (5)
About the Visa® Black Card
Aside from its visual appeal, the card offers perks like 24/7 concierge service and random luxury gifts delivered to your doorstep — needless to say, it’s not the easiest card to get your hands on.
Rebranded as the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Black Card™
Several years ago, the Visa Black Card got a new network, the Luxury Card rebranded it as the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Black Card™. It offers a patented stainless steel front and carbon back for “durability and distinction.”
- Patented black-PVD-coated metal card—weighing 22 grams.
- 2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 1.5% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent.
- Annual Airline Credit—up to $100 in statement credits toward flight-related purchases including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more. Up to a $100 application fee credit for the cost of TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry.
- Enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select with access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide with no guest limit. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.
- 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®—available by phone, email and live mobile chat. Around-the-clock service to help you save time and manage tasks big and small.
- Exclusive Luxury Card Travel® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties.
- Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
- Annual Fee: $495 ($195 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening.
|
19.49% Variable
|
$495 ($195 for each Authorized User added to the account)
|
Excellent
|
Unlike other “Black Cards” on the market, the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Black Card™ can be applied for online via the Luxury Card website. But while there’s no published minimums for approval, it’s safe to assume you’ll need at least good credit and a fairly healthy income.
Receive an Initial Credit Limit of $20,000 to $25,000
Because cardholders generally have a much higher income (or at least the ability to pay back their cards), the card’s customers are usually given a very high initial credit limit.
Spending allowances average between $20,000 and $25,000, with increases given over time for responsible account usage.
Like any other card, you can improve the likelihood of getting an increase beyond your initial amount by keeping an on-time payment history, paying a large average monthly payment amount, maintaining your credit bureau information and credit score, and using your card regularly for both everyday and large purchases.
Equipped with a Hefty Annual Fee
Along with the status that comes with this card, however, there’s also a hefty $495 annual fee. It would be expected that the perks of owning this card would be many, and plush. Only personal preference can determine if the fee is worth it, but here are its key features:
- Patented black-PVD-coated metal card—weighing 22 grams.
- 2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 1.5% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent.
- Annual Airline Credit—up to $100 in statement credits toward flight-related purchases including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more. Up to a $100 application fee credit for the cost of TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry.
- Enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select with access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide with no guest limit. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.
- 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®—available by phone, email and live mobile chat. Around-the-clock service to help you save time and manage tasks big and small.
- Exclusive Luxury Card Travel® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties.
- Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
- Annual Fee: $495 ($195 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.
This metal card weighs 22 grams, which is five grams heavier than The Platinum Card®, another premium card with an expensive annual fee.
Approval Requirements
Barclays doesn’t openly publicize its requirements for obtaining the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Black Card™, but it’s safe to assume based on what we do know about the card that the following requirements are a must:
1. Excellent FICO Score (720+)
Naturally, the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Black Card™ requires an excellent credit score, usually 720 or higher on the FICO index. When being trusted with a high spending limit, you have to have exemplified responsible borrowing behavior in the past, which a strong FICO Score will reflect.
2. Big Spending (and Paying) on Your Cards
While the card doesn’t require some of the spending thresholds as other cards (like the AMEX Black Card), you can safely assume that you will need to be an avid user of credit and are very good at paying back thousands in purchases every month to even be considered.
3. High Income Necessary
Of course, to spend big, you have to earn big. To charge and spend as needed for this prestigious card, a solid job history, adequate proof of income, and a record of making on-time payments are a must. It probably also won’t hurt to be a Barclays’ customer.
5 Elite Credit Cards Without a $495 Annual Fee
As “elite” as the card may seem, the 1.5% cash back is a little underwhelming and the $495 annual fee is a little overwhelming. If a higher cash back bonus, lower annual fees, and more widely accepted perks are of interest to you, the following cards may be more appealing.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 16.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
16.49% - 27.49% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.
- No annual fee.
- Click through to Discover’s website to see terms and conditions.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 6 months
|
0% Intro APR for 18 months
|
16.49% - 27.49% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.49% - 28.24%.
- No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months
|
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months
|
19.49% - 28.24% Variable
|
$0
|
Good/Excellent
|
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
|
$95
|
Excellent, Good
|
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee.
- Redeem Miles to pay any part of your monthly bill, including your minimum payment.
- Turn Miles into cash in any amount, any time. Or redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more with no blackout dates. However you redeem, Miles keep the same value. And Miles never expire.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 16.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
16.49% - 27.49% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
Here are some additional high-limit credit cards an excellent credit rating can get you.
So, Is the Black Card Right for You?
The jury is out on whether the Luxury Card™ Mastercard® Black Card™ is one that you should be carrying around in your pocket, assuming you meet its strict application requirements. Only you can decide whether the $495 annual cost of carrying one is worth the benefits, but the right card for you is out there, and it may have an annual fee you can feel better about — year after year!
Advertiser Disclosure
CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
Share This Article
About the Author
![[card_field card_choice='11716' field_choice='title'] Review (Benefits, Rebates, Rewards & Application)](https://www.cardrates.com/images/uploads/2016/10/gm-card-review.png?width=158&height=120&fit=crop "[card_field card_choice='11716' field_choice='title'] Review (Benefits, Rebates, Rewards & Application)")
