If you’re looking for information on what you’ll need to get a Black Card, 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 a 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 a close rival.
With its strict application requirements and VIP perks, the Black Card is one of the most elusive cards on the market. In January 2016, the Black Card was rebranded as the 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.
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Rebranded to the Mastercard® Black Card™ in 2016
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.
You’ll need sterling credit, a history of high-dollar purchases, and enough funds to afford a steep annual fee. If that describes you, read on to uncover the many other pros and cons of this elusive card.
In 2016, the Black Card got a new network and was rebranded as the Mastercard® Black Card™. It offers a patented Black-PVD-Coated stainless steel front and carbon back for “durability and distinction.” Laser-engraved card details (including your name) put the finishing touches on this card, solidifying it as both a work of art and a status symbol.
4.5
- Ideal for those seeking a top-of-wallet premium card with straightforward rewards and exceptional service. Cardmembers can avoid juggling various cards and monthly statements while benefiting from travel perks and enhanced protection that exceeds standard credit cards.
- Offers a flat-rate redemption value of 1.5% for cash back or 2% value for airfare redemption with no airline or seat restrictions and no blackout dates. Cardmembers earn one point for every dollar spent. Point redemption is simple, without requiring a complex reward strategy. The card features no foreign transaction fees, no earning caps, no rotating categories, and eliminates the need to pursue transfer partners to maximize point values.
- Annual Airline Credit—up to $100 in statement credits toward flight-related purchases including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more. Cardmembers simply pay for airline purchases with their Mastercard Black Card and the credit is automatically applied to their account. There’s no need to activate or designate an airline. The full credit amount is available at the start of the calendar year.
- Up to a $120 application fee credit for the cost of TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry. Also, enjoy automatic enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select with access to 1,500+ airport lounges worldwide with no guest or lounge limits. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.
- 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®—Make requests the way you want by phone, email, SMS and chat in the app. Connect directly with a real agent and receive 24/7 assistance for tasks big and small. Requests do not require a purchase, incur no charge for making them, and do not involve department transfers.
- 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. Receive protection benefits like trip cancellation and interruption, auto rental car collision waiver, travel accident and baggage delay. Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
- Black PVD-Coated Metal Card: Weighing in at an industry-leading 22g. Designed for frequent shoppers, big ticket purchases and everything in between.
- Annual Fee: $495 ($195 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, (and for balance transfers that do not post within 45 days of account opening) the APR will be 20.24% to 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
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20.24% to 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers, based on your creditworthiness and other factors
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$495 ($195 for each Authorized User added to the account)
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Excellent
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Unlike other “Black Cards” on the market, the Mastercard® Black Card™ can be applied for online via the Luxury Card website. But while it offers no published minimums for approval, it’s safe to assume you’ll need at least good credit and a relatively 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. Applicants cannot request a specific initial credit limit, and the issuer determines the credit line based on your profile — and without taking into account any balance transfer requests.
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.
A Heavy Card With a Hefty Annual Fee
Along with the status that comes with this card, there’s also a hefty $495 annual fee. It is expected that owning this card will come with many plush perks. Only personal preference can determine if the fee is worth it.
This metal card weighs 22 grams, which is five grams heavier than , another premium card with an expensive annual fee.
Approval Requirements
Barclays doesn’t openly publicize its requirements for obtaining the , 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 (800+)
Naturally, the requires an excellent credit score, which is 800 or higher on the FICO index. When being trusted with a high spending limit, you need 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 excellent at paying back thousands in purchases every month even to 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 Additional Elite Credit Card Options
As elite as the card may seem, the 1.5% cash back is a little bit underwhelming for the $495 annual fee. If you want bigger bonuses and more widely accepted perks that can more than make up for a steep annual fee, the following cards may be more appealing.
4.7
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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N/A
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N/A
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21.49% – 28.49% Variable
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$550
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Good/Excellent
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4.7
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new card to make $8,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly through airlines or American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Also earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
- $200 annual hotel credit, $200 annual airline fee credit, $15 monthly Uber cash credit, $50 bi-annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and more.
- Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Global Lounge Collection®, including 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries.
- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. Enrollment required.
- Choose among three card designs
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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N/A
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N/A
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20.24% – 29.24% Pay Over Time
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$695
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Excellent
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4.7
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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N/A
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N/A
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19.99% – 29.24% (Variable)
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$395
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Excellent
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4.5
- Ideal for those seeking a top-of-wallet premium card with straightforward rewards and exceptional service. Cardmembers can avoid juggling various cards and monthly statements while benefiting from travel perks and enhanced protection that exceeds standard credit cards.
- Offers a flat-rate redemption value of 2% for cash back or 2% value for airfare redemption with no airline or seat restrictions and no blackout dates. Cardmembers earn one point for every dollar spent. Point redemption is simple, without requiring a complex reward strategy. The card features no foreign transaction fees, no earning caps, no rotating categories, and eliminates the need to pursue transfer partners to maximize point values.
- Annual Airline Credit—up to $200 in statement credits toward flight-related purchases including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more. Cardmembers simply pay for airline purchases with their Mastercard Gold Card and the credit is automatically applied to their account. There’s no need to activate or designate an airline. The full credit amount is available at the start of the calendar year.
- Up to a $120 application fee credit for the cost of TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry. Also, enjoy automatic enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select with access to 1,500+ airport lounges worldwide with no guest or lounge limits. Includes credits at select airport restaurants for cardholder and one guest.
- 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®—Make requests the way you want by phone, email, SMS and chat in the app. Connect directly with a real agent and receive 24/7 assistance for tasks big and small. Requests do not require a purchase, incur no charge for making them, and do not involve department transfers.
- 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. Receive protection benefits like trip cancellation and interruption, auto rental car collision waiver, travel accident and baggage delay. Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
- Made with 24K Gold: Weighing in at an industry-leading 22g. Designed for frequent shoppers, big ticket purchases and everything in between.
- Annual Fee: $995 ($295 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, (and for balance transfers that do not post within 45 days of account opening) the APR will be 20.24% to 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
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20.24% to 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers, based on your creditworthiness and other factors
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$995 ($295 for each Authorized User added to the account)
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Excellent
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4.4
- Designed for those seeking an introductory premium travel card with exceptional airfare redemption, access to hotel privileges, and elevated service that most conventional cards do not provide. Cardmembers also receive protection benefits that exceed those of standard credit cards.
- Offers a flat-rate redemption value of 1% for cash back or 2% value for airfare redemption with no airline or seat restrictions and no blackout dates. Cardmembers earn one point for every dollar spent. Point redemption is simple, without requiring a complex reward strategy. The card features no foreign transaction fees, no earning caps, no rotating categories, and eliminates the need to pursue transfer partners to maximize point values.
- 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®—Make requests the way you want by phone, email, SMS and chat in the app. Connect directly with a real agent and receive 24/7 assistance for tasks big and small. Requests do not require a purchase, incur no charge for making them, and do not involve department transfers.
- 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. Receive protection benefits like trip cancellation and interruption, auto rental car collision waiver, travel accident and baggage delay. Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
- Brushed Metal Card Design: Weighing in at an industry-leading 22g. Designed for frequent shoppers, big ticket purchases and everything in between.
- Annual fee: $195 ($95 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, (and for balance transfers that do not post within 45 days of account opening) the APR will be 20.24% to 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
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20.24% to 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers, based on your creditworthiness and other factors
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$195 ($95 for each Authorized User added to the account)
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Excellent
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While some of these cards may cost a pretty penny, annual-fee-wise, the perks, and bonuses can easily offset those costs if you use them correctly. And if you still haven’t found the right card, here are some other high-limit credit cards that you can qualify for with an excellent credit rating.
So, Is the Black Card Right for You?
The jury is out on whether the 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 (perhaps even one of the five others I highlighted earlier), and it may have an annual fee, so you can feel better about it year after year!
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