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Check an American Express Gift Card balance at balance.amexgiftcard.com. Enter the card number, expiration date, and four-digit Security Code printed on the front, then submit the form. If you prefer not to use the website, American Express lists 1-888-846-4308 for balance checks.
Check your balance online
- Open the official checker at balance.amexgiftcard.com. American Express also gives amexgiftcard.com/balance as a balance-check path.
- Enter the Gift Card number, expiration date, and four-digit Security Code printed on the front of the card.
- Submit the form and read the balance shown by the official checker.
American Express’s FAQ gives the same instruction: “Simply go to https://balance.amexgiftcard.com and enter your Gift Card’s 4- digit Security Code located on the front of the card, Expiration Date, and Card Number.”
Check by phone
Call 1-888-846-4308, the balance-check phone number listed by American Express. The FAQ does not state a different fee for checking online versus by phone.
Before using the remaining balance
Ask about split payment
If the purchase costs more than the available card balance, tell the cashier how much to charge to the Gift Card and how much to charge to another payment method. A merchant may be able to split the payment, but not all merchants allow split tender.
#1 Best Overall
Allow for authorization holds
For some transaction types, a merchant may place an authorization hold of up to 20% above the purchase amount. That can leave less available to spend than the displayed balance until the transaction is finalized. For the preauthorizations described in its FAQ, American Express says merchant finalization can take up to 7 business days.
Check whether the purchase is eligible
American Express says Gift Cards are accepted at U.S. merchants that accept American Express, but some uses are excluded, including recurring billing and ATM transactions. Merchant rules and authorization holds can also affect whether a transaction goes through.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Use the agreement for your card type
Terms can vary by card. American Express provides separate agreements for personal and business cards and for physical Gift Cards and eGift Cards. Consult the agreement that applies to your card on the American Express Cardholder Agreements page rather than assuming every card has identical terms.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
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