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Amex No Longer Pools Membership Rewards Points on New Cards: How to Link Your Accounts
September 27, 2026
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The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
If you open a new American Express card that earns Membership Rewards® points, those points no longer land in your existing balance automatically. Amex updated its program terms in October 2026, and each new card now gets its own Rewards Account until you link it.
Linking takes a few minutes. Skipping it could leave points stranded on a card you later close, so it is worth doing as soon as a new card arrives.
What Changed With Amex Membership Rewards?
Until now, Amex pooled Membership Rewards points from all of your cards into one balance, as long as the cards were under the same login. You did not have to do anything.
Under the updated terms, which took effect immediately, every enrolled card is tied to a Rewards Account. When you open a new card, Amex creates a new Rewards Account for it. If you have more than one Rewards Account, you can choose to link some or all of your cards to the same one, and points from linked cards combine into a single balance.
The change appears to apply only to newly opened cards. Cards you already hold seem to stay pooled as they were, at least for now.
Juggling more than one Amex card? Kudos shows which card in your wallet earns the most on each purchase. See 8 ways to get more from the Amex Gold.
How Do You Link Amex Membership Rewards Accounts?
Amex gives you two ways to connect a new card's Rewards Account to your main one:
- Online or in the Amex App. Log in and go to the Manage Connections option. From there, you can connect your Rewards Accounts so linked cards share one points balance. Amex notes that additional terms may apply when you connect accounts online.
- By phone. Call the number on the back of your card. You can add cards to, or remove cards from, a Rewards Account at any time this way.
Once the accounts are linked, points you earn on each connected card go into one combined balance. You can then redeem or transfer them together.
Make it a habit: Link each new card the week it arrives, alongside activating it and enrolling in its credits. It is much easier than trying to remember months later.
Adding a new Amex card? Add it to your Kudos wallet too. Kudos recommends the best card for each purchase across everything you carry, so your new card earns its top rate where it counts.
Credits and perks are easy to lose track of. Kudos Premium keeps your card benefits in one place and reminds you before they reset. See how perk tracking works.
Why Does This Change Matter?
For anyone who links their accounts, day-to-day earning and redeeming should work the same as before. The risk is for cardholders who don't realize a new card has its own balance.
Unlinked Points Could Be Lost
Membership Rewards points generally stay available as long as the account holding them remains open. If a new card's points sit in a separate Rewards Account and you close that card before moving them, you could forfeit them. Before closing any Amex card, confirm its points are in a linked account or redeem them first.
Card-Specific Transfer Rules Are Possible
Amex has not said why it made the change. Some industry observers have pointed out that separate accounts would make it easier for an issuer to set different transfer ratios by card, as Chase and Citi have done with some of their cards. Nothing like that has been announced for Membership Rewards, so treat it as a possibility to watch rather than a confirmed plan.
Business and Personal Points Can Stay Separate
Linking is optional. If you prefer to keep points from a business card apart from your personal points, separate Rewards Accounts make that simple.
Which Amex Cards Earn Membership Rewards Points?
The change affects any new American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points. Two of the most popular are The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card. If you just opened either one after earning a Welcome Offer on another Amex card, check that the new card is linked to your main Rewards Account.
[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["106", "118"], "bestCategoryIds": ["17", "15"], "bestForTexts": ["Premium Travel", "Dining and Groceries"]} ]]
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Amex automatically combine Membership Rewards points?
Not for new cards anymore. Each newly opened card gets its own Rewards Account, and you have to link it to combine points with your existing balance.
Are my existing Amex cards affected?
Based on the updated terms, the change applies when you open a new card. Existing cards appear to remain pooled for now.
Where is Manage Connections in the Amex App?
Log in to the Amex App or americanexpress.com and look for the Manage Connections option. You can also call the number on the back of your card to link or unlink cards.
Can I unlink a card after I connect it?
Yes. Amex says you can add or remove cards from a Rewards Account at any time by calling the number on the back of your card.
What happens to my points if I close a card?
If the card's points are in a Rewards Account that won't stay open, you risk losing them. Link the card to an account you are keeping, or use the points, before you close it.
The Bottom Line
New Amex cards no longer add points to your main Membership Rewards balance on their own. Link each new card through Manage Connections or by phone, and check where a card's points live before you close it.
Once your accounts are set, the next step is earning as many points as possible. Kudos recommends the best card in your wallet for every purchase, so each of your Amex cards earns where it is strongest.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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