What happened
View from the Wing reports that newly opened U.S. Membership Rewards products now create a separate rewards account instead of adding points to an existing pooled balance. Cards already held keep their current account.
Balances can still be merged through Manage Connections, a process quoted at up to 24 hours. The in-app linking option may not appear right after a new card is opened, and cards under the same login are not automatically the same rewards account. Canceling a card forfeits that rewards account's points if it is the last product linked to it, even if another Membership Rewards card stays open. Cardmembers with a New York billing address get a 90-day redemption exception under state law.
Amex gave no reason. View from the Wing notes separate business and personal balances as a possible rationale. India stops transfers between cards on November 15, 2026, a stricter rule than the U.S. policy that still allows linking. Link a new card's rewards account and confirm the combined balance before canceling anything.
- Numbers
- 50,000 points: example Gold card balance that would stay in a separate account
- 150,000 points: example new Platinum earnings that could be forfeited if not combined before canceling
- 90 days: New York billing-address post-cancellation redemption exception
- 30 days: possible redemption window after the last linked Corporate Card is canceled
- 2 points per dollar: Blue Business Plus earn rate on the first $50,000 of eligible spend each calendar year
- $50,000: annual eligible-purchase cap for Blue Business Plus 2x earning
- 1 points per dollar: Blue Business Plus earn rate after the annual 2x cap
- November 15, 2026 date: date Amex India stops transfers between cards
- 24 hours: quoted time for newly linked balances to combine
- Where
- New York, India
- Takeaway
- After opening a new Amex card, link its rewards account and verify the combined balance before you cancel anything.