Amex Sent Out A Survey
American Express sent out surveys regarding possible changes to the Blue Cash Preferred® Card.
The survey included three different card options with increased annual fees, different earning multipliers, and new credits.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card is a popular cash back choice because of strong earning categories like 6% on grocery stores and streaming services - plus 3% back on transit and gas.
When the card was released in 2012, its annual fee started at $75.
Then the annual fee increased to $95 in 2016, where it remains today.
$95 back in 2016 is the same purchasing power of $130 in 2026 - meaning an annual fee increase around that price point probably makes sense.
Issuers often don’t like crossing the $100 threshold because of common marketing principles.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card includes a $120 Disney streaming credit, which already offsets the annual fee.
If the proposed changes become final, there likely will be more credits, benefits, and hopefully positive user feedback.
The strategy worked for other popular Amex travel cards and now may start with cash back credit cards as well.
Surveys do not guarantee changes in the future, but can be a strong indicator something different is coming soon for the card.
Here’s all three possible options of the new card:
