American Express — Carta Blu Carta Blu
A plan byAmerican Express — Carta Blu · American Express
The American Express Blue Card is an option credit card on the proprietary Amex network, free the first year then €35/year. It is the "cashback" card of the consumer range: 1% back on purchases (0.5% if you always stay on the zero-fee tier), credited to the Card Account every 12 months. It requires income ≥€11,000, charges a 2.5% FX fee and carries the lower acceptance of the Amex network versus Visa/Mastercard.
Carta Blu
- Annual price
- €35
What's included
- Free 1st year, then €35/year
- 1% cashback (0.5% on the zero-fee tier)
- Up to 4 free supplementary cards
- Travel insurance up to €50,000 · purchase protection €250
- FX 2.5% · APR 17.48% · income required ≥€11,000
The clause
That 1% on the banner isn't what you pocket.
After FX markup, fees and withdrawals, on an average profile of €1,000/mo (20% abroad).
Data & conditions
| Network | American Express |
|---|---|
| Card type | Revolving credit |
| Backing | Unsecured |
| APR | 17.48% (variable) |
| Credit limit | €10,000 |
| Issuing bank | American Express |
| Issuance fee | Free |
| Annual fee | €35/year |
| ATM withdrawal | 3.9% |
| FX markup | 2.5% |
| Cashback | 1% |
| Contactless | Yes |
| Virtual card | Yes |
| KYC | Full |
| Privacy | 2/10 |
| Supported countries | EEA · 1+ countries |
| Funding / solidity | Circuito globale American Express · carta di credito a cashback entry-level |
| Regulator | Banca d'Italia (vigilanza istituti di pagamento) |
| Segment | B2C |
| Funding / solidity | Global American Express network · entry-level cashback credit card |
| MiCA / License status | Istituto di pagamento / emittente carte (American Express) American Express card issuer (IT) |
Strengths
- Free the first year and a low fee (€35/year) from the second
- Simple 1% cashback on all purchases, credited every 12 months
- Up to 4 free supplementary cards and zero-liability fraud protection
- Travel accident insurance up to €50,000 and purchase protection up to €250 (max €1,000/year)
- No notable sovereignty advantage documented.
Weaknesses
- 2.5% FX fee on foreign-currency purchases
- Cashback drops to 0.5% if you always stay on the zero-fee tier and never pay the fee
- American Express network less accepted than Visa/Mastercard, especially at small merchants
- Expensive cash withdrawals (3.9%, minimum €2.60) and income requirement ≥€11,000
- Traditional credit card: not self-custody — the account requires full KYC, a credit check, and can be closed or reported to credit bureaus by the issuer.
- Full KYC required: verified identity, zero pseudonymity.
- Funds can be frozen at the platform’s discretion.
- Subject to regulation (American Express card issuer (IT)): reporting to authorities and freezes on order.
- FATF-aligned jurisdiction: strong cooperation with authorities.
Verdict
The Blue Card is the most accessible Amex credit card: free the first year, €35/year after, with a flat 1% cashback that for the average spender easily repays the fee. The limits are the 2.5% FX fee, the cashback halved to 0.5% if you never pay the fee, and the lower acceptance of the Amex network. Overall a balanced choice for those wanting simple low-cost cashback, with an above-average rating.
A credit card is a credit line, not custody of funds: there is neither self-custody nor a user balance here. It remains, however, a fully tracked and censorable instrument — full KYC, an American Express (US group) issuer that profiles transactions and can suspend the line. On the sovereignty lens it is the opposite of trustless tools: no anonymity, no censorship resistance.
Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.
"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.
FAQ
How much does the Amex Blue Card cost?
It is free the first year, then €35/year from the second. It requires gross annual income ≥€11,000 and a SEPA bank account.
How does the cashback work?
You get 1% on Card purchases, credited to the Card Account every 12 months; it drops to 0.5% if you always stay on the zero-fee tier. Withdrawals, interest, fees and charges earn no cashback.
Sources
- Official service page Quota · Requisiti Data verified on Jul 12, 2026