Ever seen celebrities or other well-to-do people flash their black cards? Been longing to get one? In this article, we’ll tell you about the heaviest credit cards and how to apply.
What are the heaviest credit cards?
- JP Morgan Reserve
- Luxury Card Master Card Gold Card
- Citi AAdvantage Executive
- AMEX Centurion
- AMEX Platinum
- HSBC Elite Credit Card
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite Credit Card
Is there a correlation between the weight of the card and its price? There’s no definitive answer, but we have observed that the lightest cards have no annual fee, and the heaviest one, the JP Morgan Reserve, is invite-only and requires you to have $10 million in investible assets as a prerequisite.
Let’s compare the features of some of the heaviest credit cards that exist.
JP Morgan Reserve
The JP Morgan Reserve is the heaviest credit card, weighing 27 grams. To get this ultra-exclusive credit card, you need to have 10 million dollars worth of investible assets and be a client of JP Morgan Private Bank. You also won’t find an application link online for this card because it’s invite-only.
Luxury Card Master Card Gold Card
This gold-plated card is the second heaviest one, weighing 22 grams, and has a $995 annual fee. This card comes with perks like no foreign transaction fee, surprise luxury gifts, and 24/7 access to Luxury Card Concierge, among its other benefits.
Citi AAdvantage Executive
This card is the third heaviest card, weighing 18 grams. The annual fee for the Citi AAdvantage Executive card is $450, which makes this card look affordable compared to the first two.
Some of the perks offered with this card are complimentary Admirals Club membership with two free guest entries and many other travel credit bonus points that will be of value to you if you are a frequent flier with American Airlines.
Seven different cards are in a tie for the fourth heaviest card. All these cards weigh 17 grams, but they differ in their annual fees and perks. The first is the AMEX Centurion.
AMEX Centurion
The AMEX Centurion is an invite-only card that weighs only 17 grams but has an annual fee of $5,000, which is higher than some of the heavier cards. This American Express card has no credit limit and is rumored to be the only card that you use to buy a plane.
AMEX Platinum
The American Express Platinum card will set you back $695 annually, but offers a number of benefits. The platinum card is one of the best offers ever, called the 150k+10x offer. This lets you earn 150,000 MR points after you spend $6,000 in the first six months, plus 10x points on restaurant bills, and up to $25k in the first six months. However, this offer is a referral only.
HSBC Elite Credit Card
The HSBC Elite Credit Card has a variety of travel benefits and other rewards, and will cost you $395 per year.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has a small $95 annual fee, which is waived for the first year. It lets you earn as you spend, with a variety of unique rewards. For example, they offer 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and streaming; 3% cash back on grocery stores; and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite Credit Card
The City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite Credit Card has a $400 annual fee. However, while this card had a lot of great benefits, most of them have now been canceled, leading to many people giving up this card.
Why do cardholders prefer heavy credit cards?
Most credit cards are made of plastic and weigh approximately 5 grams. However, some credit cards are heavier and weigh up to 27 grams.
These heavier cards are made of metal and speak to the owner’s prestige and status. They look fancy and come with premium rewards and perks, but often have a high annual fee. A metal credit card is a good status symbol, but it could literally and figuratively be a burden on your pockets.
What is the difference between metal cards and plastic cards?
While in terms of functionality, most metal credit cards are very similar to plastic ones, the biggest difference is in aesthetics. This means that the metal cards are heavier and flashier. Most credit card companies (except Vital) give their wealthier customers metal cards, whereas the vast majority of people are given plastic cards.
The metal cards tend to have better perks and a high annual fee or minimum spend. Furthermore, metal cards are sturdy and won’t bend or break like your plastic cards often do.
Metal credit cards can be of varying weights, ranging from approximately 10g to 27g. They’re made of metals and alloys like brass, carbon, and stainless steel. You’ll even find credit cards made of gold and palladium.
Anyone with a high credit score can apply for a plastic credit card, but the best metal cards are issued by invite only and charge hefty annual fees that only the creme de la creme can afford. However, Vital is a credit card company that is now making metal credit cards accessible to you without any annual fee.
What to think about before getting a metal credit card?
While elevating your social status by whipping out a fancy metal credit card at your next party can be tempting, the flashiness of the card shouldn’t be the only factor you consider. Instead, read the fine print on the card’s perks and study its features. Then, as you compare the metal card to your current card, consider whether your usage of the bonuses will make it worth paying the hefty annual fee.
For example, Vital offers you perks like referral bonuses and cash-back rewards that could be very handy. And since Vital charges just $99 for the annual cost of membership, you can enjoy the flashiness of the metal card without paying the high annual fees that some other metal cards require.
How can you get a heavy credit card?
A handpicked number of people have access to the invite-only cards. Some of the other heavier cards require you to pay a very significant sum as an annual fee, which isn’t worth it for most people. So, is there a way you can get a heavy credit card that also fits your needs?
Yes. Vital makes metal credit cards more accessible to all. You can get a gold, rose gold, or black metal card with Vital if you’re a member. If you’re not a member and you want to apply, stay tuned for our launch.
Sources
“Nerd Wallet’s Best Metal Credit Cards,” Nerdwallet
“Metal Credit Cards: The Latest American Status Symbol,” Marketwatch
Vital Card blog posts are intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or any other type of advice.