Back in 2010 American Express launched the American Express Zync card, the card has not been available for new sign ups for some time. American Express has sent out letters to existing cardholders with a preset spending limit informing them that these cards will be closed on 3/30, this is frustrating for some as this is their oldest card (a factor in determining your FICO score). Normally when a card issuer closes cards like this they are product changed into a different card and cardholders keep their account history but for some reason American Express doesn’t seem to be doing that in this case.
The Zync card did come with a distinctive design (pictured below) and I’ve seen some speculation that American Express might use this design for the new card in between Platinum & Centurion (code name ‘Optio’). At this stage that is nothing more than speculation but I think it could work.
FYI if anybody still is monitoring, I just got my Zync renewed. They keep sending it, I keep using it.
Looks like active Zync Cards will remain. Thank goodness, my Zync will live on!
https://thepointsguy.com/news/amex-not-closing-all-zync-accounts/
Pretty sure all cards with a pre set spending limit are being cancelled, we updated our post to reflect that awhile ago.
I, too, am a member of the AmEx White Card cult and have the charge version and accordingly haven’t received any notice of cancellation. (I thought all Zyncs were charge cards without preset credit limits!)
And FWIW, I’m also a legacy AmEx One cardholder. Interestingly, they recently replaced my One card with a new card that has the same exact design as the Zync! So it’s a One with the body of a Zync. Has this happened to anyone else?
It looks like this article needs to be updated. From Amex themselves, it seems that only ZYNC cards with hard limits will be closed. ZYNC cards with a No Preset Spend Limit (NPSL) are remaining open. As always, this is not forever and any card program, anytime can be discontinued. I have a NPSL ZYNC and have not received any information regarding a closure. In fact, my January statement outlined that my $25 annual fee will be charged in February.
Updating post
Spoke with Amex.. Change is only for zync cards with fixed CL. mine is charge card so they said no change to it..
Wow, this is very disappointing news. I was hoping this day would never come.
Zync is one of my oldest cards and my first Amex, it was very accessible back then with it’s $25 annual fee, it definitely paid for itself over the years. It really is one of my favorite cards.
I was able to product change a few years ago to a gold card I guess they decided to lose the window :/
Not sure how reliable this is but I contacted Amex and below is their response regarding my Zync account:
”
Hello, I heard that American Express will discontinue the Zync card and close current accounts. Is is true?
You – 10:10 AM
Pearl has joined the conversation
Hi, This is Pearl. Hope you are doing well.
Please allow me a few moments to review your above chat.
Pearl – 10:10 AM
I’ll certainly check the information and help.
Pearl – 10:11 AM
Thank you.
You – 10:11 AM
Thank you for your patience.
Pearl – 10:13 AM
I check the details and your Zync card will not have any changes.
Pearl – 10:14 AM
The changes are for different type of zync cards
“
It would be kind of cool if Amex made Optio into a grown-up version of Zync with pick-your-own 5x categories, kind of like how Zync Packs used to work.
A sort of “a la card,” if you will.
..I’ll show myself out. 🙂
Can you downgrade a Personal Gold into something else? My spouses Zync account has an offer to upgrade to a Gold, and if I can downgrade it in a year, I can keep it open (it shows 21 years right now.) But the offer is only 35-40k MR I think for the Gold. And we don’t really need a Gold, we just keep it open because the annual fee is low, and the fee ain’t nothing on a Gold…