Some credit cards are meant only for the super-ultra rich and famous of this world. These exclusive cards mostly come at a hefty annual fee – but the great services and the exclusivity of the cards make it worthy. After all, owning one of these cards sets the owner a class apart from others. Here is a list of the most exclusive cards of this world, which may be out of reach for the majority of the population.
The Black Card – The American Express Centurion® Card
The exclusivity of the American Express Black Card is evident from the fact that you cannot apply for the card, but rather, you will have to wait for an invitation to use this card. All clients who are invited to use the Black Card should use the American Express Platinum Card for at least a year. They should also spend a minimum amount of $250,000 through the year and must have paid their monthly balance on time.
Even the spending pattern should reflect the fact that the client has a taste for exclusive luxury. Thus, the monthly charges should include frequent high-end travels, purchases made in some of the most exclusive stores of the world, a taste for luxurious entertainment and other similar lifestyle choices.
The bank must find your personal finances to be impeccable, and should be convinced that you have sufficient assets to repay vast amounts of money. The cards come at an annual fee of $2,500 and the newest Black Cards are made from titanium.
The handful Black Card owners of this world can experience unique luxuries that include a personally assigned concierge, arrival at events in chauffeured limousines, arrangement of advanced seating in the finest selection and numerous other benefits. The Centurion Black Card, they say, is more than just a card. This is a small global community of the rich and the prosperous.
In a controversy surrounding this exclusive card, Courtney Love, Kurt Cobain’s wife, was taken to court by American Express, for unpaid charges to her cards, which includes over $279K in unpaid charges on her Black Card.
American Express Platinum Card
American Express Platinum Card is yet another card known for its prestige and the status symbol that it represents. Though this card is not as exclusive as the Black card, it still has its own power. The Amex Platinum will help to enhance your lifestyle and give you an experience that you never expected before.
Travel benefits of the card include access to airport lounges throughout the world, along with various kinds of insurances, which will make traveling a much easier option. The card also comes with various shopping benefits and amazing reward points. You will also have access to a 24 hour Concierge Service and the Fine Hotels & Resorts Program.
With the money to own an American Express Platinum Card, you will also be able to enjoy the American Express Skybox and attend “Card Member Only” Fashion Show and other Invitation Only® Experiences.
The Visa Infinite
The Visa Infinite Credit Card is the most prestigious card by Visa and you can own one of these cards only by invitation. With a Visa Infinite at your disposal, you will be able to enjoy great purchasing power, as well as a number of exclusive benefits. A Visa Infinite card holder will be able to experience an exciting collection of world class travel, shopping and entertainment opportunities.
The card comes with a 24 hour concierge service, Elite hotel privileges with a complimentary TabletPlus membership and a number of other services.
Stratus Rewards Visa
A new company called Stratus Rewards has begun to issue a new white plastic Visa card that is meant to rival American Express’s Black Card. Instead of the regular frequent flier miles, this card offers points that can be redeemed for free hours on a private jet, after which the user can take a private tour of the Pyramids in Egypt or the Louvre.
The card, owing to all its “exclusivity” involves a lot of money. A cardholder will have to spend $195,000, so that they can earn enough points to get a seven-seat Cessna jet for an hour. If you want the private tour after the flight, it will require spending of thousands of more dollars.
Though Stratus aims at establishing itself as an alternative to the converted Black Card, the biggest drawback of the card is that there is no guarantee that the company will still be around after a cardholder has collected the required number of points.
Organizations can hand out the Stratus Credit Card to its employers, who can help to add to the points. You also have the option of using the card with a pool of friends.
This exclusive card comes at an annual fee of US$1500.
The Coutts & Co.’s World Card
The Coutts & Co – The Bank of the Queen and part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, offers a card to its private clients that are known to be even rarer and more exclusive than the American Express Black card. Only about 100 odd people in this world have access to this card. Queen Elizabeth II is the proud owner of one of these super exclusive cards. This World Card from Coutts & Co. is only offered to clients of Coutts and the clients need to have millions in their assets to get to use this card.
The exclusive look of the World Card MasterCard was designed by the British tailor Ozwald Boateng, who gave up the typical World Card branding and came up with a style that is modern and uses his trademark purple color that makes the unique card a delight to spend in a royal fashion!
Apart from all the benefits of a high end credit card, the World Card proves to be extremely useful when you need to shop in the middle of the night. Your private concierge will arrange an after hour shopping session, anywhere you want. There is an annual fee of 350 pounds on this card.
Barclays Bank’s new Black Visa Card
The Barclay’s Visa Black Card comes at a charge of $495 annually, serving the uber-rich and wealthy. Produced from stunning black graphite, this credit card from Barclay’s bank is perhaps the most durable plastic money around.
It also acts as an exclusive credit purchasing tool that you can use anywhere, anytime. The 24 hour concierge service makes it a delight for people who require assistance to get the tough job done – need a private jet out of an island? Need to do some shopping after the shops are closed? No, problem. Just call your concierge service. However, the Black Visa Card is not for everyone. It is available to just 1% of the residents of the U.S., so that the bank is assured that only the best given to the cardholders.
Diamond-Studded Dubai First Royale MasterCard
If a titanium credit card is not enough for the super rich, why not choose a diamond studded one? After all, what could reflect your status better than this? The Diamond-Studded Dubai First Royale MasterCard is unfortunately available only in Dubai and is an intensely prestigious card that has no spending limit!
This cool card is meant only for a “select group” who meet the requirements of the bank, showing themselves worthy of a high social standing and a great profile. The cards are handcrafted, with golden metallic border and studded with certified diamonds.
The cards are designed by Inno Designs that are known internationally for their exclusive designs. They are the first of its kind to use metal implant technology and certified diamonds in credit cards. This exclusive card is not available to more than 200 people.
The card holder of First Royale MasterCard can have access to a personal relationship manager to meet all the financial and personal lifestyle needs. They will also have access to the various hospitality brands, polo clubs, VIP restaurants and so on in more than 13 international locations.
So exclusive are these credit cards that only nine cards can be manufactured each day and it involves 36 processes of manufacturing.
Chase SapphireSM Credit Card
The Chase SapphireSM Credit Card is meant to create a better life for the rich and the moneyed. It provides a number of features that are especially designed for their exclusive clients. Cardholders can receive 10,000 bonus points after the first purchase with the card. There are no blackout dates or spending limit on this card.
The exclusive card holders are also offered a number of travel benefits and shopping benefits. Security protection as well as financial flexibility is afforded by the Chase SapphireSM Credit Card.
Citi Chairman American Express
This card is especially designed to carter to the needs of those exclusive clients who travel the world and require the highest level of service. The benefits of this cardholder includes access to personal Concierge service, airport lounge access, upgrades and discounts to various hotels, private-jet privileges and so on.
The annual membership charge of this card is $500.
Merrill Lynch Visa Signature Rewards
The Merrill Lynch Visa Signature Rewards is a Visa card that is issued by the Bank of America with special investment privileges, based on the total spending of the cardholder. There is an annual fee of $95 for owning this card, though the prices may sometimes rise up higher.
People owning this card will gave a direct access to the Merrill Lynch Cash Management Account® or Beyond Banking® account. In addition, there are no due dates. No interests or late fees to be paid.
Bank of America Accolades Card
Bank of America has introduced an American Express Accoldates credit card that is targeted towards high end, wealthy private clients of the Bank. The card represents luxury and a high standard of lifestyle that many can never imagine.
This premium card is comes at an annual fee of $295. The main competitor of its credit card is the American Express Centurion Card, which provides its cardholders with unparallel benefits.
Using the American Accolades credit card will help you earn points that can be redeemed for luxury vacations, cooking lessons, a 24 hour concierge service and so on.
Amex Red Card
Now you can indulge in your shopping, and yet do it with a clear conscience, as you know that you are helping to raise money for the right against AIDS in Africa. The Red Card from Amex donates money to charity when you pay money using the Red card.
A number of renowned brands like Armani, Gap, Converse and American Express have joined this novel campaign. The back of the Red card, introduced Bono, says:
“This card is designed to eliminate HIV in Africa.”
This exclusive card is now not only a symbol of status that will be used by a number of celebrities, but also a great way to make good use of your money. The red credit card is a great charity credit card that offers excellent customer benefits.
There is no annual fee for this card. The fancy red card will also make you eligible for special “invite-only” events. The card is advertised by Gisele Bündchen and Elle Macpherson, along with Bono, in the U.K. The song “The Way I Are” by Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson, also mentions the Red American Express Credit card.
