New American Express cards that earn Membership Rewards now get their own rewards account instead of pooling into your existing balance. To combine the points, you link the new card's account yourself under Manage Connections, in the Amex app or online.
What Changed
Amex updated its Membership Rewards terms, which are labeled October 2026. The terms say that when you open a new product, a new Rewards Account is created and linked to that product. Once accounts are linked, the points earned on each linked product are consolidated into a single points balance.
Reports describe the change as applying to newly opened cards. Amex's terms don't come with a list of affected cards, and the outlets we read name no effective date beyond the October 2026 label, so check your own account.
How to Pool a New Card's Points
- Open Manage Connections in the Amex app, or sign in on the Amex website and find it there.
- Connect the new card's Rewards Account to your existing one.
- Allow a few hours for the change to show.
Amex's terms also say you can add or remove cards by calling the number on the back of your card.
What to Do Now
If you open a Membership Rewards card from here on, link its account before you plan a transfer or close or change any card. Our Membership Rewards guide covers what the points are worth once they're pooled.
