With the technical advancement in the world economics and politics, the system of monetary handling and banking has been changed entirely. With the advancement in this age of computer technology, new modes of transferring money have been introduced apart from paper money and coins. Now, credit cards are widely used. In fact it is anticipated that in developing nations, most of the people handle their money transactions via credit cards. While for the middle class people, credit cards means to get loan from the bank for a specific time, when the money is short. For the rich and the upper class, credit card is a symbol of power and wealth. Credit cards offer a lot of favors like hotel upgrades, private lounges in airport, private jets, holiday destination packages and much more. But to access to these luxuries isn’t that easy. Here is the list of top 10 most expensive and popular credit cards in the history:
10. Black Brazilian MasterCard from the Santander Group
Black Brazilian MasterCard from the Santander Group is tenth in the list of top ten most expensive and popular credit cards in the history. Black Brazilian Master Card is an exclusive card for those living in Latin America. Even in a region like Latin America, it is hard to access this card easily. To get hold of this card, one must be a member of Santander Group’s private bank. The invitation for holding the card is send only to those who are the members of Santander Group. It is unknown as to how much money the cardholder should have in their account for the invitation. But the facts tell us that there are only three thousand Black Brazilian MasterCard circulating in entire Latin America, which makes this card highly privileged and rare. The card features a limit that is correlated to assets. The benefits of holding Brazilian Card Black include 24/7 concierge services, private jets and yachts discounts, worldwide airport lounge access and much more.
9. Merrill Accolades American Express
The Merrill Accolades American Express Card which was previously known as Bank of America Accolades Card was the first premium credit card offered by the bank of America. To get hold of this card requires many conditions. Firstly, the applicant should be a client of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management division. One cannot apply for attaining the card. If you are lucky enough, you will get an invitation like Centurion. Merrill Accolades American Express is a black card that carries the Merrill Lynch bull logo in gold. The annual fee of Merrill Accolades American Express is low as compared to its competitors, i.e, $295. Even then, if the cardholder has a total amount of $250,000 in his/her Merrill Brokerage Account, the annual fee is waved off. The spending limit of Merrill card is $500,000. Merrill is one of America’s top 5 most difficult to own credit cards of all time. The benefits for the card holder includes 24/7 concierge services, hotel discounts, complimentary amenities at different resorts and much more.
8. NatWest Black MasterCard
NatWest Black MasterCard is also one of the top 10 most expensive and popular credit cards in the history. It is preferably popular among people because of its high spending limit which is as much as $1.5 million. Its annual fee is less than its competing credit cards. The annual fee is equal to $395 only. As its market line says “Make the most of your benefits”, NatWest truly offers time-saving and life-style luxury extras. A NatWest Black cardholder is able to enjoy the benefits of private airport lounges all around the world, travel assistance, concierge service 24/7 and much more. The card offers extended warranty and roadside assistance as well. With a large spending limit, it is one of the sought after black cards in the world. The card offers various rewards on achieving different levels of points. These rewards offer the card holder with various kinds of luxuries and comforts. This card is no doubt a status symbol as well.
Top 7 Most Expensive & Popular Credit Cards In The History
7. Citigroup Black Chairman Card
Citigroup Black Chairman Card is one of the exclusive black cards in the world. Although it has been in market for several years, Chairman hasn’t been able to break through among high-end luxury cards like Centurion, Stratus Rewards, Palladium and AmEx Platinum. Wealth is not the only factor to get hold of Citigroup Black Chairman Card. Only five percent of the total population in the world has this card. To get this card in your wallet, you need to be a permanent private member of Citi’s private bank and also the investment units. The annual fee of Chairman is $500. The various benefits of Citigroup Black Chairman Card includes access to airport lounges like other credit cards, rewards, travel upgrades and luxuries, twenty four seven concierge services etc. although the Chairman has been marketed a lot, still it is not as perky as other credit cards. Many think that AmEx Platinum is of better value and status.
6. Visa Infinite
Visa Infinite is a popular credit card which is a popular choice among the people who live outside of United States of America. Visa Infinite has network of services in various countries and in each country, the terms and conditions are different. Different countries like France, India, South Africa, Canada, India, Egypt and Nigeria can issue Visa Infinite card, but only to these who qualify the terms and conditions. There are no as such conditions as in Centurion or Palladium, but a general requirement for all countries is that one must have six figures in their account. The annual fee of this credit card is a few hundred dollars. Like other high-end credit cards, Visa also offers a wide range of luxury concierge services, travel planning, dining at five star hotels, health advices and shopping at exclusive stores. Visa Infinite Credit Card is available for Priority Bank customers on invitation only. Various benefits by Visa infinite come under the category of Infinite Travel, Infinite Peace of Mind, Infinite Rewards, Infinite Services and Infinite Convenience.
Top 5 Most Expensive & Popular Credit Cards In The History
5. Coutts World Silk Card
Coutts World Silk Card is exclusively used by the royals. If you want to spend your life like royals, Coutts World Silk Card can be your best escort. It is used by very few people around the world. The condition of using Coutts World Silk Card is to have a minimum of $1 million dollars in their account. This card is also used by Queen Elizabeth of England. Silk offers a wide range of purchasing services and travel facilities. The benefit of Silk card includes award winning concierge service, private shopping at designer stores, access to executive lounges of six hundred airports, annual travel insurance worldwide annually, assisting 24/7 from small details like flight information, tickets, car accommodation etc. to accessing private yachts and airplane. The royal purple credit card has a very high percentage of 49.1%. It is one of the most prestigious and sought after cards in the world. Coutts World Silk Card is no doubt one of the top ten most expensive and popular credit cards in the history.
4. Stratus Rewards Visa
While the first three mentioned cards are all black and one of the leading credit cards in the history, Stratus Rewards Visa is the first total white credit card which is similar to Centurion in many ways. Like Centurion card, you cannot apply for the ownership of the card. Instead, you get an invitation. Stratus Rewards Via card is a department under Stratus Media Group. This card is exclusively created to enhance lifestyle by being a part of Stratus Rewards cardholder club. Stratus Rewards Visa provides one of the finest packages to the cardholders VIP accesses, travelling on private jet, luxury lifestyle, and luxury trips you cannot imagine high-end merchandises as per level of the usage of the card. The annual fee that the cardholder has to pay is $1500. The Stratus cardholders are supposed to spend at least $100,000 annually. Though Stratus Rewards doesn’t intend to compete with black cards, one cannot neglect the comparisons. It is lately said that “White is the new black”.
Top 3 Most Expensive & Popular Credit Cards In The History
3. Dubai First Royal MasterCard
If you think that Centurion and Palladium are all time exclusive credit cards, have a look at Dubai First Royal MasterCard. This card is bordered with gold on the top left side. Apart from the gold, there is a .235-carat solitary diamond in the center of the black card. This card offers a long list of luxuries, anything you can imagine. According to the chief executive of Dubai First, Ibrahim al Ansari if their customers ask for moon, they even try to get that for their customers! According to Dubai First, there are more than 58,000 multimillionaires in UAE. But still it requires more than just money to get hold of Dubai First Royal MasterCard. One has to be invited just like in the case of Centurion. The biggest attraction of Dubai First Royal MasterCard is that it is a 24 hour lifestyle manager which fulfills every request of the cardholder. This card has no credit limit, which means that the cardholder can spend as much as he/she desires.
2. JPMorgan Chase Palladium
The Palladium card is a hybrid charge and credit card that was issued by JP Morgan Chase Palladium. As for the Centurion card which is made of titanium, this card is minted from palladium and 23k of gold which is engraved with laser technology along with the card holder information. As we all know that the price of gold is very high and along with the price of palladium that costs more than $800 dollars, just the physical card’s cost is more than $1000 dollars. JP Morgan Chase Palladium is second in the list of top 10 most expensive and popular credit cards in the history as it offers a long list of benefits. One of the benefits is Palladium Concierge. This concierge service is only offered on JP Morgan Chase Palladium card. It includes, travel planning, dining and hotel reservations, time saving conveniences and a limitless array of luxurious offers. The annual fee of JP Morgan Chase Palladium is $595.
1. American Express Centurion Card
American Express Centurion Card is one of the most expensive and popular credit cards in the history of credit cards. This card has maintained its high status among the rich and wealthy people of the world due to the mystery related with this card. American Express doesn’t really tell about the details of how a person becomes a cardholder. If a person desires to become an owner of American Express Centurion Card, he has to have American Express Platinum card for at least one whole year. Moreover it is a condition that the person with American Express Platinum must have had charged minimum of $2500 within this one year of holding. After that, if you are lucky enough to get an invitation for being an established American Express cardholder, you will have to pay the initial fee of $5000 and annual fee of $2500. After all these payments, you will be able to hold American Express Centurion Card that will enable you to have flight upgrades, personal shoppers, upgraded hotel rooms and many more luxuries.