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Is your metal credit card losing its edge?
By Funto Omojola | NerdWallet
There was a time when the plunk of a metal credit card hitting the counter could turn heads and cement you as a “high-roller.”
The invite-only Centurion Black Card from American Express was the modern pioneer when it launched in 1999 and became a symbol of elite status, not only for its high qualification standards and fancy perks, but for the aesthetic exclusivity its titanium construction offered.
Since then, though, many other major issuers have followed suit with their own deluxe cards, including Chase and Capital One. The Chase Sapphire Reserve®, in particular, became so popular at the time of its release in 2016 that the issuer initially ran out of the metal it needed to make it.
These days, it’s nowhere near as difficult to find metal credit cards, and holders don’t need to be as monied to qualify for them.
“Metal cards were reserved for wealthy individuals that met their high qualification standards,” says Ben Danner, senior analyst for the credit and commercial advisory services for Javelin Strategy & Research. “Nowadays, there are several metal card offerings that cater to mass market consumers as well as the ultra-wealthy.”
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