American Express automatically reallocated my business credit lines

Introduction

I have 2 AMEX Business CREDIT cards (not charge) – the SPG and the Simply Cash.  The other day, I got this email from AMEX.  The screenshot is above.  The text is below:

Re: Account Ending xxxxx

Re: Account Ending yyyyy

Dear Vinh:

In an effort to ensure that your spending needs are fulfilled, we have reallocated the limits on your business cards referenced above to better align with your historic spending patterns. The reallocation of your limits has not changed your total spend capacity. Effective immediately, the new limit on your account ending in xxxxx is $30,000.00.

Your Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for purchases on this account is a variable rate, currently 15.49%; your Cash Advance APR is also a variable rate, currently 25.49%.

To determine the new limit on your account ending in xxxxx, we reviewed the available limit on your account ending in yyyyyy and have allocated a portion of the available limit to your account ending in xxxxx. Effective immediately, the new limit on account ending in yyyyy is $11,200.00.

Your Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for purchases on this account is a variable rate, currently 12.49%; your Cash Advance APR is also a variable rate, currently 25.49%.

Please be aware that the reallocation of this limit resulted in the limit being added to an account with a higher APR.

We hope that this change makes it easier for you to manage your business. If you would like to reverse this decision, please call us within 45 days from the date of this letter. The accounts must be active and the balance on the accounts cannot exceed the limit requested for a reversal to be considered. You also have the right to Opt-Out of any future limit reallocations by contacting us.

Moved $5,000 of credit from Simply Cash to SPG Business card

For the past few months, I had a credit line of $25K on the SPG and $16,200 on the SC card.  I had been spending quite a bit on the SPG card (cycling it even.)  I hardly spent any on my SC card.  AMEX was smart enough to see that disparity and moved $5K CL from the SC to the SPG Biz card, and so now I have $30K on the SPG and $11,200 on the SC card.

Lessons Learned

This is the first time I’ve seen a bank automatically shuffle CL around like that.  This may only happen on business cards tied to the same SSN/EIN, but it’s definitely another reason to have a business card over a personal card.