They will request tax returns and bank statements. What they're looking for is to make sure the income you reported on the application is true. The process typically takes 2-3 weeks, and you're assigned a specialist to talk to.

American Express (Amex) does not have automatic, real-time access to view your daily bank account transactions or balances unless you explicitly grant them permission through "Financial Institutions" linking tools. However, in 2026, they use a process called Financial Review (FR) if they notice unusual spending patterns or a sudden spike in your credit utilization. During an FR, Amex may request that you provide several months of bank statements or sign a 4506-C form, which allows them to request your tax transcripts directly from the IRS to verify your reported income. Additionally, if you use the "Pay Over Time" feature or apply for a high-limit card, they use advanced algorithms to analyze your credit report and your history of "soft pulls" on other financial data. While they don't "spy" on your account, they are extremely diligent about "Know Your Customer" (KYC) regulations and risk management. If you fail to provide requested bank data during a review, Amex is known for "freezing" or closing accounts immediately to protect themselves from potential default, regardless of your past payment history or loyalty.