Amazon offers two credit cards, both issued by Chase
Amazon has two active credit cards: the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and the Amazon Prime Store Card. Both are issued by Chase Bank USA, N.A. The Visa Signature Card works everywhere Visa is accepted; the Store Card works only at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market. Neither card charges an annual fee.
The cards are not the same product. The Visa Signature Card offers cash back on all purchases. The Store Card offers promotional financing (0% APR for a set period on purchases over a certain amount) but lower cash back rates. Your choice depends on whether you want rewards everywhere or financing deals at Amazon specifically.
Both cards require you to be an Amazon Prime member to open one. If you are not a Prime member, you cannot hold either card. If your Prime membership ends, Amazon may close the card or change its terms.
Key Takeaways
- The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card earns cash back on all purchases and works anywhere Visa is accepted, while the Amazon Prime Store Card earns rewards only at Amazon, Whole Foods, and Amazon Fresh.
- Both cards are issued by Chase, require an active Amazon Prime membership, and charge no annual fee.
- The Store Card offers 0% APR promotional financing on purchases over $150, but the Visa Signature Card does not.
- Interest rates and cash back rates vary based on your creditworthiness and change over time; Chase sets these terms when you open the account.
- Closing either card does not close your Amazon account, but you lose the card's rewards and any promotional financing offers.
How the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card works
The Visa Signature Card earns cash back on purchases. The rate depends on where you spend: you earn a higher percentage at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market, and a lower percentage on all other purchases. Chase does not publish a single fixed rate; the exact percentage you earn is based on your credit profile and can change. When you open the account, Chase will show you the specific rates you may have access to for.
Cash back is deposited into your Amazon account as a statement credit or as Amazon.com balance, depending on how you set it up. You do not receive cash directly to a bank account. The cash back appears within a few days of your statement closing date.
The card carries a variable APR (annual percentage rate) for purchases and balance transfers. This rate changes based on the prime rate and your creditworthiness. If you carry a balance, interest accrues daily on the unpaid amount. Making only the minimum payment means you will pay interest on the remaining balance.
How the Amazon Prime Store Card works
The Store Card is a closed-loop card, meaning it works only at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market. It does not work at other retailers or online sites. The card earns cash back on purchases at these three locations, but the rate is lower than the Visa Signature Card offers.
The main feature of the Store Card is promotional financing. When you make a purchase of $150 or more, you may be offered 0% APR for a set period (commonly 6, 12, or 24 months, depending on the purchase amount and current promotions). This means no interest accrues during that period if you pay the full promotional balance by the due date each month. If you do not pay the full amount, interest accrues on the remaining balance at the card's regular APR.
Like the Visa Signature Card, the Store Card carries a variable APR for regular purchases and any balance that does not may have access to for a promotional offer. If a promotional period ends and you still owe a balance, the regular APR applies to what remains.
Interest rates, fees, and how balances work
Both cards charge a variable APR, which means the rate is not fixed and can change. Chase bases the rate on the prime rate published by the Federal Reserve and your individual creditworthiness. You will see your specific APR in your account terms when you open the card. That rate can increase or decrease over time as the prime rate moves or as your credit profile changes.
Neither card charges an annual fee, a late fee, a foreign transaction fee, or a cash advance fee. However, if you miss a payment, Chase will report it to credit bureaus after 30 days past due, which damages your credit score. If you pay late, you may also lose promotional financing offers on future purchases.
Interest accrues daily on any balance you carry. If your statement balance is $500 and your APR is 18%, Chase calculates interest each day on the $500 (or whatever remains after you make a payment). The interest is added to your balance on your next statement. Paying the full statement balance by the due date means you pay no interest.
How to manage your Amazon credit card account
Both cards are managed through your Amazon account or through Chase's online portal. You can view your balance, make payments, and download statements from either location. Payments made through Amazon typically post within one business day; payments made through Chase's website may take up to two business days.
Your statement closes on the same date each month. Your payment is due 21 to 25 days after the statement closes (the exact date is shown on your statement). If you pay after the due date, interest accrues on the unpaid balance and the late payment is reported to credit bureaus.
You can set up automatic payments through Amazon or Chase to pay a fixed amount, the minimum payment, or the full statement balance each month. Automatic payments reduce the risk of missing a due date.
Closing an Amazon credit card and what happens to your balance
You can close either card at any time by contacting Chase or through your Amazon account settings. Closing the card does not close your Amazon account or affect your Prime membership. However, you lose the card's rewards rate and any promotional financing offers on future purchases.
If you have an unpaid balance when you close the card, you still owe it. Chase will continue to charge interest at your card's APR until the balance is paid in full. You can continue to make payments on the closed card through your Chase account or Amazon account.
If you close the card while a promotional financing period is active, the promotion ends immediately. Any remaining promotional balance converts to the regular APR, and interest begins accruing on that balance.
Comparing the two Amazon cards
| Feature | Prime Rewards Visa Signature | Prime Store Card |
|---|---|---|
| Where it works | Everywhere Visa is accepted | Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods only |
| Cash back rate | Higher at Amazon/Whole Foods; lower elsewhere | Lower rate at all locations |
| Promotional financing | No | Yes, 0% APR on purchases $150+ |
| Annual fee | None | None |
| Prime membership required | Yes | Yes |
Choose the Visa Signature Card if you spend on Amazon and elsewhere and want rewards on all purchases. Choose the Store Card if you spend most of your money at Amazon, Whole Foods, or Amazon Fresh and want to use promotional financing to spread large purchases over time without interest.
Both cards work well for different spending patterns. The Visa Signature Card is better for people who use multiple retailers and want a single rewards card. The Store Card is better for people who concentrate their spending at Amazon and its partner retailers and want to take advantage of interest-free financing periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my Amazon credit card if I cancel my Prime membership?
Amazon may close the card or change its terms if your Prime membership ends. You should contact Chase to confirm what happens to your account. If the card is closed, any balance you owe remains your responsibility and continues to accrue interest until paid.
Can I use the Store Card outside of Amazon, Whole Foods, and Amazon Fresh?
No. The Store Card is a closed-loop card and will be declined anywhere except Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market. If you need a card that works everywhere, use the Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card instead.
How do I know what interest rate I will pay?
Chase will show you the specific APR you may have access to for when you open the account. The rate is based on your credit score and credit history. The rate can change over time as the prime rate moves or as your credit profile changes. You can see your current APR in your account terms or on your monthly statement.
What happens if I do not pay my full statement balance?
Interest accrues on the unpaid balance at your card's APR. The interest is added to your next statement. If you are using promotional financing, interest does not accrue during the promotional period, but it will accrue on any balance that remains after the promotion ends.
Can I transfer a balance from another credit card to an Amazon card?
The Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card allows balance transfers, but the Store Card does not. If you transfer a balance to the Visa Signature Card, a balance transfer fee (usually 3% to 5% of the amount transferred) is charged and added to your balance. Interest accrues on the transferred balance at your card's APR unless a promotional rate is offered.