How to Delete a Card From Amazon
To remove a credit card from Amazon, sign into your account, go to Account & Lists, select Your Account, then choose Manage Your Payments. Find the card you want to remove, click the three dots next to it, and select Delete. Amazon will ask you to confirm. The card is then removed from your account and cannot be used for future purchases.
If the card is your only payment method on file, Amazon will not let you delete it until you add a replacement card first. You must always have at least one active payment method linked to your account to make purchases.
The deletion is immediate. Amazon does not keep the card information after you remove it, and the card issuer (your bank or credit card company) receives no notification of the removal — only Amazon's system is updated.
Key Takeaways
- You can remove any card from your Amazon account through Manage Your Payments in Your Account settings, but you must have at least one card on file at all times.
- If the card you want to delete is your only payment method, add a new card first, then delete the old one.
- Removing a card from Amazon does not close the card itself or affect your relationship with your bank or credit card issuer.
- The deletion takes effect immediately and the card information is removed from Amazon's servers.
- You can re-add the same card later if you change your mind, though Amazon may ask you to verify it again.
When You Need to Remove a Card Before Adding a New One
If you try to delete your only payment method, Amazon will display an error message saying you need at least one valid card on file. The workaround is straightforward: add a new card first, then go back and delete the old one.
To add a replacement card, go to Manage Your Payments, click Add a Payment Method, enter the new card details, and complete any verification Amazon requests (usually a small temporary charge to confirm the card is real). Once the new card is confirmed and active, you can then delete the old card using the steps above.
Difference Between Removing a Card and Closing It
Removing a card from Amazon and closing the card itself are two separate actions. When you remove a card from Amazon, you are only telling Amazon to stop storing and using that card — the card account itself remains open with your bank or credit card company.
If you want to actually close the credit card account, you must contact your card issuer directly. Call the number on the back of your card or log into your bank's website and look for account closure options. Closing the card is a separate step that Amazon cannot do for you.
Many people remove cards from Amazon because they are replacing an old card with a new one (due to expiration, fraud, or a new account), not because they want to close the account. In those cases, you only need to remove it from Amazon — the card itself stays active.
What Happens to Recurring Charges and Subscriptions
If you remove a card that is linked to an active Amazon subscription (such as Prime, Kindle Unlimited, or a Subscribe & Save order), Amazon will attempt to charge your default payment method instead. Your default method is the card you have marked as primary in Manage Your Payments.
If you remove the card without setting a new default, or if your default card is declined, Amazon will send you an email asking you to update your payment method. Your subscription will not automatically cancel — you have time to add a new card or change your default method. However, if payment fails repeatedly, Amazon may suspend the subscription until you provide valid payment information.
Before removing a card, check whether it is linked to any active subscriptions or recurring charges. You can see this in your Manage Your Subscriptions section. If the card you want to remove is the only one tied to a subscription, add a new card and set it as your default before deleting the old one.
Removing a Card That Has Been Compromised or Fraudulent
If you believe a card has been compromised or used fraudulently, remove it from Amazon immediately through Manage Your Payments. This prevents anyone with access to your Amazon account from using that card for new purchases.
After removing the card from Amazon, contact your bank or credit card issuer directly to report the fraud or compromise. Your card issuer can freeze the card, issue a replacement, and dispute any unauthorized charges. Amazon's removal of the card from your account does not affect the card issuer's fraud investigation or your dispute rights.
If fraudulent charges were made on Amazon using that card, you can also report them to Amazon through Account & Lists > Your Account > Login & Security > Recent Activity. Amazon may reverse fraudulent charges, but your card issuer is your primary contact for fraud protection.
Re-Adding a Card You Previously Removed
You can add the same card back to your Amazon account at any time after removing it. Go to Manage Your Payments, click Add a Payment Method, and enter the card details again. Amazon will treat it as a new entry and may ask you to verify it with a temporary charge.
If the card has expired since you removed it, you will need to update the expiration date when you re-add it. If the card was closed by your bank, Amazon will reject it during verification. In that case, you will need to add a different card instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a card from Amazon affect my credit score?
No. Removing a card from Amazon is only a change to your Amazon account settings. It does not close the card, report anything to credit bureaus, or affect your credit history in any way. Your credit score is based on your payment history and account status with your bank or credit card issuer, not on which websites have your card information.
Can I remove a card if I have a pending order?
Yes, you can remove a card even if you have pending orders. However, if the pending order is still processing and has not yet been charged, removing the card may cause the order to fail if that card was the payment method selected. Check your Orders page to see the status of any pending purchases before removing a card.
What if Amazon says I cannot delete the card?
This usually means the card is your only payment method on file. Add a new card first through Add a Payment Method, wait for it to be verified, then try deleting the old card again. If you still see an error, try a different browser or clear your browser cache and log back in.
Will Amazon notify my bank when I remove a card?
No. Amazon only removes the card from its own system. Your bank or credit card issuer receives no notification and has no record that you removed the card from Amazon. The card itself remains active and can still be used elsewhere.
Can I remove a card if there is a balance or refund pending?
Yes. A pending refund does not prevent you from removing a card. If a refund is being processed to that card, it will still go through even after you remove the card from Amazon. Refunds are handled by Amazon's payment system, not by your stored card information.