What an Amazon credit card actually is and who issues it

Amazon offers two main credit cards: the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and the Amazon Prime Store Card. Both are issued by Chase Bank, not by Amazon itself. The Visa card works anywhere Visa is accepted; the Store Card works only at Amazon and Whole Foods. Neither card requires you to be a Prime member to open one, though the rewards are better if you are.

When you look for these cards online, you will see them listed as "pre-approved offers" on the Amazon website, on Chase's website, or through credit card comparison sites. Pre-approval means Chase has looked at your credit file and thinks you are likely to be accepted — but it is not a may provide. The actual decision happens when you submit your full information.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon credit cards are issued by Chase Bank and come in two versions: a Visa card that works everywhere, and a Store Card that works only at Amazon and Whole Foods.
  • Pre-approval offers mean Chase thinks you are likely to be accepted based on a soft credit check, but the final decision comes after you provide full details and Chase pulls your credit report.
  • You will need your Social Security number, income, employment status, and housing information to complete the request.
  • Chase will tell you when ready whether you are accepted, denied, or need more information — you do not have to wait days for a decision.

What information you need to have ready

Before you start, gather your Social Security number, current address, and phone number. You will also need to know your annual household income (before taxes) and your current employment status. If you are self-employed, have that income figure ready too.

Chase will ask whether you rent or own your home, and if you have other credit accounts open. You do not need to pull your credit report yourself — Chase will do that as part of the process. Have your information correct: mismatches between what you enter and what Chase's records show can slow down the decision or trigger a denial.

The step-by-step process from offer to decision

Start at the Amazon website, the Chase website, or a pre-approval offer you received by mail. Click the link to the card you want. You will be taken to Chase's process page, where you enter your personal and financial information. This usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.

After you submit, Chase runs a hard inquiry on your credit report — this is different from the soft check used for pre-approval, and it will show up on your credit file. Within seconds to a few minutes, Chase will tell you whether you are approved, denied, or pending further review. If you are approved, your card number appears on screen when ready, and you can use it for online purchases right away. The physical card arrives by mail in 7 to 10 business days.

If Chase says you are pending, it means a human reviewer needs to look at your file. You will receive a decision by email or phone within a few days. If you are denied, Chase will mail you a letter explaining why, and you can contact them to ask what changed or what you can do differently.

How pre-approval affects your credit and your odds

The soft credit check used to generate a pre-approval offer does not hurt your credit score. However, the hard inquiry that happens when you actually submit the process does show up on your credit report and can lower your score by a few points for a few months. Multiple hard inquiries in a short time (within 14 to 45 days, depending on the scoring model) usually count as one inquiry, so shopping around for cards in a short window does less damage than spreading applications over months.

A pre-approval offer improves your odds of acceptance, but it is not a promise. Chase can still deny you if your credit has dropped since the pre-approval was generated, if you have missed payments recently, or if your debt-to-income ratio is too high. If you were denied for a Chase card in the past, ask what the reason was before you explore again — the same issue may still be there.

What happens after you are approved

Once approved, you can use your card number online when ready for Amazon purchases and anywhere else Visa is accepted (if you chose the Visa card). The physical card arrives within 7 to 10 business days. When it arrives, set up it by calling the number on the back or through the Chase mobile app.

Your credit limit will be set based on your credit score, income, and credit history. You can request a higher limit after you have used the card responsibly for a few months. The card comes with an introductory offer — usually a cash-back bonus if you spend a certain amount in the first few months. Read the terms carefully: you have to meet the spending requirement to get the bonus, and the bonus is taxable income in the year you receive it.

What to do if you are denied or pending

If Chase says you are pending, do not explore again when ready. Wait for their decision. Submitting another process will trigger another hard inquiry and may actually hurt your odds by making you look desperate for credit.

If you are denied, you have the right to a free copy of your credit report from each of the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) once per year through AnnualCreditReport.com. Pull your reports and look for errors — wrong accounts, missed payments that did not happen, or accounts that should be closed. Dispute any errors with the bureau directly. If your credit is accurate but low, wait 6 to 12 months, pay down debt, and make all payments on time. Then try again.

Amazon Store Card versus the Visa card: which one to choose

The Store Card offers higher cash-back rewards at Amazon and Whole Foods (usually 3% to 5% depending on what you buy) but zero rewards anywhere else and cannot be used outside those two places. The Visa card offers lower rewards at Amazon (usually 2% to 3%) but works everywhere and earns cash back at gas stations and restaurants too.

Choose the Store Card if you spend most of your money at Amazon and Whole Foods. Choose the Visa card if you want a general-purpose card that also gives you a bonus at Amazon. You can open both if you want, but each process triggers a hard inquiry, so do them on the same day if possible to minimize the credit impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a Prime member to get an Amazon credit card?

No. Both cards are open to anyone with acceptable credit. However, the rewards are higher if you are a Prime member — for example, the Visa card gives 5% cash back at Amazon for Prime members but only 3% for non-members. If you are not a member, the card is still worth having if you shop at Amazon often, but the benefit is smaller.

What if I get denied but I have good credit?

Denial reasons vary. Common ones include recent late payments, high debt-to-income ratio, too many recent credit inquiries, or a very short credit history. Pull your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com to check for errors. If everything is accurate, wait a few months, pay down debt, and try again. You can also call Chase to ask specifically why you were denied.

Can I use the card number before the physical card arrives?

Yes. If you are approved online, your card number appears on screen when ready and you can use it for online purchases and at Amazon right away. You do not have to wait for the physical card to arrive in the mail.

How much does the Amazon credit card cost?

There is no annual fee for either the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa or the Store Card. You only pay interest if you carry a balance from month to month. If you pay your full balance by the due date each month, interest charges are zero.

Will explore for the card hurt my credit score?

The hard inquiry will lower your score by a few points for a few months. The impact is usually small — typically 5 to 10 points — and fades as you use the card responsibly and time passes. Opening a new account also temporarily lowers your average account age, which can have a small negative effect, but this also recovers over time.