What the Amazon Prime Visa Card is and who issues it
The Amazon Prime Visa Card is a co-branded credit card issued by Chase Bank in partnership with Amazon. If you hold an Amazon Prime membership, you can open this card to earn rewards on purchases — primarily cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods, plus a flat rate on other spending.
Chase handles the account, billing, and customer service. Amazon sets the rewards structure and Prime membership requirements. You explore through Chase's website or Amazon's site, and the card arrives as a standard Visa that works anywhere Visa is accepted.
This is not a store card that only works at Amazon. It is a full Visa credit card with a rewards program attached. You can use it at gas stations, restaurants, and any other merchant, though the cash back rate is lower outside Amazon and Whole Foods.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns 5% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods (with a $200 annual cap on the 5% rate), 2% at restaurants and gas stations, and 1% everywhere else.
- You must have an active Amazon Prime membership to open the card, and you lose the higher rewards rates if your membership lapses.
- There is no annual fee, but you pay interest on any balance you carry month to month unless you pay in full.
- The card reports to all three credit bureaus, so on-time payments help your credit score, and missed payments harm it.
- Chase offers an introductory 0% APR period on purchases for new cardholders, though the exact length varies by offer.
Rewards structure and how cash back is calculated
The card earns cash back in tiers. At Amazon and Whole Foods, you earn 5% cash back on every purchase. However, once you reach $200 in cash back from the 5% rate in a calendar year, the rate drops to 1% for the rest of that year. This means the card pays you back up to $200 per year at the higher rate — roughly $4,000 in annual Amazon and Whole Foods spending.
Outside Amazon and Whole Foods, the card earns 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and transit (including taxis, rideshare, parking, trains, buses, and more). Everywhere else — groceries at other stores, retail, utilities, insurance — you earn 1% cash back.
Cash back posts to your account as a statement credit each month. You do not have to redeem it or transfer it anywhere. If you carry a balance and pay interest, the cash back does not offset that interest — it is separate money that reduces your next bill.
Annual fees and interest rates
There is no annual fee to hold this card. You pay nothing just for having it open, whether you use it or not.
If you pay your full statement balance by the due date each month, you pay no interest. If you carry a balance into the next month, Chase charges interest at a variable rate — meaning the rate changes based on market conditions. The exact rate you receive depends on your credit score and credit history; Chase does not publish a single rate for all cardholders.
New cardholders typically receive an introductory 0% APR offer on purchases for a set period (often 6 to 12 months, depending on the current offer). After that period ends, the standard variable rate applies to any remaining balance. Balance transfer offers and cash advance rates are separate and usually higher.
How to open an account
You can open the card through Amazon.com or Chase.com. Both routes lead to the same process. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and employment information. Chase pulls your credit report during the process, which creates a hard inquiry on your credit file.
The process takes about 10 minutes. Chase usually tells you within seconds or minutes whether you are approved, denied, or pending review. If approved, the card ships within 5 to 7 business days.
Before you explore, confirm that your Amazon Prime membership is active. If your membership has lapsed, you can renew it before explore, or you can open the card and then set up Prime — but you will not earn the higher 5% rate until Prime is active on your account.
What happens to rewards if your Prime membership ends
If your Amazon Prime membership expires and you do not renew it, your cash back rates drop when ready. You will earn 1% cash back everywhere instead of the tiered rates. The card itself stays open and usable, but the rewards program changes.
If you later reactivate Prime, the higher rates return. There is no waiting period or reapplication needed — the system updates automatically once Prime is active again on your account.
This matters if you are on the fence about keeping Prime. The card is still a functional credit card without Prime, but it becomes a standard 1% cash back card, which is less competitive than many other no-annual-fee cards on the market.
Credit reporting and how this card affects your credit score
Chase reports your account activity to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — all three major credit bureaus. This means the card shows up on your credit report and affects your credit score.
On-time payments help your score. Payment history is the largest factor in credit scoring, so making your minimum payment by the due date every month builds credit. Missed or late payments damage your score and may trigger late fees and a higher interest rate.
The card also affects your credit utilization — the percentage of your credit limit that you are using at any given time. If your limit is $5,000 and your balance is $1,500, your utilization is 30%. Lower utilization is better for your score. Paying down the balance each month keeps utilization low.
Opening a new card temporarily lowers your score because of the hard inquiry and the new account. Over time, as you build a payment history, the score usually recovers and improves.
Comparing this card to other cash back options
The Amazon Prime Visa Card is strongest if you spend heavily at Amazon and Whole Foods and have an active Prime membership. The 5% rate at those merchants is competitive. However, the $200 annual cap on the 5% rate means the card stops rewarding you once you hit that threshold.
If you spend less than $4,000 per year at Amazon and Whole Foods combined, you may get more value from a flat-rate cash back card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5% everywhere) or the Citi Double Cash (2% everywhere). Those cards have no spending caps and no membership requirements.
If you spend heavily at restaurants and gas stations, the 2% rate on those categories is solid but not exceptional. Some cards offer 3% or higher at those merchants. The 1% rate everywhere else is standard for no-annual-fee cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Prime to use the card, or just to open it?
You need Prime to open the card. Once the card is open, you can use it without Prime, but you will only earn 1% cash back everywhere. The higher rewards rates require an active Prime membership on your account at the time of purchase.
Can I transfer my cash back to airline miles or other rewards programs?
No. Cash back on this card posts as a statement credit only. You cannot convert it to points, miles, or other rewards. It reduces your credit card bill each month.
What is the credit limit, and can I request a higher one?
Chase sets your initial credit limit based on your credit score, income, and credit history. There is no fixed limit for all cardholders. You can request a credit limit increase by calling Chase or logging into your account online, usually after 6 months of responsible use.
Does the card work internationally?
Yes, it is a Visa and works anywhere Visa is accepted worldwide. However, Chase charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% on purchases made outside the United States. If you travel frequently, a card with no foreign transaction fee may be cheaper.
What happens if I close the card — do I lose my cash back?
Any cash back that has posted to your account as a statement credit is yours to keep. If you close the card, that credit stays on your account until you use it. Cash back that has not yet posted may be forfeited depending on Chase's terms, so check your account before closing.