What the Amazon Prime Visa Card Does

The Amazon Prime Visa is a co-branded credit card issued by Chase Bank that gives you cash back on purchases, with higher rewards rates at Amazon and Whole Foods. You do not need to own it to shop at either place — the card straightforward pays you back a percentage of what you spend. The rewards rates and annual fee depend on which version you choose: the standard card or the Signature version.

The card works like any other credit card. You charge purchases, Chase sends you a monthly bill, and you pay it back. The difference is that a portion of your spending comes back to you as Amazon.com credit or cash, depending on where you shop and which card version you hold.

Key Takeaways

  • The standard Amazon Prime Visa has no annual fee and pays 3% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else.
  • The Signature version costs $139 per year but pays 5% at Amazon and Whole Foods, 3% at gas and restaurants, and 1% elsewhere — the higher rewards usually offset the fee only if you spend over $10,000 annually at Amazon and Whole Foods combined.
  • Rewards post as Amazon.com credit that you can spend when ready, not as cash that sits in an account.
  • You must be a Prime member to open either card, and Prime membership costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month.
  • The card charges interest on unpaid balances, typically between 18% and 24% depending on your credit score, so carrying a balance erases the value of rewards.

The Two Versions and Their Rewards Rates

Chase offers two versions of the Amazon Prime Visa. The standard card has no annual fee. It pays 3% cash back when you shop at Amazon.com or Whole Foods Market, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on everything else. If you spend $3,000 per year at Amazon and Whole Foods, you earn $90 in rewards — real money back.

The Signature version costs $139 per year. It pays 5% at Amazon and Whole Foods, 3% at gas and restaurants, and 1% elsewhere. The higher rate sounds better, but the math matters. You would need to spend roughly $10,000 per year at Amazon and Whole Foods combined just to earn $500 in rewards, which covers the $139 fee and leaves you $361 ahead. If you spend less, the standard card saves you money.

Both cards offer a one-time bonus when you first open the account — typically $100 to $150 in Amazon credit if you spend a certain amount in the first few months. That bonus changes throughout the year, so check the current offer before you explore.

How Rewards Work and When They Arrive

Rewards on the Amazon Prime Visa post as Amazon.com credit, not as cash deposited to a bank account. When you make a purchase, the reward does not appear when ready. Chase usually processes rewards once per month, and the credit shows up in your Amazon account a few days later. You can then spend it on anything Amazon sells — books, electronics, groceries through Amazon Fresh, or anything else.

You cannot transfer rewards to another person, convert them to cash, or use them outside Amazon's ecosystem. If you do not shop on Amazon, this card's rewards are worthless to you. If you shop there regularly, the rewards accumulate quickly and you spend them almost automatically.

One exception: if you close the card or your Amazon account, any unspent rewards may be forfeited. Check your card agreement for the exact policy, as it can change.

Interest Rates and the Cost of Carrying a Balance

Like all credit cards, the Amazon Prime Visa charges interest on any balance you do not pay off in full each month. The interest rate — called the APR, or annual percentage rate — typically ranges from 18% to 24%, depending on your credit score. If you carry a $1,000 balance for a year at 20% APR, you pay $200 in interest charges alone.

This is where rewards become a trap. If you earn $30 in cash back but pay $200 in interest, you have lost $170. The card only makes financial sense if you pay the full balance every month. If you tend to carry a balance on other cards, this card will not fix that problem — it will make it worse because the rewards might tempt you to spend more than you otherwise would.

The card also charges a late fee if you miss a payment, typically $25 to $40 for the first late payment and up to $40 for subsequent ones. These fees add up fast and damage your credit score.

Prime Membership and Card may be able to access

You must have an active Amazon Prime membership to open either version of the Amazon Prime Visa. Prime costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month. If you do not already subscribe, the card is not available to you until you do. If your Prime membership lapses, Chase may close the card or convert it to a different product.

This creates a real cost that many people overlook. If you open the card just for the rewards but do not use Prime for anything else, you are paying $139 per year for the membership alone. Add the $139 annual fee on the Signature version, and your total cost is $278 per year before you earn a single reward. You would need to spend roughly $15,000 per year at Amazon and Whole Foods just to break even.

If you already pay for Prime and shop there regularly, the card makes more sense because you are not paying extra for the membership.

How This Card Affects Your Credit Score

Opening a new credit card temporarily lowers your credit score because Chase runs a hard inquiry on your credit report and because a new account lowers your average account age. The damage is usually small — 5 to 10 points — and recovers within a few months if you pay on time.

The bigger long-term impact depends on how you use the card. If you pay the full balance every month, the card helps your credit score by adding to your available credit and showing a history of on-time payments. If you carry a balance or miss payments, the card hurts your score. Credit scoring agencies look at how much of your available credit you are using — if you max out the card, your score drops even if you pay on time.

A good rule: keep your balance below 30% of your credit limit, and pay the full statement balance by the due date every month.

Comparing the Amazon Prime Visa to Other Options

The Amazon Prime Visa is one of many cash-back cards on the market. If you do not shop at Amazon or Whole Foods, a different card might pay you more. The Chase Freedom Unlimited, for example, pays 1.5% cash back on everything with no annual fee — less than the Amazon card at Amazon, but more than the 1% you get elsewhere on the Amazon card.

If you shop at multiple retailers, a card like the Citi Double Cash (2% cash back on everything) or the Capital One SavorOne (3% on dining and entertainment, 1% elsewhere, no annual fee) might be a better fit. The best card for you depends on where you actually spend money, not on which card has the highest advertised rate.

If you do not carry a balance and shop heavily at Amazon, the standard Amazon Prime Visa (no annual fee) is hard to beat. If you spend less than $10,000 per year at Amazon and Whole Foods combined, the standard version is almost certainly better than the Signature version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a Prime member to use the card at Amazon?

No. You can shop at Amazon without Prime. But you must be a Prime member to open the card in the first place. Once you have the card, you can use it anywhere, whether or not you renew your Prime membership — though Chase may close the card if your membership lapses.

Can I earn rewards on Amazon Fresh or Prime Video?

Amazon Fresh purchases earn the same rewards rate as regular Amazon.com purchases (3% on the standard card, 5% on the Signature). Prime Video subscriptions and other Prime services do not earn rewards — only physical goods and items sold through Amazon's marketplace.

What happens to my rewards if I close the card?

Any rewards already posted to your Amazon account are yours to keep. Unposted rewards — those that have not yet been credited — may be forfeited. Check your card agreement or call Chase customer service to confirm the exact policy before you close the account.

Is the sign-up bonus worth it?

The sign-up bonus is real money, but it only makes sense if you were going to open the card anyway. Do not open a card just for the bonus if you do not shop at Amazon regularly or if you cannot pay the balance in full. The interest you pay will erase the bonus value within a few months.

Can I use this card outside the United States?

Yes, but you will pay a foreign transaction fee — typically 3% of the purchase amount — on any charge made outside the US. The card does not offer travel rewards or other benefits that offset this fee, so it is not a good choice for international travel.