What the Chase Amazon Visa Card is and who it's designed for

The Chase Amazon Visa Card is a rewards credit card issued by Chase Bank that gives you cash back on purchases made through Amazon and at Whole Foods Market, plus a smaller cash back rate on other everyday purchases. You earn 5% cash back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases when you use the card, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on everything else. There is no annual fee.

This card is built for people who shop on Amazon regularly and want to turn that spending into rewards. If you rarely use Amazon or prefer other shopping platforms, the rewards structure won't benefit you as much. Chase also offers a version called the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, which requires an active Amazon Prime membership but offers slightly higher rewards rates — 5% on Amazon and Whole Foods, 2% on gas and restaurants, and 1% elsewhere.

Both versions report your payment activity to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), so using the card responsibly can help build your credit history. Carrying a balance and paying interest, however, will cost you money and can hurt your credit score if your balance gets too high relative to your credit limit.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns 5% cash back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on all other purchases, with no annual fee.
  • You need a credit score of roughly 670 or higher to have a reasonable chance of approval, though Chase does not publish exact requirements.
  • Cash back rewards are deposited as a statement credit each month and can be used to pay your bill or left to accumulate.
  • The card charges interest on any balance you carry from month to month, so paying your full statement balance each month saves you money.
  • The Amazon Prime Rewards version requires an active Prime membership but offers the same 5% Amazon rate and works the same way otherwise.

How to check if you meet the basic requirements

Chase does not publish a minimum credit score for this card, but based on customer reports, approval is most likely if your credit score is 670 or above. You can check your own credit score for free through your bank's website, through a service like Credit Karma or AnnualCreditReport.com, or by asking your current credit card issuer.

Beyond credit score, Chase looks at your income, existing debts, and how long you have held credit accounts. If you have recently missed payments, have very high credit card balances, or have filed for bankruptcy in the past few years, approval becomes less likely. You do not need to be an Amazon Prime member to get the standard Chase Amazon Visa Card, though you do need an active Prime membership for the Prime Rewards version.

If you are unsure whether you will be approved, you can submit an process and see what happens. A hard inquiry (which temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points) happens only when you formally explore, not when you check your own score or look at the card offer online.

how the process works and what documents you will need

You can explore for the Chase Amazon Visa Card online through Chase's website or through Amazon's website. The online process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, income, and employment status. You will also confirm your identity by answering security questions based on your credit history.

You do not need to upload documents during the process itself. Chase pulls your credit report automatically and verifies your identity through the credit bureaus. If Chase needs additional information — such as proof of income or address — they will contact you by phone or email after you submit the process.

Most decisions come back within minutes or hours. Some applications go to a review queue and take a few business days. If you are approved, your card will arrive by mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can request expedited shipping in some cases, but standard delivery is included.

How cash back rewards work and when you receive them

Every time you use the card, the purchase earns a percentage of cash back based on the category. A $100 purchase on Amazon.com earns $5 cash back. A $50 gas station purchase earns $1 cash back. These rewards are tracked by Chase and added to your account automatically.

At the end of each billing cycle, Chase deposits your cash back as a statement credit. This credit shows up on your monthly bill and reduces the amount you owe. You can use it to pay down your balance, or you can leave it there and let it accumulate. There is no expiration date on cash back rewards — they stay in your account as long as the card remains open.

You cannot transfer cash back to a bank account or redeem it for a gift card or merchandise. The reward exists only as a credit against your bill. If you close the card, any unused cash back remains available to use against your balance, but you cannot access it after the account is fully paid off and closed.

Interest rates, fees, and what happens if you carry a balance

The Chase Amazon Visa Card has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no fees for late payments or returned checks. However, if you do not pay your full statement balance by the due date, Chase charges interest on the remaining balance at a variable rate. The current rate ranges from roughly 18% to 27% annually, depending on your creditworthiness and current market conditions.

This means that if you carry a $1,000 balance for one month at 22% annual interest, you will owe about $18 in interest charges. That interest is added to your next bill. If you continue to carry a balance, interest compounds — you pay interest on the interest — and the debt grows quickly. For this reason, the cash back rewards (which max out at 5%) are easily wiped out by interest charges if you carry a balance.

The best way to use this card is to pay the full statement balance each month. This way you pay zero interest and keep all the cash back you earn. If you cannot pay the full balance, you can make a larger payment than the minimum to reduce interest charges, or you can transfer the balance to a 0% introductory rate card if you have one available.

How the card affects your credit and what to watch for

Opening a new credit card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points (usually 5 to 10 points). This dip fades within a few months. Over time, using the card responsibly — making on-time payments and keeping your balance low — builds your credit history and can raise your score.

Your credit utilization ratio (the percentage of your available credit that you are using) also affects your score. If your credit limit is $5,000 and you carry a $4,500 balance, your utilization is 90%, which hurts your score. Keeping utilization below 30% is ideal. Paying down your balance each month keeps utilization low and helps your score recover.

If you miss a payment, Chase reports it to the credit bureaus after 30 days, and it will damage your score significantly. A missed payment stays on your credit report for seven years. If you are struggling to make a payment, contact Chase before the due date — they may offer a hardship program or payment plan.

Comparing this card to other Amazon and cash back options

The standard Chase Amazon Visa Card and the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card offer the same 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods. The difference is that the Prime Rewards version requires an active Prime membership (which costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month) and offers slightly higher rewards elsewhere: 3% at restaurants and gas stations instead of 2%, and 1% on everything else. If you already pay for Prime, the upgrade is worth considering. If you do not have Prime, the standard card is the better choice.

Other cash back cards to consider include the Capital One SavorOne (3% on dining and entertainment, 1% on everything else, no annual fee), the Citi Double Cash (2% on all purchases, no annual fee), and the American Express Blue Cash Everyday (3% at supermarkets, 1% on everything else, no annual fee). None of these offer the 5% Amazon rate, so if Amazon shopping is a major part of your spending, the Chase card still wins.

If you travel frequently, a travel rewards card might be better than a cash back card. If you carry a balance regularly, a 0% introductory rate card might save you more money in interest than you earn in rewards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an Amazon account to get the card?

No, you do not need an Amazon account to open the card. However, you will only earn the 5% cash back rate on Amazon.com purchases if you use the card on Amazon. If you never shop on Amazon, you will earn only 1% on most purchases, which is lower than many other cash back cards offer.

What happens to my rewards if I close the card?

Your cash back rewards do not disappear when you close the card. Any unused cash back remains as a statement credit on your account and can be used to pay down your balance. Once the account is paid off and closed, you cannot access the rewards, so use them before closing the card.

Can I use this card outside the United States?

Yes, the card works internationally and has no foreign transaction fees. You will be charged in the local currency and converted to US dollars at the exchange rate Chase uses that day. You still earn cash back on international purchases at the same rates as domestic purchases.

What is the difference between a statement credit and a cash back check?

The Chase Amazon Visa Card deposits rewards only as a statement credit, not as a check or bank transfer. A statement credit reduces your bill automatically each month. You cannot convert it to cash or move it to another account. Some other cards offer the option to redeem rewards as a check, but this card does not.

Will explore for this card hurt my credit score?

The process triggers a hard inquiry, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points. This dip usually fades within a few months. Over time, responsible use of the card (on-time payments and low balances) will help your score recover and grow. Missing payments, however, will damage your score for years.