What the Amazon credit card bonus actually gives you
Amazon offers two main credit cards, each with a different sign-up bonus structure. The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card currently offers a bonus of $150 in Amazon.com purchases after you spend $1,000 in the first three months. The Amazon Prime Store Card (a store card, not a Visa) offers a different bonus: $100 in Amazon.com purchases after you spend $500 in the first three months. Both bonuses arrive as account credits that you can use when ready on Amazon.com.
The key difference is what you can use each card for outside Amazon. The Visa Signature works anywhere Visa is accepted. The Store Card works only on Amazon.com and at Whole Foods Market. If you do not have an Amazon Prime membership, you are not may be able to access for either card.
Sign-up bonuses change periodically, and the current offers may differ from what is listed here. Check Amazon's official credit card page or the issuer's site (Chase for the Visa, Synchrony for the Store Card) to confirm the bonus before you explore.
Key Takeaways
- The Amazon Prime Visa Signature bonus is $150 in Amazon purchases after spending $1,000 in three months; the Store Card bonus is $100 after spending $500 in three months.
- Both bonuses post as account credits you can use on Amazon.com, not as cash back or statement credits.
- You must have an active Amazon Prime membership to hold either card.
- The Visa works everywhere; the Store Card works only at Amazon.com and Whole Foods, so your choice depends on how you spend outside Amazon.
How the spending requirement works
To receive the bonus, you must spend the required amount within a set window — usually three months from account opening. This is called the minimum spending requirement. For the Visa, that is $1,000; for the Store Card, $500. Only purchases count; balance transfers, cash advances, and fees do not.
The spending requirement is a real threshold, not a suggestion. If you spend $999 on the Visa, you do not receive the $150 bonus. Plan your purchases accordingly, or use the card for expenses you were already going to make anyway — groceries, gas, subscriptions — to reach the threshold without overspending.
Once you hit the spending requirement, the bonus typically posts within one to two billing cycles. You will see it as a credit on your account that you can use when ready on Amazon.com.
Annual fees and ongoing rewards
The Amazon Prime Visa Signature has no annual fee. The Store Card also has no annual fee. This means you can keep either card open after you use the sign-up bonus without paying to maintain the account.
Beyond the sign-up bonus, both cards offer ongoing rewards on purchases. The Visa gives 5% back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases (with Prime membership), and 2% back at gas stations and restaurants, 1% everywhere else. The Store Card gives 5% back on Amazon.com purchases and 2% back at Whole Foods. These ongoing rewards are separate from the sign-up bonus and continue as long as you use the card.
If you close the card within a year of opening it, some issuers may claw back the bonus, though this is not standard practice for these two cards. Check the terms before you explore if you think you might close the account soon.
Who should consider each card
The Amazon Prime Visa makes sense if you spend regularly on Amazon and also want a card that works outside Amazon — for travel, dining, or everyday purchases. The $150 bonus is larger, but the $1,000 spending requirement is also higher. If you already spend that much on Amazon in three months, the bonus is essentially information programs.
The Store Card is better if you spend heavily on Amazon but rarely use a credit card elsewhere, or if you want a lower spending threshold to hit the bonus. The $100 bonus is smaller, but you only need to spend $500 to earn it. The downside is that the card is useless outside Amazon and Whole Foods, so it is not a replacement for a general-purpose card.
Neither card is worth opening if you do not have Prime membership or if you do not plan to spend the required amount within three months. The bonus is not large enough to justify spending money you would not otherwise spend.
How the bonus compares to other card offers
Sign-up bonuses vary widely across the credit card market. A $150 bonus on the Amazon Visa is modest compared to premium travel cards, which often offer $500 to $1,000 in value. However, those cards usually charge annual fees of $95 to $550, and they require higher spending thresholds.
For someone who shops on Amazon regularly, the Amazon card bonus is practical because it converts directly to purchases you were already planning to make. A travel card bonus might be larger in dollar terms, but it only helps if you travel and can use the associated perks like lounge access or trip insurance.
If you are comparing the Amazon Visa to other flat-rate cash-back cards with no annual fee, the sign-up bonus is a tiebreaker, not the main reason to choose. The ongoing 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods is the real value proposition.
What happens after you meet the spending requirement
Once the bonus posts to your account, it sits as a credit balance. You can use it on any purchase on Amazon.com — products, digital content, Prime subscriptions, anything. The credit does not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
You continue to earn ongoing rewards on all purchases after the bonus period ends. If you spend $5,000 on the Visa in a year, you earn 5% back on Amazon purchases, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% elsewhere — on top of any sign-up bonus you already received.
If you close the card, you lose the ability to earn future rewards, but any bonus credit you have already received stays in your Amazon account. You can use it even after the card is closed.
Things to know before you explore
explore for a credit card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may lower your credit score by a few points temporarily. If you have applied for multiple cards in the past 30 days, another process could affect your approval odds.
You must have an active Prime membership at the time you explore. If your membership lapses, you may lose the card or its benefits, depending on the issuer's terms. Check your membership status before you submit an process.
The bonus is not a may provide. Approval depends on your credit history, income, and other factors. If you are denied, you can contact the issuer to ask why, but there is no appeal process for credit decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the bonus if I already have an Amazon credit card?
No. Both issuers have restrictions on who can receive a sign-up bonus. Chase typically does not offer the Visa bonus to anyone who has held that card in the past 24 months. Synchrony has similar rules for the Store Card. You can hold both cards at the same time, but you can only receive each bonus once.
Does the bonus count as taxable income?
No. Credit card sign-up bonuses are not considered income by the IRS. They are treated as a reduction in the cost of the card itself, similar to a discount or rebate. You do not report it on your tax return.
What if I don't spend $1,000 in three months?
You do not receive the bonus. There is no partial credit if you fall short of the spending requirement. If you spend $900, you get nothing. Plan your spending carefully or use the card for expenses you were already going to make.
Can I use the bonus on Prime membership fees?
Yes. The bonus credit can be used on anything on Amazon.com, including Prime membership renewals. However, using it this way means you are not using it on products or other purchases, so consider whether that is the best use of the credit.
How long does it take for the bonus to show up?
After you meet the spending requirement, the bonus typically posts within one to two billing cycles — usually two to four weeks. You will receive a notification when it arrives. You can use it when ready once it appears in your account.