The Amazon Prime Visa gives 5% cash back on Amazon purchases and Whole Foods spending, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else

The Amazon Prime Visa is a co-branded card issued by Chase in partnership with Amazon. It requires an active Prime membership to open and to keep the card active. If your Prime membership lapses, Chase will close the card automatically.

The card has no annual fee. The cash back structure is fixed: 5% on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market purchases, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on all other purchases. You earn the cash back as a statement credit that appears on your bill each month.

The card is a Visa Signature product, which means it includes benefits like purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and travel accident insurance. These are standard Visa Signature features, not unique to this card.

Key Takeaways

  • You must hold an active Amazon Prime membership to open this card and to keep it open; the card closes if your membership ends.
  • The 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods is the main draw, but it only applies to those two merchants; everywhere else is 2% or 1%.
  • There is no annual fee, and cash back posts as a statement credit each month rather than requiring a redemption step.
  • The card includes standard Visa Signature protections like purchase protection and extended warranty, but these are not unique to Amazon's card.

How the 5% cash back works on Amazon and Whole Foods

The 5% rate applies to purchases made directly on Amazon.com and at Whole Foods Market physical locations. It does not explore to Amazon Fresh, Amazon Go, or other Amazon-owned services. Third-party sellers on Amazon.com do count toward the 5% rate as long as you buy through Amazon's site.

Cash back posts to your account as a statement credit once per month, usually around the time your billing cycle closes. You do not need to redeem it or transfer it anywhere — it straightforward reduces the amount you owe on your bill. If you carry a balance, the credit applies to your outstanding balance first.

The 5% rate is not tiered or capped. You earn it on every may be able to access purchase, no matter how much you spend in a month or year.

The 2% and 1% categories explained

Outside of Amazon and Whole Foods, the card earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants. The 2% applies to any gas station, not just a specific brand, and to any restaurant including fast food, casual dining, and fine dining. It also covers bars and cafes.

Everything else — groceries at other supermarkets, drugstores, utilities, insurance, travel, entertainment, and miscellaneous purchases — earns 1% cash back. This flat 1% rate is lower than many competing cards offer in their catch-all category, which is a trade-off for the high 5% rate on Amazon.

If you do not shop at Amazon or Whole Foods regularly, this card's cash back structure may not be competitive. Cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Capital One SavorOne offer higher rates across the board but without the Prime membership requirement.

Annual fee and Prime membership requirements

The Amazon Prime Visa has no annual fee. However, you must maintain an active Prime membership to keep the card open. Prime membership costs $139 per year (or $14.99 per month for a monthly plan), and that fee is separate from the card.

If your Prime membership expires and you do not renew it within a grace period, Chase will close the card. You will still be able to pay off any balance, but you cannot use the card for new purchases. If you later reactivate your Prime membership, you can reapply for the card.

The card itself does not waive or discount your Prime membership fee. You pay the full Prime cost regardless of whether you hold the card.

Visa Signature protections and benefits

As a Visa Signature card, the Amazon Prime Visa includes several standard protections. These include purchase protection (covering items damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase), extended warranty coverage (extending the manufacturer's warranty by up to one year), and travel accident insurance (covering accidental death or dismemberment while traveling).

The card also includes roadside dispatch information, emergency card replacement, and emergency cash advance services. These are benefits that come with the Visa Signature designation, not features unique to Amazon's card.

Read the full terms of these protections in the card's benefits guide, which Chase provides when you open the account. The coverage limits and exclusions vary, and some protections have caps or require you to register purchases to be covered.

How this card compares to other cash back cards

The Amazon Prime Visa's main advantage is the 5% rate on Amazon and Whole Foods, which is among the highest available for those specific merchants. If you spend heavily on Amazon and Whole Foods, this card can deliver significant cash back.

The disadvantage is the 1% rate on most other purchases. The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers 1.5% on everything with no annual fee and no membership requirement. The Capital One SavorOne offers 3% on dining and entertainment and 1% elsewhere, also with no annual fee. If you do not shop at Amazon or Whole Foods regularly, one of these cards will likely earn you more cash back overall.

The Prime membership requirement is also a factor. If you already pay for Prime for the shipping and streaming benefits, the card becomes more attractive because you are not adding a new cost. If you would need to buy Prime just to use the card, the $139 annual fee makes the card less valuable unless you spend enough on Amazon and Whole Foods to earn back that amount in cash back.

Approval and credit requirements

Chase typically approves the Amazon Prime Visa for applicants with good to excellent credit, usually a score of 670 or higher. The exact score threshold varies based on your overall credit profile, income, and existing Chase accounts.

You will need a valid Prime membership at the time you explore. Chase will verify this during the process process. You must also be at least 18 years old and have a valid Social Security number or ITIN.

The process takes a few minutes online. Chase will give you a decision when ready or within a few days. If approved, the card typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my card if my Prime membership expires?

Chase will close the card if your Prime membership lapses. You will have a grace period to renew your membership before the closure takes effect, but once closed, you cannot use the card for new purchases. You can still pay off any balance owed. If you reactivate Prime later, you can reapply for the card.

Does the 5% cash back explore to Amazon Fresh or Amazon Go?

No. The 5% rate only applies to purchases on Amazon.com and at Whole Foods Market physical locations. Amazon Fresh, Amazon Go, and other Amazon-owned services earn only 1% cash back.

Can I use this card if I do not have Prime?

No. You must have an active Prime membership to open the card and to keep it open. If you do not currently have Prime, you would need to purchase a membership first.

How does the cash back post to my account?

Cash back posts as a statement credit once per month, usually around your billing cycle close date. It automatically reduces the balance you owe on your bill. You do not need to redeem it or transfer it anywhere.

Is this card better than the Chase Freedom Unlimited?

It depends on your spending. If you spend heavily on Amazon and Whole Foods, the 5% rate makes this card worthwhile. If you spend more at other retailers and restaurants, the Freedom Unlimited's flat 1.5% rate will earn you more cash back overall, and it has no membership requirement.