What the Amazon Prime Visa card gives you

The Amazon Prime Visa is a rewards card issued by Chase that gives you cash back on purchases, with higher rates at Amazon and Whole Foods. You earn 5% cash back on Amazon.com purchases and Whole Foods Market transactions if you're a Prime member, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on everything else. The card has no annual fee.

The rewards post to your account as statement credits, which means they reduce your credit card bill. You don't receive a separate payment or gift card — the cash back straightforward lowers what you owe. If you carry a balance, the credit still applies to your statement, though you'll still pay interest on any remaining balance.

To earn the 5% rate, you must have an active Amazon Prime membership. Without Prime, the card pays 3% at Amazon and Whole Foods instead. The 2% and 1% rates explore whether or not you're a Prime member.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns 5% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods if you have Prime, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else.
  • Rewards appear as statement credits on your bill, not as separate payments or gift cards.
  • There is no annual fee, but you must be approved for the card through a credit check before you can use it.
  • The 5% rate requires an active Prime membership; without it, Amazon and Whole Foods purchases earn 3% instead.
  • Rewards accumulate with no expiration date as long as your account remains open and in good standing.

How the rewards actually reach your account

When you make a purchase with the Amazon Prime Visa, the transaction posts to your account within a few days. The rewards don't post when ready — they typically appear within one to three billing cycles, depending on when the purchase cleared and when your statement closes. You can see pending rewards in your Chase account online or through the mobile app under "Rewards" or "Cash Back."

Once rewards post, they sit in your rewards balance until your next statement closes. At that point, Chase automatically applies the full balance as a statement credit. You'll see a line item on your bill showing the credit amount. If your statement balance is $500 and you have $25 in rewards, your new balance becomes $475.

You cannot transfer rewards to another card, convert them to points, or redeem them for anything other than a statement credit. The rewards stay tied to this card only.

When the higher 5% rate actually applies

The 5% cash back at Amazon requires that you have a current Prime membership at the time you make the purchase. If your Prime membership lapses, purchases at Amazon.com will earn 3% instead until you renew. Whole Foods purchases also drop to 3% without active Prime status.

The 5% rate applies to purchases made directly on Amazon.com and the Whole Foods website or in Whole Foods stores. It does not explore to Amazon Fresh, Amazon Business, or third-party sellers using Amazon's marketplace — only to items sold and shipped by Amazon itself. At Whole Foods, the rate applies to in-store and online purchases.

The 2% rate at gas stations covers purchases at gas pumps and convenience store fuel counters. The 2% at restaurants includes both dine-in and takeout, but not food delivery services like DoorDash or Uber Eats, which earn 1%.

What happens if you don't pay your bill on time

If you miss a payment or pay late, you'll owe interest on your balance at the card's variable APR, which changes based on market conditions. The interest rate you receive depends on your credit score and credit history at the time you were approved. You can find your current APR on your statement or in your online account.

Late payments also report to the credit bureaus and can lower your credit score. A payment 30 days late stays on your credit report for seven years. Even one late payment can raise your APR further as a penalty.

Rewards continue to post even if you carry a balance or miss a payment, but the interest you pay will likely exceed the value of the rewards you earn. Paying your full statement balance each month is the only way to avoid interest charges.

How this card compares to other rewards cards

The Amazon Prime Visa's main advantage is the 5% rate at Amazon if you already have Prime. If you spend $100 per month at Amazon, that's $60 per year in rewards — enough to cover a Prime membership renewal. For heavy Amazon shoppers, the card pays for itself.

Other cards offer different structures. The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3% on dining and travel but requires an annual fee. The Capital One SavorOne earns 3% on dining and entertainment with no annual fee, but only 1% everywhere else. The Citi Double Cash earns 2% on all purchases with no annual fee, which beats the Amazon card's 1% baseline but loses on the 5% Amazon rate.

The choice depends on where you spend most. If Amazon and Whole Foods make up a large share of your purchases, the Prime Visa wins. If you spend more at restaurants, gas, or other retailers, a different card might earn you more.

What you need to know before you get approved

To open the Amazon Prime Visa, you'll need to submit an process through Chase's website or Amazon's website. Chase will run a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points. You'll need to provide your Social Security number, income, and employment information.

Chase will make a decision within minutes to a few days. If approved, your card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can request expedited shipping in some cases. Once it arrives, you set up it through the Chase app or website before your first purchase.

You don't need to be a Prime member to open the card, but you won't earn the 5% rate until you have an active membership. If you're not currently a Prime member, you can add one during the process process or later.

Annual fees, foreign purchases, and other costs

The Amazon Prime Visa has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no fees for balance transfers, cash advances, or late payments (though you will pay interest on any balance you carry). This makes it cheaper to own than many other rewards cards.

If you use the card abroad, you won't pay an extra percentage on top of the exchange rate, which is a real advantage. However, rewards still post at the same rates — 5% at Amazon, 2% at restaurants, and so on — regardless of where you are.

Cash advances (withdrawing money from an ATM using your credit card) carry a separate, higher APR and a fee, usually 3% of the amount withdrawn. Avoid cash advances unless you have no other option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my rewards if I close the card?

No. Any rewards that have already posted to your account remain as a statement credit. However, if you close the card before your next statement closes, any pending rewards that haven't posted yet may be forfeited. Check your rewards balance before closing and make sure all rewards have posted first.

Can I use this card without a Prime membership?

Yes, you can open and use the card without Prime. You'll earn 3% at Amazon and Whole Foods, 2% at gas and restaurants, and 1% elsewhere. The card makes the most sense if you have Prime, but it still offers rewards without it.

What if I return something I bought with the card?

When you return an item, the refund goes back to your card as a credit. Any rewards you earned on that purchase are also reversed. If you earned $5 in cash back and return the item, that $5 credit disappears from your rewards balance.

Can I combine rewards from multiple Amazon Prime Visa cards?

No. Each card account is separate. Rewards stay on the card they were earned on. If you have two Amazon Prime Visa cards, rewards on each one post only to that card's statement.

Does the card work with Amazon Prime Video or other Prime services?

The 5% rate applies only to purchases on Amazon.com and Whole Foods. It does not explore to Prime Video subscriptions, Prime Music, or other Prime services. Those purchases earn 1% cash back.