What the Chase Amazon Prime Credit Card does

The Chase Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card gives you cash back on Amazon purchases and other everyday spending. You earn 5% back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases (up to $1,500 per year, then 1% after), 2% back at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% back on everything else. There is an annual fee of $139, though Amazon Prime members get a $139 statement credit each year, which means the card costs nothing if you already have a Prime membership.

The card is issued by Chase, a major bank, and works like any other Visa Signature card — you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted. The rewards post to your account as statement credits that reduce your balance, not as points you have to redeem separately.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on all other purchases.
  • The $139 annual fee is offset by a $139 statement credit for Prime members, making the card free if you maintain an active Prime subscription.
  • You need to be approved by Chase and have a credit history that shows you pay bills on time; the card is not available to everyone.
  • The 5% Amazon reward caps at $1,500 per year in combined Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, after which you earn only 1% on those merchants.
  • Rewards appear as statement credits automatically, so you do not have to log into a separate portal or redeem points manually.

Who this card makes sense for

This card works best if you spend regularly on Amazon and already pay for Prime membership. The math is straightforward: if you spend $2,500 or more per year on Amazon, the extra 5% reward (compared to a card that gives 1% everywhere) covers the annual fee. If you spend less than that on Amazon, you are paying $139 for a card that does not pay for itself.

The card also rewards gas station and restaurant spending at 2%, which is higher than many general-purpose cards. If you use those categories often, the combined rewards across all your spending may justify the fee even if your Amazon spending is modest.

If you do not have a Prime membership, the $139 annual fee is a real cost with no offset, and the card becomes much harder to justify unless your total rewards across all categories significantly exceed that amount.

How the rewards cap works and what it means

The 5% reward on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases only applies to the first $1,500 you spend per year at those merchants combined. Once you hit $1,500, any additional Amazon or Whole Foods purchases earn only 1% for the rest of that calendar year.

This cap matters if you are a heavy Amazon shopper. A household that spends $3,000 per year on Amazon will earn 5% on the first $1,500 ($75) and 1% on the remaining $1,500 ($15), for a total of $90 in rewards. The cap does reset on January 1 each year, so high spenders can plan larger purchases around the calendar.

What you need to know about the annual fee and Prime credit

Chase charges $139 per year, charged to your account on the anniversary of when you opened the card. At the same time, you receive a $139 statement credit that offsets the fee. The credit appears automatically if your account is in good standing and you maintain an active Prime membership.

If you cancel your Prime membership, you lose the statement credit, and the annual fee becomes a real cost. Similarly, if you close the card, you stop earning the credit. The credit is not a refund — it is a reduction to your balance, so it only helps if you actually carry a balance or make purchases after the credit posts.

How to get approved and what happens next

You start by going to Chase's website or visiting a Chase branch and submitting an process. Chase will check your credit report and credit score to decide whether to approve you. The bank typically looks for a credit score of 670 or higher, though approval is not may provide at any score. If you have recent late payments, collections accounts, or very high existing debt, Chase may decline you.

If approved, your card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can set up it online or by phone, then start using it when ready. Your first statement arrives about 30 days after your first purchase, and that is when you see your rewards posted as a credit.

If you are declined, you can ask Chase why and reapply after addressing the issue — usually by paying down debt or waiting for negative marks to age off your credit report. You can also call Chase's reconsideration line to ask if they will reconsider your process on the spot.

How this card compares to other Amazon rewards cards

Amazon also offers a store card (the Amazon Store Card) that gives 5% back on Amazon purchases with no annual fee, but only if you use it on Amazon — it does not work elsewhere. That card is useful if you shop Amazon heavily but do not want to pay an annual fee. However, it offers no rewards on gas, restaurants, or other purchases.

The Chase Amazon Prime card is broader: it rewards you outside Amazon too, at gas stations and restaurants. If you value those categories and already pay for Prime, the $139 fee can be worth it. If you only care about Amazon rewards and want to avoid an annual fee, the Amazon Store Card may be the better choice.

A general-purpose card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture X offers different reward structures and may be better if you travel frequently or do not shop Amazon much. Comparing cards side by side based on your actual spending is the only way to know which saves you the most money.

What happens if you stop using the card or want to cancel

If you do not use the card for a period of time, Chase may close it for inactivity, though this typically takes 12 months or longer of no purchases. You can prevent this by making at least one small purchase per year.

If you want to cancel, you can call Chase customer service and ask to close the account. There is no penalty for canceling, but you lose access to the rewards and the annual statement credit. If you cancel before the annual fee posts, you avoid paying it that year. If the fee has already posted and you cancel shortly after, you can call and ask Chase to reverse the fee as a courtesy, though they are not required to do so.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have an Amazon Prime membership to use this card?

No, you can use the card without Prime. However, without Prime you do not receive the $139 statement credit, so the annual fee is a real cost. The 5% reward on Amazon purchases also requires an active Prime membership to earn, so non-Prime cardholders earn only 1% on Amazon purchases.

What if I spend more than $1,500 per year on Amazon?

Spending beyond $1,500 per year on Amazon and Whole Foods combined earns only 1% for the rest of that calendar year. If you are a very heavy Amazon shopper, you might reach the cap by mid-year. The cap resets on January 1, so you can plan larger purchases around the calendar if you want to maximize the 5% rate.

Can I use this card outside the United States?

Yes, the card works internationally wherever Visa is accepted. However, Chase charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% on purchases made outside the U.S., so international spending is more expensive. Check the full terms on Chase's website for the exact fee structure.

What if I am denied for the card?

If Chase denies your process, you can call their reconsideration line to ask if they will approve you on the spot — sometimes a brief conversation changes the outcome. If they decline again, wait a few months, pay down existing debt, and reapply. You can also check your credit report for errors that may have hurt your chances.

Does the annual fee post before or after the statement credit?

The fee and credit post at the same time, on your card anniversary. The credit offsets the fee, so the net cost to you is zero if you have an active Prime membership. If your account is closed or suspended, the credit may not post, leaving you responsible for the full fee.