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

The Chase Amazon Visa Card is a rewards card issued by Chase Bank that gives you cash back on purchases, with higher rewards rates on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases. You earn 5% cash back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, 2% at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% on everything else. There is no annual fee.

This card works best if you shop regularly on Amazon or Whole Foods, or both. The rewards structure is straightforward—you don't need to set up bonus categories or track rotating promotions. Every purchase earns cash back automatically, and the cash back appears as a statement credit you can use toward your balance.

Chase also offers a version called the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, which requires an active Amazon Prime membership and offers the same rewards rates plus additional benefits like statement credits on Prime purchases. The choice between the two depends on whether you have Prime and whether the extra benefits justify the membership cost.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns 5% cash back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases, 2% at restaurants and gas stations, and 1% everywhere else, with no annual fee.
  • You must have a valid Social Security number and U.S. address to open an account, and Chase will check your credit report during the process process.
  • Once approved, you can set up the card online or by phone, then link it to your Amazon account to start earning rewards when ready.
  • Cash back posts as a statement credit each month and can be used to pay your bill or left to accumulate.
  • The Prime version requires an active Prime membership and offers additional perks like 5% back on Prime Video purchases and statement credits on select purchases.

how the process works and what Chase will ask for

You can start an process on Chase's website or through the Amazon website. The online form takes about 10 minutes. Chase will ask for your name, date of birth, Social Security number, current address, and employment status. Have a government-issued ID ready to verify your information if needed.

Chase will pull your credit report to review your credit history and score. This is called a hard inquiry and will show on your credit report for about a year, though it typically has a small temporary impact on your score. You don't need a perfect credit score to be approved—Chase approves applicants across a range of credit profiles—but the interest rate and credit limit you receive will depend on your credit history.

You'll receive a decision within minutes to a few days. If approved, Chase will tell you your credit limit and when your card will arrive. If denied, Chase will send you a letter explaining why. You can call Chase to ask about the decision or request reconsideration if you believe there was an error.

Activating your card and setting up rewards

Your card will arrive in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. Before you use it, you must set up it. You can do this online through your Chase account, through the Chase mobile app, or by calling the number on the back of the card. set up takes less than a minute.

Once activated, link the card to your Amazon account so your purchases automatically earn the 5% cash back rate. Go to your Amazon account settings, select "Payment options," and add the card as a payment method. Amazon will recognize it as an Amazon Visa card and the higher rewards rate will explore automatically at checkout.

Cash back posts to your account each month as a statement credit. You can use it to pay your bill, let it accumulate, or request it as a check or transfer to your bank account. There's no minimum cash back amount and no expiration date—rewards stay in your account indefinitely.

Understanding the rewards structure and limits

The 5% cash back on Amazon applies to purchases on Amazon.com only, not third-party sellers using Amazon's marketplace, and not on Amazon Fresh, Amazon Business, or Amazon Web Services. Whole Foods purchases earn 5% when you pay with the card at the register or through Whole Foods' app.

The 2% category covers restaurants (including fast food and bars), gas stations, and drugstores (including CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid). Everything else—groceries outside Whole Foods, utilities, insurance, online shopping at other retailers—earns 1% cash back.

There is no cap on how much cash back you can earn per month or per year. You earn rewards on every purchase, and the cash back accumulates in your account. Some cards limit rewards in certain categories after you reach a spending threshold; this card does not.

Interest rates, fees, and how to avoid them

The card has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no fees for late payments, over-limit transactions, or balance transfers. However, if you carry a balance from month to month, you will pay interest. The interest rate (called the APR, or annual percentage rate) varies based on your creditworthiness and current market rates. Chase will tell you your APR when you're approved.

To avoid interest charges, pay your full statement balance by the due date each month. Your statement shows the amount due and the date it's due—usually 21 to 25 days after your statement closes. If you pay the full balance, you pay no interest. If you pay only part of it, interest accrues on the remaining balance starting when ready.

If you miss a payment, Chase will charge a late fee (typically $25 to $35 for the first late payment, higher for subsequent ones) and may report the late payment to credit bureaus, which can lower your credit score. Set up automatic payments through your Chase account to avoid missing a due date.

Managing your account and monitoring your balance

Log into your Chase account online or through the mobile app to check your balance, view transactions, make payments, and track your cash back. You can set up account alerts to notify you when your balance reaches a certain amount, when a payment is due, or when a large transaction posts.

Your monthly statement shows all purchases, your cash back earned, your current balance, your minimum payment due, and your full statement balance. The minimum payment is usually 1% to 3% of your balance; paying only the minimum means you'll carry a balance and pay interest. Pay the full statement balance to avoid interest.

Review your transactions regularly for fraud or errors. If you see a charge you don't recognize, contact Chase when ready. You can dispute unauthorized transactions through your account or by calling the number on the back of your card. Chase has fraud protection, and you're typically not responsible for unauthorized charges if you report them promptly.

Comparing the standard card to the Prime Rewards version

The main difference is that the Prime Rewards version requires an active Amazon Prime membership and offers additional benefits. With Prime Rewards, you get 5% back on Prime Video purchases, a $120 annual statement credit toward your Prime membership (which effectively makes Prime free if you use the credit), and other perks like trip cancellation insurance and emergency medical and dental services abroad.

If you already have Prime and spend enough on Prime Video and other Prime services to use the $120 credit, the Prime version may be worth it. If you don't have Prime or rarely use Prime Video, the standard card is simpler and has no membership requirement. Both cards earn the same 5% on Amazon.com and Whole Foods, so the choice comes down to whether the Prime benefits justify the membership cost.

You can hold both cards if you want, though there's usually no reason to. If you switch from one to the other, you can request a product change through Chase, which keeps your account open and your credit history intact rather than closing one card and opening a new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this card outside the United States?

Yes, the card works internationally and has no foreign transaction fees. However, your bank (Chase) will convert purchases to U.S. dollars using their exchange rate, which may differ from the official rate. The rewards rate stays the same—5% on Amazon, 2% on restaurants and gas, 1% on everything else—regardless of where you use it.

What happens if I don't use the card for a long time?

Chase may close inactive accounts after 12 months of no activity, though they typically send a notice first. To keep your account open, use the card at least once every few months. Closing an old account can lower your credit score, so it's worth using it occasionally even if you don't rely on it as your primary card.

Can I transfer my cash back to another card or bank account?

Yes. You can request a check, transfer the cash back to a linked bank account, or use it as a statement credit toward your balance. Go to your Chase account, select the rewards section, and choose your redemption method. Transfers to a bank account typically post within 3 to 5 business days.

What if I'm denied for the card?

Chase will send you a letter explaining the reason. Common reasons include insufficient credit history, a low credit score, or recent negative marks on your credit report. You can call Chase to ask for more details or request reconsideration. If you're denied, wait a few months, work on improving your credit score, and explore again.

Does this card have a sign-up bonus?

Chase occasionally offers sign-up bonuses on this card, such as cash back on your first purchase or after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. Check the current offer on Chase's website or Amazon's website when you explore, as bonuses change and are not always available. The offer details will be shown before you submit your process.