What the Chase Amazon credit card is and who it's for
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is a credit card issued by Chase Bank that gives you cash back when you spend money. The card is designed for people who shop on Amazon regularly, because it pays you more cash back there than anywhere else — 5% on Amazon purchases if you're a Prime member, 3% if you're not.
You don't have to be a Prime member to get the card, but the rewards are much better if you are. Outside of Amazon, you earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else. The card has no annual fee, which means you pay nothing just to own it.
This card makes sense if you spend at least $100 or $200 a month on Amazon and don't mind carrying a Visa. If you rarely shop on Amazon or prefer to avoid credit cards altogether, a basic debit card or a different rewards card might fit you better.
Key Takeaways
- The Amazon Prime Rewards card earns 5% cash back on Amazon purchases for Prime members, but only if you use this specific card — your Prime membership alone doesn't earn cash back.
- You earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on all other purchases, with no annual fee to pay.
- Cash back appears as a statement credit on your bill each month, not as money deposited to your bank account.
- Like all credit cards, you pay interest on any balance you don't pay off in full each month, which can erase your cash back rewards quickly.
- Chase will check your credit report when you explore, which may lower your credit score slightly for a few months.
How cash back rewards actually work on this card
When you use the Amazon Prime Rewards card to buy something, Chase tracks the purchase and calculates a percentage of what you spent. That percentage becomes cash back — money credited to your account. The amount depends on where you shop: 5% on Amazon (for Prime members), 2% at gas and restaurants, 1% everywhere else.
The cash back doesn't arrive as a deposit to your bank account. Instead, it shows up as a credit on your credit card statement, reducing the amount you owe. If you spend $100 on Amazon in a month, you earn $5 in cash back, and your bill that month will be $5 lower than it would have been otherwise.
You can also choose to convert your cash back into Amazon gift cards instead, though the card statement credit is usually simpler. The cash back you earn doesn't expire as long as your account stays open, so you don't lose rewards if you forget about them for a few months.
The interest rate and what happens if you carry a balance
The card has a variable interest rate, which means Chase can change it over time. The exact rate you're offered depends on your credit score and credit history — people with excellent credit get lower rates, and people with fair or poor credit get higher rates. Chase doesn't publish the rate in advance; you'll see it in the offer or in your account after approval.
If you pay your full statement balance by the due date each month, you pay no interest at all. But if you carry a balance — meaning you don't pay it off completely — you'll be charged interest on the remaining amount. That interest is calculated daily and added to your bill each month. A 2% cash back reward disappears quickly if you're paying 18% or 24% in interest on a balance.
For example, if you spend $1,000 and earn $20 in cash back but only pay $500 of the bill, you'll owe interest on the remaining $500. At a 20% annual rate, that's about $8 in interest charges the first month alone. Over time, the interest you pay will be far more than the rewards you earn.
Annual fees, sign-up bonuses, and other costs
The Amazon Prime Rewards card has no annual fee, so you never pay Chase just to keep the card open. This is different from some other rewards cards that charge $95 or more per year.
Chase sometimes offers a sign-up bonus when you first open the card — for example, a one-time cash back bonus if you spend a certain amount in the first few months. These bonuses change frequently, so check Chase's website or the card offer you received to see what's current. The bonus is real money, but it only applies if you meet the spending requirement within the time limit.
The card does have other costs that aren't obvious: a late fee if you miss a payment (usually $25 to $40), a fee if you go over your credit limit, and a higher interest rate if you miss a payment by 60 days or more. You avoid all of these by paying on time and staying within your limit.
how the process works and what Chase will check
You can explore for the Amazon Prime Rewards card on Chase's website or through Amazon's website. The process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, Social Security number, income, and employment information. Chase uses this information to check your credit report and decide whether to approve you.
When Chase checks your credit, it makes a hard inquiry — a formal look at your credit history that appears on your credit report. This inquiry may lower your credit score by a few points for a few months. If you explore for multiple credit cards in a short time, each process causes another hard inquiry, and your score drops further.
Chase typically decides on your process within minutes or a few days. If you're approved, your card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days. If you're denied, Chase will send you a letter explaining why, and you can contact them to ask about reapplying later.
How this card affects your credit score and credit history
Opening a new credit card affects your credit score in two ways. First, the hard inquiry lowers your score slightly. Second, a new account lowers your average account age, which also affects your score. Both effects are temporary — your score usually recovers within a few months as long as you pay on time.
Once the card is open, your payment history becomes the biggest factor. If you pay your bill on time every month, your score will improve over time. If you miss payments or carry a high balance, your score will drop. Credit bureaus report your payment history to the three major credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — so your behavior on this card affects your overall credit profile.
The card also affects your credit utilization, which is the percentage of your available credit that you're using. If your credit limit is $5,000 and you carry a $2,500 balance, your utilization is 50%. High utilization (above 30%) can lower your score, even if you pay on time. Keeping your balance low relative to your limit helps your score.
Comparing this card to other rewards options
The Amazon Prime Rewards card isn't the only way to earn rewards on Amazon purchases. Amazon's own store card (the Amazon Store Card) offers 5% cash back on Amazon purchases without requiring a Prime membership, but it only works at Amazon and Whole Foods — you earn no rewards anywhere else. If you shop mostly on Amazon, the store card might be simpler.
Other rewards cards offer different structures. The Chase Sapphire Preferred, for example, earns 3 points per dollar on restaurants and travel, which can be worth more than cash back if you redeem them for travel. The Citi Double Cash card earns 2% cash back on everything with no annual fee, which is better than the Amazon card if you spend equally across many categories.
If you don't want a credit card at all, you can still earn rewards through Amazon's own loyalty programs — Prime members get free shipping and exclusive deals, and you can use a debit card or cash to pay. You just won't earn cash back on purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a Prime member to get the card?
No, you can open the card without a Prime membership. But the card's main benefit — 5% cash back on Amazon — only applies to Prime members. If you're not a Prime member, you'll earn 3% on Amazon purchases instead, which is less attractive.
Can I use this card at stores other than Amazon?
Yes. You earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on all other purchases. The card is a regular Visa, so any store that takes Visa will take it. The higher rewards are just for Amazon, gas, and restaurants.
What happens to my cash back if I close the card?
Any cash back you've already earned stays on your account as a statement credit and can be used before you close the card. Cash back you haven't earned yet disappears when the account closes. You don't lose rewards retroactively.
Is the interest rate fixed or does it change?
The rate is variable, meaning Chase can raise or lower it over time. Your rate is based on your credit score and the prime rate set by the Federal Reserve. You'll see your current rate on your statement each month.
What's the difference between this card and the Amazon Store Card?
The Amazon Prime Rewards card works everywhere and earns rewards at gas and restaurants. The Amazon Store Card only works at Amazon and Whole Foods but doesn't require a Prime membership to earn 5% cash back. Choose based on where you spend most of your money.