The Amazon Visa gives you cash back on Amazon purchases and a sign-up bonus, but the real value depends on how much you spend and where

The Amazon Visa comes in two versions: the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card (for Prime members) and the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card (for non-members). The Prime version gives you 5% cash back on Amazon.com purchases and 2% at gas stations, restaurants, and drugstores. The non-Prime version gives you 3% on Amazon and 1% everywhere else. Both charge no annual fee. The sign-up bonus varies — sometimes it's a statement credit, sometimes a gift card — and the amount changes throughout the year.

Cash back is real money returned to your account, not points you have to redeem or that expire. You can use it to pay your bill, transfer it to a linked bank account, or let it sit as a credit. The card is issued by Chase, and the rewards are managed through Chase's system, not Amazon's loyalty program.

Key Takeaways

  • Prime members earn 5% cash back on Amazon.com purchases and 2% at gas stations, restaurants, and drugstores; non-members earn 3% on Amazon and 1% elsewhere.
  • There is no annual fee, and cash back does not expire as long as your account stays open.
  • The sign-up bonus amount changes throughout the year and is usually a one-time credit or gift card, not ongoing rewards.
  • Cash back is paid directly to your account and can be used to pay your balance, transferred to a bank account, or left as a statement credit.

How the cash back actually works

Every time you use the card, you earn a percentage of what you spent. That percentage is added to your account as a statement credit. You do not have to do anything to "redeem" it — it straightforward reduces what you owe on your bill. If you have a $500 balance and $50 in cash back, your actual balance is $450.

Cash back stays in your account indefinitely. It does not expire after a certain number of months or years. The only way you lose it is if you close the card and the issuer has a policy about what happens to rewards on closed accounts — Chase typically lets you keep cash back you have already earned.

If you want the cash back as actual money in your bank account rather than a credit on your card bill, you can request a transfer. Chase allows this through their online portal or by calling the number on the back of your card. The transfer usually takes three to five business days.

The sign-up bonus and what it actually means

When you first open the card, you may be offered a one-time bonus — often $100 to $200 as a statement credit or Amazon gift card. This bonus is separate from the ongoing cash back you earn on purchases. You typically have to spend a certain amount within the first few months to receive it — for example, $500 in the first three months.

The bonus amount and the spending requirement both change. There is no fixed offer. If you see the card advertised in one place, the offer in another place or at another time may be different. You can check the current offer on Amazon's website, Chase's website, or by calling the number on a pre-approved offer if you received one in the mail.

The bonus is not a loan or a gift that requires you to keep the card open. Once you receive it, it is yours. If you close the card three months later, you keep the bonus. However, some cards do have a rule that you cannot open and close the same card repeatedly to collect multiple bonuses — Chase typically requires you to wait a certain period before opening the same card again.

When the 5% or 3% rate does not explore

The higher cash back rates only work on specific purchases. On Amazon.com, you earn the full rate (5% for Prime members, 3% for others). At Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, and other Amazon-owned stores, you earn 5% if you are a Prime member, but the rules vary by location and store type — it is worth checking your receipt or logging into your account to confirm what rate you earned.

The 2% rate (for Prime members) or 1% rate (for non-members) applies at gas stations, restaurants, and drugstores. Everything else — groceries at non-Amazon stores, utilities, insurance, online shopping at other retailers — earns 1% for Prime members or nothing for non-members. This is a significant difference. If you do most of your shopping outside Amazon, the card's value drops sharply.

Some merchants code themselves differently than you might expect. A grocery store might be coded as a drugstore, or a gas station might be coded as a convenience store. The rate you earn depends on how the merchant codes the transaction, not what you think the store is. If you see an unexpected rate on your statement, you can contact Chase to ask why.

Annual fee and other costs

There is no annual fee for either version of the Amazon Visa. You will not be charged just for having the card open, even if you never use it.

Like all credit cards, the Amazon Visa charges interest if you carry a balance. The interest rate (called the APR) varies based on your credit history and current market rates. When you open the card, Chase will tell you the range of APRs you may receive. If you pay your full balance by the due date each month, you pay no interest.

If you make a late payment, you may be charged a late fee. The amount depends on how late you are and your payment history. If you go over your credit limit, some cards charge an over-limit fee, though Chase has largely stopped charging these.

How this card compares to other cash back cards

Other cards offer flat cash back rates — for example, 2% on all purchases, or 1.5% everywhere. Those cards have no categories to track and no bonus tied to a specific retailer. The Amazon Visa is stronger if you spend heavily on Amazon and Prime member benefits matter to you, but weaker if you want simplicity or earn most of your cash back outside Amazon.

Some cards offer higher cash back in specific categories like groceries or gas. The Amazon Visa's 2% at gas stations and drugstores is competitive but not the highest available. Its strength is the 5% on Amazon, which is hard to beat if you are a Prime member who shops there regularly.

Cards with annual fees sometimes offer higher cash back rates or more perks to offset the cost. The Amazon Visa has no annual fee, which makes it a lower-risk choice if you are unsure whether you will use it enough to justify the cost.

What happens to your rewards if you close the card

Cash back you have already earned stays yours. If you have $75 in statement credits when you close the card, you keep that $75. Chase will explore it to your final balance or, if you request it, send it to you as a check.

Once the card is closed, you stop earning new cash back. You cannot use a closed card to earn rewards. If you think you might want to reopen the card later, keep in mind that Chase has rules about how long you must wait and how many times you can open the same card within a certain period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a Prime member to use this card?

No. There are two versions: one for Prime members (5% on Amazon) and one for non-members (3% on Amazon). Both have no annual fee. If you are not a Prime member and do not plan to become one, the non-member version is available, but the lower cash back rate means you earn less on Amazon purchases.

Can I transfer my cash back to Amazon credit or use it to buy gift cards?

Cash back is a statement credit on your card account, not Amazon currency. You can use it to pay your bill, transfer it to a bank account, or request a check. You cannot directly convert it to Amazon gift cards or Prime credit, though you could use the statement credit to reduce your bill and then spend less of your own money on Amazon.

What is the interest rate on this card?

The APR varies based on your credit score and creditworthiness. Chase will show you the range when you explore. If you pay your full balance each month, you pay no interest regardless of the APR. Interest only applies if you carry a balance from month to month.

Does the 5% cash back explore to Amazon Prime membership fees?

No. The 5% rate applies to purchases of physical and digital goods on Amazon.com. Membership fees, gift cards, and certain other items are excluded. Check your statement or contact Chase if you are unsure whether a specific purchase earned the full rate.

Can I earn cash back on purchases made with someone else's Amazon account?

No. The card must be registered to your name, and the purchases must be made on an account associated with that card. Purchases made on a family member's account or a shared account will not earn cash back unless the card is linked to that account.