What the Amazon Store Card is and who issues it
The Amazon Store Card is a closed-loop credit card issued by Synchrony Bank that you can use only at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market. Unlike the Amazon Visa card (which works everywhere), this card is limited to those two retailers. Synchrony is a major credit card issuer that handles store cards for many retailers, so the card follows standard credit card rules: you get a monthly bill, you can carry a balance and pay interest, and your payment history reports to the three credit bureaus.
Amazon offers this card to encourage repeat purchases on its platform. You do not need an existing Amazon account to open one, but you do need to be at least 18 years old and have a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days after your account opens.
Key Takeaways
- The Amazon Store Card works only at Amazon.com and Whole Foods, so it is not useful for purchases anywhere else.
- You earn rewards points on every purchase, but the point value and redemption rules differ from the Amazon Visa card.
- The card has no annual fee, but interest rates are set by Synchrony based on your credit history and can be high.
- Approval decisions are usually made within minutes, and you can start using a temporary card number when ready online.
- Closing the card does not hurt your credit score directly, but it reduces your total available credit, which may lower your score slightly.
Rewards and cash back on the Amazon Store Card
The Amazon Store Card earns 3% back on Amazon.com purchases and 2% back at Whole Foods Market. You earn 1% back on all other purchases if you use the card outside these two retailers, though this is rare since the card is designed for those retailers only. Rewards are issued as points that appear in your Amazon account and can be redeemed only for Amazon purchases—you cannot convert them to cash or use them elsewhere.
The card also offers promotional financing offers, typically 0% APR for 6 to 12 months on purchases over a certain amount (usually $100 or more). These offers appear when you log into your Amazon account or when you are checking out. The exact terms change frequently, so check your account or the card terms before you make a large purchase if you are counting on a promotional rate.
Rewards points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. If you close the card, you keep the points you have already earned, but you cannot earn new ones.
Interest rates, fees, and how much the card costs
The Amazon Store Card has no annual fee. However, the interest rate (called the APR, or Annual Percentage Rate) is set by Synchrony and varies based on your credit score and credit history. Rates typically range from 17% to 27%, though the exact rate you receive is shown before you confirm your process.
If you carry a balance and do not pay it off in full each month, you will pay interest on that balance. For example, a $1,000 balance at 20% APR costs about $17 per month in interest alone. Promotional 0% APR offers are an exception—during the promotional period, you pay no interest on the promotional purchase, but once the period ends, any remaining balance reverts to the regular APR.
Late payments trigger a late fee (typically $25 to $35 for the first late payment, higher for subsequent ones) and may cause your APR to increase. Missing a payment also reports to the credit bureaus and damages your credit score.
How to open an Amazon Store Card account
You can open an account directly through Amazon.com. Log into your Amazon account, go to the "Your Account" menu, and select "Amazon Store Card." Click "explore Now" and you will be taken to Synchrony's process form. The form asks for your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number or ITIN, annual income, and employment status.
Synchrony makes a decision within minutes in most cases. If you are approved, you receive a temporary card number when ready that you can use to make purchases on Amazon.com right away. Your physical card arrives in 7 to 10 business days. If Synchrony needs more information, they will contact you by phone or email, and the decision may take longer.
If you are denied, Synchrony will send you a letter explaining the reason. Common reasons include insufficient credit history, recent late payments, or too many recent credit inquiries. You can reapply after 30 to 90 days if you have addressed the issue (for example, by paying down other debts or waiting for late payments to age).
How the Amazon Store Card affects your credit score
Opening the card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may lower your score by a few points temporarily. This inquiry stays on your report for about 12 months but has less impact as time passes. The new account itself also lowers your average age of accounts, which can reduce your score slightly.
Once the account is open, using the card responsibly—paying on time and keeping your balance low—helps your credit score over time. Payment history is the largest factor in your credit score, so a card with a clean payment record builds credit. Your credit utilization (the percentage of your available credit that you are using) also matters; keeping your balance below 30% of your credit limit is ideal.
Closing the card does not directly hurt your score, but it reduces your total available credit. If you have other balances, this can raise your overall utilization ratio and lower your score slightly. Closed accounts stay on your credit report for 7 to 10 years, so the damage is temporary.
Amazon Store Card versus the Amazon Visa card
Amazon offers two main credit cards: the Store Card (closed-loop, works only at Amazon and Whole Foods) and the Amazon Visa card (open-loop, works everywhere). The Visa card earns 3% back at Amazon and Whole Foods, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else. It also has no annual fee and typically carries a lower interest rate than the Store Card.
The Store Card is simpler if you shop almost exclusively at Amazon and Whole Foods and do not need a card for other retailers. The Visa card is more flexible and useful if you want a single card for all purchases. Both cards report to the credit bureaus and help build credit when used responsibly.
You can hold both cards at the same time. Some people use the Store Card for Amazon purchases (to earn 3% back) and the Visa card for everything else. However, opening multiple cards in a short time triggers multiple hard inquiries, which can lower your score more than opening one card.
What happens if you miss a payment or carry a high balance
If you miss a payment, Synchrony reports it to the credit bureaus after 30 days. A single late payment can lower your credit score by 50 to 100 points or more, depending on your current score. The late payment stays on your report for 7 years.
If you carry a high balance and pay only the minimum each month, you will pay a large amount in interest over time. For example, a $5,000 balance at 20% APR with a 2% minimum payment takes about 4 years to pay off and costs roughly $2,200 in interest. Paying more than the minimum significantly reduces the total interest you pay.
If you fall behind on payments, Synchrony may freeze your account, preventing new purchases. They may also close the account and send the debt to a collection agency if the account goes 120 to 180 days unpaid. At that point, the debt appears on your credit report and may result in a lawsuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Amazon Store Card at other retailers?
No. The card works only at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market. If you try to use it elsewhere, the transaction will be declined. If you need a card that works everywhere, the Amazon Visa card is the alternative.
What is the credit limit on the Amazon Store Card?
Your credit limit depends on your credit score, income, and credit history. Synchrony does not publish a minimum or maximum limit. Most cardholders receive limits between $500 and $5,000, though some receive higher or lower limits. You can request a credit limit increase after you have had the card for at least 6 months and have made on-time payments.
Can I use the temporary card number before my physical card arrives?
Yes. Once you are approved, Synchrony provides a temporary card number that works when ready on Amazon.com. You can use this number to make purchases right away without waiting for the physical card to arrive in the mail.
What happens to my rewards points if I close the card?
Your rewards points remain in your Amazon account and do not expire. You can continue to redeem them for Amazon purchases even after the card is closed. However, you cannot earn new points once the card is closed.
Does the Amazon Store Card have a sign-up bonus?
Amazon occasionally offers sign-up bonuses (usually $50 to $100 in rewards points) for new cardholders, but these offers change frequently and are not always available. Check your Amazon account or the card page to see if a bonus is currently offered before you open an account.