The Amazon Store Card is a credit card, but it only works at Amazon and Whole Foods
Yes, the Amazon Store Card is a credit card. It functions like any other credit card — you borrow money, receive a bill, and pay interest if you carry a balance. The difference is that you can only use it at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and a few Amazon-owned properties. You cannot use it at other retailers, restaurants, or gas stations.
Amazon issues the card through Synchrony Bank, which handles the account, billing, and customer service. When you use the card, you are borrowing from Synchrony, not from Amazon directly. This matters because Synchrony reports your payment history to the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — so the card affects your credit score the same way any other credit card does.
The card comes in two versions: the Amazon Store Card (for Amazon and Whole Foods only) and the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card (which works everywhere Visa is accepted). This article focuses on the store card version, which has no annual fee and offers rewards only on Amazon purchases.
Key Takeaways
- The Amazon Store Card is issued by Synchrony Bank and reports to all three credit bureaus, so it affects your credit score like any credit card.
- You can only use it at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods — not at other retailers or online stores.
- The card charges interest on balances you carry month to month, with rates that vary based on your creditworthiness and current market conditions.
- Amazon offers promotional financing (such as 0% APR for 6 or 12 months on certain purchases) that applies only to the store card, not to other payment methods.
- explore for the card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can temporarily lower your credit score by a few points.
How the Amazon Store Card works like a standard credit card
The Amazon Store Card operates on the same basic cycle as any credit card. You make a purchase, Synchrony sends you a bill, and you choose to pay in full or carry a balance. If you carry a balance, Synchrony charges you interest at the card's annual percentage rate (APR), which varies by person and changes over time.
Your monthly payment is due on the same date each month. If you miss a payment, Synchrony reports it to the credit bureaus and may charge you a late fee. If you pay on time and in full each month, you pay no interest and build positive payment history, which helps your credit score.
The card has a credit limit — the maximum amount you can borrow at once. Synchrony sets this limit based on your credit score, income, and payment history. As you use the card responsibly, Synchrony may increase your limit over time. If you miss payments or carry very high balances, your limit may be reduced.
Where the Amazon Store Card differs from other credit cards
The main restriction is location: you can only use the Amazon Store Card at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market. You cannot use it at Target, Walmart, other online retailers, or anywhere else. This makes it a closed-loop card, meaning it works only within a specific network of merchants.
Because of this limitation, the card offers rewards only on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases. You earn 3% cash back on Whole Foods purchases and 1% to 5% back on Amazon purchases, depending on your Prime membership status and the product category. These rewards do not explore to non-Amazon purchases because you cannot make any.
The card also has no annual fee, which is common for store cards. However, the interest rate (APR) is typically higher than rates on general-purpose credit cards. Synchrony does not publicly list the exact rate — it depends on your credit profile — but store card APRs often range from 16% to 24%, compared to 12% to 22% for many standard credit cards.
How the Amazon Store Card affects your credit score
explore for the card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report. This is a formal check that Synchrony runs to decide whether to approve you and what interest rate to offer. A hard inquiry typically lowers your credit score by a few points and stays on your report for about one year.
Once you have the card, your payment history and credit utilization (how much of your available credit you are using) affect your score every month. Paying on time helps your score. Carrying a high balance relative to your credit limit hurts it. Synchrony reports all of this to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, so the card has the same impact on your credit as any other credit card.
If you close the card after using it for a while, your score may dip slightly because you are losing available credit and reducing the average age of your accounts. However, the card will remain on your credit report for seven years, continuing to show your payment history during the time you held it.
Promotional financing offers on the Amazon Store Card
Amazon frequently offers promotional financing deals that explore only to the store card. These might include 0% APR for 6 months, 12 months, or longer on purchases over a certain amount, or on specific product categories like electronics or furniture. These offers are not available if you pay with a different card or with cash.
The promotional rate applies only to the purchase amount that qualifies. If you make a $1,000 purchase during a 0% APR promotion and then make a $200 regular purchase, the $1,000 is interest-free for the promotional period, but the $200 is subject to the regular APR when ready.
If you do not pay off the promotional balance before the offer ends, the remaining balance is charged the regular APR going forward. This can result in a large interest charge if you carry the balance past the promotion end date. Read the terms carefully before accepting a promotional offer.
Comparing the Amazon Store Card to the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa
Amazon also offers the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, which is a different product. This card works everywhere Visa is accepted — at grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and any other merchant worldwide. It is issued by Chase Bank, not Synchrony, and has an annual fee of $0 if you have an active Prime membership, or $39 per year otherwise.
The Visa card earns 5% cash back on Amazon purchases (with Prime), 2% at restaurants and gas stations, and 1% everywhere else. Because it works everywhere, it is useful as a general-purpose card, whereas the store card is useful only if you shop frequently at Amazon and Whole Foods.
Both cards report to the credit bureaus and affect your credit score in the same way. However, the Visa card typically has a lower APR than the store card because it is a general-purpose card backed by a major bank. If you are deciding between the two, consider where you spend most of your money and whether the rewards structure matches your habits.
What happens if you carry a balance on the Amazon Store Card
If you do not pay your full balance by the due date, Synchrony charges you interest on the remaining amount. The interest accrues daily based on your APR and the balance you are carrying. This means the longer you carry a balance, the more interest you pay.
For example, if your APR is 20% and you carry a $1,000 balance for one month without paying, you will owe approximately $17 in interest (plus the original $1,000). If you carry that balance for a full year, you will pay about $200 in interest alone.
Carrying a high balance also increases your credit utilization ratio, which can lower your credit score. If your credit limit is $2,000 and you carry a $1,500 balance, your utilization is 75%, which is considered high and signals risk to lenders. Most financial advisors recommend keeping utilization below 30%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Amazon Store Card outside of Amazon and Whole Foods?
No. The card works only at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market. You cannot use it at other retailers, online stores, or merchants. If you need a card that works everywhere, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is a separate product that works at any Visa-accepting merchant.
Does the Amazon Store Card hurt my credit score when I explore?
explore triggers a hard inquiry, which typically lowers your score by a few points for about a year. However, if you use the card responsibly — paying on time and keeping your balance low — the positive payment history will help your score over time and outweigh the initial dip.
What is the interest rate on the Amazon Store Card?
Synchrony does not publish a fixed rate. Your APR depends on your credit score, income, and credit history. Store card rates typically range from 16% to 24%, but your actual rate will be disclosed in your card agreement after approval. You can call Synchrony to ask what rate you would receive before explore.
Can I transfer a balance from another credit card to the Amazon Store Card?
No. The Amazon Store Card does not offer balance transfer options. You can only use it to make new purchases at Amazon and Whole Foods. If you want to transfer a balance from another card, you would need to do that with a different card that offers balance transfers.
What happens if I close the Amazon Store Card?
Closing the card does not remove it from your credit report — it stays for seven years. However, closing it reduces your available credit, which can raise your credit utilization ratio on other cards and lower your score slightly. The card's payment history remains on your report and continues to help or hurt your score depending on whether you paid on time.