Amazon's Credit Card Has No Published Minimum Score
Amazon does not publicly state a minimum credit score for either the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card or the Amazon Rewards Visa Card. This means you cannot look up a number and know for certain whether you will be turned down. The card issuer, Chase, reviews your full credit profile — not just your score — when you submit a request.
That said, people with scores in the 670 to 700 range report being turned down, while people with scores below 650 sometimes report approval. The actual decision depends on your payment history, how much debt you already carry, how long your accounts have been open, and recent hard inquiries on your report. A high score helps, but it is not the only thing that matters.
Key Takeaways
- Chase does not publish a minimum credit score for the Amazon card, so approval depends on your full credit history, not just a number.
- People with scores between 650 and 700 have mixed results — some are approved and some are denied — so your score alone does not determine the outcome.
- If you are denied, you can request reconsideration by phone within 30 days, and sometimes providing more information about your income or recent positive changes can reverse the decision.
- If your score is below 650, the Amazon Store Card (a different product with different terms) may be easier to get, though it charges higher interest rates and has a smaller credit limit.
- Checking your own credit report before you request the card costs nothing and can show you whether recent late payments or high balances are likely to hurt your chances.
Why Chase Does Not Publish a Minimum Score
Card issuers keep their approval standards private because they adjust them based on how many applications they receive and how risky their current portfolio looks. When applications surge, they may tighten standards. When they have room for more customers, they may loosen them. Publishing a number would lock them into a standard they might want to change.
Chase also uses proprietary scoring models that weigh factors differently than the standard FICO score you see. They may place more weight on recent payment history or less weight on an old bankruptcy. They may care more about how much available credit you have than how many accounts you have opened. Because their formula is not public, even a high score does not may provide approval.
What Score Range Actually Gets Approved
Based on reports from people who have requested the card, approval rates appear higher for people with scores above 700. People in the 700 to 750 range report approval more often than denial. People in the 650 to 700 range report mixed results — some are approved and some are denied, often with no clear pattern. People below 650 report denial more often, though not universally.
These are patterns, not rules. A person with a 680 score and a spotless payment history for ten years may be approved. A person with a 720 score and three recent late payments may be denied. Chase is looking at the whole picture, not just the number.
How to Check Your Own Score Before You Request
You can see your credit score for free through several routes. Your bank or credit card issuer may show your FICO score in your online account — many do now, at no cost. You can also visit AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the official site for your free annual credit report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. That report does not include your score, but it shows you the payment history and account details that go into it.
Credit Karma and similar free sites show you a score (usually a VantageScore, not a FICO score), which is close enough to give you a sense of where you stand. If your score is below 650, you have a lower chance with the Amazon card. If it is between 650 and 700, your chances are mixed. If it is above 700, your chances are better, though not certain.
Checking your own score does not hurt your credit. Only hard inquiries from lenders you have requested credit from count against you. Checking your own report or score is a soft inquiry and does not affect your number.
What Happens If You Are Denied
If Chase denies your request, you receive a letter explaining the reason in general terms — usually something like "insufficient credit history" or "too many recent inquiries." You can call Chase reconsideration at the number on the denial letter within 30 days and ask them to review your request again. This is not a second process; it is a conversation with someone who can look at your file more closely.
During reconsideration, you can explain recent positive changes — a raise, a recent promotion, a large payment you made to bring down a balance. You can also ask what specific factor led to the denial and whether addressing it would change the outcome. Chase does not always reverse a denial, but some people do get approved on reconsideration.
If you are denied and reconsideration does not work, wait at least three to six months before requesting again. In that time, you can pay down balances, make all payments on time, and let recent hard inquiries age off your report. Each of these moves can improve your chances the next time.
The Amazon Store Card as an Alternative
If you are denied for the Prime Rewards or regular Amazon Rewards card, Chase also offers the Amazon Store Card through a different program. This card has a lower approval threshold and people with scores in the 600 to 650 range report approval more often. However, the trade-off is real: the Store Card charges higher interest rates (typically 17% to 27%, depending on your creditworthiness) and has a lower credit limit.
The Store Card also only works at Amazon and Whole Foods, whereas the Prime Rewards card works anywhere Visa is accepted. If you are building credit or recovering from past problems, the Store Card can be a stepping stone — use it responsibly for six to twelve months, then request the Prime Rewards card again when your score has improved.
Steps to Improve Your Chances Before You Request
If your score is close to the borderline, a few moves in the weeks before you request can shift the odds. Pay down any credit card balances to below 30% of your limit — this is the single fastest way to improve your score. If you have missed any recent payments, make sure everything is current. Do not open new credit accounts or request new credit in the 30 days before you request the Amazon card, because each hard inquiry lowers your score slightly.
If you have been using a secured credit card or credit-builder loan to establish history, having six months or more of on-time payments on your report helps. If you have an old account with a long payment history, keep it open even if you do not use it — the age of your oldest account matters. These moves take time, but they work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does requesting the Amazon card hurt my credit score?
Yes, but only slightly and temporarily. Chase performs a hard inquiry, which lowers your score by a few points and stays on your report for 12 months. Multiple requests within a short time hurt more than a single request. If you are denied and want to try reconsideration, do that within 30 days — it does not trigger a new inquiry.
Can I request the Amazon Prime card if I have no credit history?
Unlikely. Chase typically wants to see at least some credit history — usually at least one account that has been open for six months or more. If you have no history, a secured credit card or credit-builder loan is a better starting point. After six to twelve months of on-time payments, you will have a better chance with the Amazon card.
What if I was denied for the Amazon card but approved for other cards?
Different issuers have different standards. Discover, Capital One, and some other issuers approve people with lower scores or shorter histories than Chase does. If you were approved elsewhere, that does not may provide approval from Chase, but it suggests your credit is not in terrible shape. You can still try reconsideration or wait a few months and request again.
Does the Amazon Store Card report to the credit bureaus?
Yes. The Store Card reports to all three bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — just like the Prime Rewards card does. Using it responsibly and paying on time will build your credit history and improve your score over time, which can help you get approved for better cards later.