What credit score do I need for an Amazon credit card?
I asked myself this exact question before applying because I didn’t want a rejection to hurt my credit file.
I soon discovered that Amazon offers different credit cards, and each one caters to a very specific type of credit history.
If you want the Amazon Visa card that works anywhere, you generally need a history that lenders describe as “good” or “excellent.”
However, you don’t always need a great credit score to get rewarded, as there are other Amazon credit cards that are much easier to get.
So, in this blog, we’re going to look at various Amazon credit cards and what credit score do you need to get them.
Is an Amazon Credit Card Easy to Get?
The short answer is: It depends on which card you want.
Amazon currently offers four primary credit cards, each with varying levels of difficulty for approval:
- Amazon Secured Card (Synchrony Bank): The easiest to get. This is designed specifically for building or rebuilding credit.
- Amazon Store Card (Synchrony Bank): This is generally considered easier to get. It is a “closed-loop” card, meaning you can only use it at Amazon.com and certain partners like Audible. Because it is restricted to one retailer, the barrier to entry is lower.
- Amazon Visa (Chase): This is a traditional “open-loop” Visa card that can be used anywhere. It is moderately difficult to get, requiring a more established credit history.
- Prime Visa (Chase): This is the flagship card for Prime members. It offers the highest rewards but also carries the strictest approval requirements.
If you have a limited credit history or a “fair” score, you’ll likely find the Amazon Secured Card and Amazon Store Card relatively easy to obtain.
However, if you’re eyeing the Amazon Visa or Prime Visa card, you’ll need to meet higher standards for creditworthiness.
What Credit Score Do I Need for Amazon Credit Card?
|
Amazon Credit Card |
Credit Score Required |
|
Prime Visa |
720 or More |
|
Amazon Visa |
700 or More |
|
Amazon Store Card |
640 or More |
| Amazon Secured Card |
No minimum credit score |
What is the Minimum Credit Score to Get an Amazon Card?
To get an Amazon credit card in 2026, the credit score you need depends entirely on which Amazon credit card you are opting for.
The flagship Prime Visa and the standard Amazon Visa cards are issued by Chase and carry the strictest requirements. For these cards, you typically need a good to excellent credit score, which generally means a FICO score of 670 or higher.
Remember, Chase is a conservative lender, so a credit score above 700 will significantly improve your approval odds.
If your credit score is in the fair range, the Amazon Store Card from Synchrony Bank is a more accessible option. The Amazon Store Card usually requires a credit score of at least 640 and is limited to purchases within the Amazon ecosystem.
For those starting from scratch or rebuilding after financial setbacks, the Amazon Secured Card is the ideal entry point. It has no official minimum credit score requirement because it is backed by a refundable security deposit.
How Much Income Do You Need for an Amazon Credit Card?
There is no specific “minimum income” dollar amount required to get an Amazon credit card. Instead, lenders look at your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio.
Lenders want to see that you have enough “leftover” money each month to cover your credit card payments. When you apply, you’ll be asked for your total annual gross income. You can include:
- Full-time or part-time salary
- Bonuses and tips
- Investment income
- Social Security or retirement benefits
- Income from a spouse or partner (if you have “reasonable expectation of access” to it)
Generally, if your total monthly debt payments (rent/mortgage, car loans, student loans) exceed 40% of your monthly income, you may be denied the Amazon credit card regardless of how high your credit score is.
Also Read: Is It Normal for Credit Score to Fluctuate
What Bureau Does Amazon Credit Card Check?
When you apply for an Amazon credit card, the bank performs a “hard pull” to check your creditworthiness. The specific bureau they use depends on which Amazon credit card you choose.
Chase, the issuer of the Prime Visa, almost always pulls your report from Experian. In some cases, they may also check Equifax to get a more detailed view of your history.
Synchrony Bank, which handles the Amazon Store Card and Secured Card, historically favors TransUnion. However, they are known to switch to Experian depending on which state you live in.
Does Amazon Credit Card Raise Your Credit Score?
An Amazon credit card can definitely raise your credit score, but it works differently from a standard bank card. Because Amazon is a retailer, this card often becomes a “daily driver” for many households.
When you use the Amazon credit card and pay it off, Amazon’s partner banks report this activity to all three major bureaus. This constant cycle of use and repayment creates a dense history of reliability.
However, the real “secret sauce” for your credit score is the credit limit. Store cards often start with lower limits, but Amazon’s issuers are known for frequent, automatic limit increases for active shoppers.
As your limit grows while your spending stays the same, your “utilization ratio” drops significantly. This specific math is often what triggers a sudden, large jump in a user’s credit score.
Just be careful: the convenience of “one-click” shopping makes it easy to overspend. If you carry a balance, the high interest will quickly outweigh any credit score gains.
Why Would I Be Denied for an Amazon Credit Card?
Low Credit Score
Your credit score is the first thing a lender looks at to see if you are eligible to get an Amazon credit card. The Prime Visa usually requires a score of 700 or higher for approval.
The Amazon Store Card is more flexible but still looks for a score around 640. If your credit score is lower than these marks, you face a high risk of denial.
Low scores often come from past mistakes like late payments or high debt. Lenders use these numbers to predict if you will pay them back on time.
If your credit score is too low, consider starting with the Amazon Secured Card. This card helps you build a better score with a small cash deposit.
High Debt-to-Income Ratio
Lenders do not just look at your credit score; they also look at your monthly budget. Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio compares your monthly bills to your total monthly income.
If you spend more than 40% of your income on debt, you will be rejected. This includes payments for rent, car loans, and other credit cards you already own.
Lenders worry that adding another bill will make it too hard for you to pay. They want to ensure you have enough “breathing room” in your finances each month.
To improve your odds, try to pay down your current balances before applying. Increasing your reported income can also help lower this important ratio.
Too Many Recent Inquiries
Every time you apply for a loan, a “hard inquiry” appears on your credit report. If you have many inquiries in a short time, it sends a red flag.
Lenders may think you are desperate for cash or taking on too much debt. This is especially true if you applied for several cards in the last six months.
Each inquiry can also drop your credit score by a few points. While one inquiry is fine, a long list of them suggests you are a risky borrower.
It is best to space out your applications by at least three to six months. This gives your credit report time to settle and look stable to banks.
Limited Credit History
Sometimes you can have a decent score but still get denied because your history is “thin.” This means you haven’t had credit accounts open for very long.
Chase often prefers to see at least one year of history with other credit cards. They want to see how you handle credit over a long period of time.
If your oldest account is only a few months old, the lender has very little data. They may choose to deny you simply because they cannot predict your behavior yet.
You can fix a thin file by staying patient and keeping your current accounts open. Time is a major factor in building a strong, “thick” credit report.
High Credit Utilization
Credit utilization is the amount of your total credit limit that you are actually using. If your current cards are nearly maxed out, your utilization will be very high.
Lenders prefer to see this number stay below 30% across all your accounts. High utilization suggests that you are struggling to manage your money without relying on credit.
Even if you pay your bills in full every month, a high balance on your statement hurts. It signals to Amazon’s banks that you might be overextending yourself.
Try to pay your existing card balances down before you submit your Amazon application. This quick fix can often lead to an immediate boost in your approval odds.
