What Credit Score Do You Need for an Amazon Card?

Amazon has become a significant player in consumer finance, offering various credit products. Amazon itself does not directly issue credit or establish credit score requirements. Instead, Amazon collaborates with financial institutions that underwrite and manage these offerings. This means eligibility and approval criteria are set by the issuing banks, not by Amazon.

Amazon’s Credit Products

Amazon offers several credit and financing products through partnerships with financial institutions. The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, issued by Chase, is designed for Amazon Prime members, offering rewards on purchases made on Amazon and elsewhere.

The Amazon Store Card, issued by Synchrony Bank, is a “closed-loop” product, meaning it can only be used for purchases made directly on Amazon.com and at affiliated Amazon businesses. Beyond traditional credit cards, Amazon also provides financing options, such as Amazon Monthly Payments, for specific products. Third-party “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) services like Affirm, Klarna, and Sezzle can also be used on Amazon for installment plans.

Credit Score Expectations for Amazon Products

The credit score required for Amazon’s credit products varies depending on the specific offering and the issuing financial institution. For the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, issued by Chase, applicants typically need a good to excellent FICO credit score, generally ranging from 670 to 850. While a score of 670-739 is often considered good, some approvals may occur with slightly lower scores if other aspects of the applicant’s credit profile are strong.

The Amazon Store Card, issued by Synchrony Bank, generally has more lenient credit requirements. Applicants for this card typically need a fair credit score, usually above 580 or 640. Approval for any credit product depends on a comprehensive review of an applicant’s entire credit profile, including income and existing debt. Amazon’s own guidance suggests that a credit score above 640 increases the likelihood of approval for their credit cards.

Understanding and Checking Your Credit Score

A credit score is a numerical representation of an individual’s creditworthiness, used by lenders to assess the likelihood of timely loan repayment. The two most common credit scoring models in the United States are FICO Score and VantageScore, both typically ranging from 300 to 850. These scores are derived from information contained in your credit reports, which are maintained by the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Several factors influence your credit score, with payment history being the most significant, accounting for about 35% of a FICO Score. The amount of debt owed, particularly your credit utilization ratio (the percentage of available credit being used), is another major factor, typically comprising 30% of a FICO Score. Other contributing factors include the length of your credit history (15%), new credit applications (10%), and the mix of different credit types you manage (10%). You can obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies once every 12 months, and in some cases weekly, by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.

Steps to Improve Your Credit Score

Making all payments on time is the most impactful step, as payment history carries the most weight in credit scoring models. Even a single payment that is 30 days past due can negatively affect your score and remain on your credit report for up to seven years.

Keep your credit utilization ratio low, ideally below 30% of your available credit. Paying down revolving account balances and avoiding maxing out credit cards can significantly improve this ratio. Additionally, carefully consider new credit applications, as each application can result in a “hard inquiry” that may temporarily lower your score. Regularly reviewing your credit reports for errors and disputing any inaccuracies can also help maintain an accurate credit profile.