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Amazon VISA Credit Card: Understand, Apply, Use

What is the Amazon VISA credit card?

Customers of the e-commerce giant Amazon can apply for a VISA credit card – easily through their account. The card can be used for purchases on Amazon’s sites as well as for other transactions. The Amazon credit card banking is essentially a conventional card from the payment service provider VISA, offered in collaboration with the German branch under the brand “Zinia,” which belongs to the Spanish direct bank Open Bank. Open Bank, in turn, is a subsidiary of the Spanish banking group Santander.

Collaboration with LBB discontinued

The predecessor offering in collaboration with LBB had already ceased to exist since 2023. For some time, customers could no longer apply for a new Amazon credit card. At the end of September 2023, the accounts of existing customers were also closed. Although cardholders could continue to use the VISA card under changed conditions, this offer also ended on March 26, 2024. Amazon bonus points expired with the account closure.

Apply for a new credit card from Amazon? No successor in sight for now.

There was no successor for the time being. Instead, Amazon offered its customers the VISA Extra Card from Berliner Sparkasse. However, a bonus program like that of the Amazon credit card, where customers could save something on every purchase at Amazon, was nowhere to be found. There was also no installment option for the full deduction. Instead, a maximum of 50 percent could be deferred, for which corresponding interest would also apply.

Only in July 2024 did Amazon announce that there would be a successor offering for an Amazon credit card. Customers can apply for the card through the website of the e-commerce giant.

Apply for Amazon VISA Credit Card? The Terms

The new credit card from Amazon and Zinia is being launched with changed terms compared to the predecessor model.

Benefits

The key benefits summarized:

No annual fee – regardless of whether the cardholder has a Prime subscription or not
Starting credit of 10 euros; former cardholders and Prime subscribers receive a credit of 25 euros.
One Amazon point for every full euro spent on Amazon.de (1% back)
One Amazon point for every two euros spent outside of Amazon.de (0.5% back)
Points can be redeemed on Amazon.de, but with some exceptions (e.g., Prime subscriptions, Kindle Unlimited, Audible, Alexa, etc.)
2% back on selected promotional days for Prime members (two points for every full euro spent)
Flexible installment options: Partial payment possible
No need to open a new checking account – deductions from the existing account
“Travel benefits” can be added monthly – then no fees are charged for five withdrawals in a foreign currency per month and unlimited for payments in foreign currencies.
Credit card instead of debit card, advantageous for car rental deposits abroad, for example.
Immediately available provisional credit card limit of 210 euros, credit limit of 2000 euros; extendable upon request depending on creditworthiness.

Place of payment	Point total	Example
On Amazon.de	1% back / 1 point per euro spent	100 euros = 100 points
Outside of Amazon.de	0.5% back / 1 point per two euros spent	100 euros = 50 points

Disadvantages

The key disadvantages summarized:

Cash withdrawals in euros incur a fee of 3.9%, but at least 1.50 euros per withdrawal.
Cash withdrawals in foreign currency incur a fee of 5.4%.
Transactions in foreign currencies incur a fee of 1.5%.
“Travel benefits” must be added separately and cost 8 euros/month.
The bonus program promises less discount than the predecessor model – mathematically, the benefit decreases from 3% to 1%.
The number and scope of the “selected promotional days” are largely unclear.
High interest rates on installment payments of 20.13% effective annual interest rate.

Apply for a new Amazon credit card? Comparison with the predecessor model

	New Amazon Credit Card from Zinia	Old Amazon Credit Card from LBB
Base price	0,00 €	19,99 €
Cash withdrawals at ATMs (domestic)	3.90% fee	3% fee
Cash withdrawals at ATMs (abroad)	3.90% fee	3% fee
Minimum fee for cash withdrawals	1,50 €	7,50 €
Cash withdrawals at ATMs in foreign currency	5.4% fee	4.75% fee
Card payment in foreign currency	1.50% fee	1.75% fee
“Travel benefits”	8 € / month	–
Bonus program on Amazon.de	1% back / 2% back (Prime members on promotional days)	2% back / 3% back (Prime members)
Bonus program outside of Amazon.de	0.5% back	0.5% back
Installment payments	20.13% effective annual interest rate	–

Frequently Asked Questions

Where and how can I apply for the Amazon credit card?

Applying for the Amazon VISA credit card is possible on the Amazon website. Interested individuals must first log into their Amazon account and then click on “Apply now.” The minimum age is 18 years, and a residence in Germany is required.

Why can’t one apply for an Amazon credit card?

For some time, no new Amazon credit cards could be applied for because LBB had ended its collaboration with Amazon. There is now a successor in collaboration with a subsidiary of the Santander Group. This credit card can be applied for regularly.

Is there an Amazon Visa card or an alternative to it?

Yes, since July 2024, there is again an Amazon VISA credit card.