No, Prime Rewards Card benefits only work with the Prime Rewards card itself

Amazon Prime Rewards are tied to that specific card. If you earn points or cash back through the Prime Rewards Visa card, you cannot transfer those rewards to a different debit card or use them with another card's account. The rewards live in your Prime Rewards card account and can only be redeemed through that card.

That said, you have options if you want to use a regular debit card instead. You can choose not to use the Prime Rewards card at all, or you can use both cards for different purchases—keeping the Prime Rewards card for Amazon and Prime Video spending, and using your regular debit card elsewhere.

The confusion often comes from mixing up the card itself with your Amazon account. Your Amazon account is separate from whichever card you use to pay. You can shop on Amazon with any debit card, credit card, or payment method. But only the Prime Rewards card gives you the rewards rate tied to that card.

Key Takeaways

  • Prime Rewards points and cash back cannot move to another debit card—they stay in the Prime Rewards card account where you earned them.
  • You can shop on Amazon with any debit card, but only the Prime Rewards card earns the bonus rewards rate.
  • If you prefer using a regular debit card, you can use it for Amazon purchases and simply skip the Prime Rewards card entirely.
  • Some banks let you link multiple cards to one Amazon account, so you can switch between them for different purchases.

How Prime Rewards are stored and used

When you use the Prime Rewards Visa card, rewards post to that card's account. Amazon tracks them there. You redeem them by going into your card settings on Amazon.com, finding the rewards balance, and choosing how to use them—usually as a statement credit (money off your bill) or as an Amazon.com balance.

The rewards are not stored in your Amazon account itself. They are stored in your Prime Rewards card account. This is why switching to a different card means leaving those rewards behind—they have nowhere else to go.

If you close the Prime Rewards card, you typically have a window (often 60 to 90 days, depending on the bank) to redeem any remaining rewards before they expire. After that, they are gone. Check your card agreement or call the card issuer to confirm the timeline.

Using a regular debit card on Amazon instead

You can add any debit card to your Amazon account and use it to shop. Amazon does not require you to use the Prime Rewards card. When you go to checkout, you simply select whichever card you want to pay with that day.

The trade-off is clear: a regular debit card earns no rewards on Amazon purchases. The Prime Rewards card typically earns 5% cash back on Amazon.com and Amazon Fresh purchases (if you are a Prime member), 2% at Whole Foods, and 1% elsewhere. A standard debit card earns nothing.

If you dislike the Prime Rewards card for other reasons—annual fees, fraud concerns, or simply preferring to keep your finances separate—using a regular debit card is a valid choice. You just won't earn the bonus rewards rate.

What happens to rewards if you switch cards

If you have earned rewards on the Prime Rewards card and then decide to use a different debit card going forward, your existing rewards stay in the Prime Rewards card account. They do not transfer. You can still redeem them through that card account, even if you stop using the card for new purchases.

Going forward, any new purchases on the regular debit card will earn no rewards. Only purchases on the Prime Rewards card earn the bonus rate. This is why some people keep both cards active—they use the Prime Rewards card for Amazon and Prime Video to capture the rewards, and a regular debit card for everything else.

Linking multiple cards to one Amazon account

Most banks and card issuers allow you to add multiple payment methods to a single Amazon account. You can have your Prime Rewards card, a regular debit card, and even a credit card all linked to the same account. At checkout, you choose which one to use.

This setup lets you be strategic: use the Prime Rewards card for Amazon purchases to earn the 5% back, and use your regular debit card for other retailers where you do not earn rewards anyway. Your Amazon account stays the same; only the card you pay with changes.

To add or remove a card, go to Your Account > Your Payments > Manage payment methods on Amazon.com. You can add, edit, or delete cards anytime. There is no limit to how many you can have on file.

Why rewards cannot move between cards

Rewards are issued by the card issuer (in this case, Amazon's bank partner), not by Amazon itself. The rewards are a benefit of holding that specific card. When you close the card or stop using it, the rewards do not follow you to another card because they were never part of your Amazon account—they were part of your card account.

This is true for most rewards cards across all banks. Rewards are card-specific, not account-specific. If you switch from one bank's cash-back card to another bank's card, the old rewards stay with the old card. You cannot merge them or move them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Prime Rewards points on a different debit card?

No. Prime Rewards points are tied to the Prime Rewards card account. They cannot be transferred to another card. You can still redeem them through the Prime Rewards card account even if you stop using the card for new purchases, but you cannot move the points themselves to a different card.

What if I want to use only a regular debit card and not the Prime Rewards card?

You can use any debit card on Amazon. You simply will not earn the bonus rewards rate. A regular debit card earns no cash back on Amazon purchases, whereas the Prime Rewards card earns 5% for Prime members on Amazon.com and Amazon Fresh. The choice depends on whether the rewards rate matters to you.

Do I lose my Prime Rewards if I close the Prime Rewards card?

You have a grace period (usually 60 to 90 days) to redeem your rewards before they expire. After that, they are forfeited. Contact your card issuer to confirm the exact timeline for your card. Redeem any balance before closing the account.

Can I have both a Prime Rewards card and a regular debit card linked to the same Amazon account?

Yes. You can add multiple cards to one Amazon account and choose which one to use at checkout. Many people do this to use the Prime Rewards card for Amazon purchases (to earn rewards) and a regular debit card for other retailers.

Will I earn rewards if I use a regular debit card at Amazon?

No. Only the Prime Rewards Visa card earns the bonus rewards rate on Amazon purchases. A regular debit card earns no cash back or points on any purchase, whether at Amazon or elsewhere.