What Credit Score You Need to Get the Amazon Credit Card

Amazon wants to see a credit score of around 670 or higher, though the exact number varies

The Amazon.com Store Card and the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card are two different cards with different credit score requirements. For the Store Card — which works only at Amazon and Whole Foods — most people who get approved have a credit score in the 670 to 680 range. For the Prime Rewards card, which you can use anywhere Visa is accepted, the typical approval score is slightly higher, usually around 700 or above.

Neither Amazon nor Synchrony Bank (the company that issues both cards) publishes a hard cutoff score. That means someone with a 650 score might get approved, and someone with a 720 might get denied — the decision depends on your full credit history, not just the number. But if your score is below 670, approval becomes much less likely.

The reason Amazon cards ask for a higher score than some other retail cards is that they're trying to lend to people with a track record of paying bills on time. A score of 670 means you've shown you can handle credit responsibly, even if you've had some bumps along the way.

Key Takeaways

• The Amazon Store Card typically approves people with scores around 670 to 680, while the Prime Rewards card usually requires scores closer to 700.
• Amazon and Synchrony don't publish a minimum score, so approval depends on your full credit report, not just your score number.
• Your score is built from payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new credit inquiries, and credit mix — and the card issuer looks at all of these.
• If your score is below 670, you can still build it by paying bills on time and lowering credit card balances before applying.
• A soft inquiry (which doesn't hurt your score) happens when you check if you're pre-approved; a hard inquiry (which does lower your score slightly) happens only if you formally apply.

How Amazon checks your credit before approval

When you apply for either Amazon card, Synchrony pulls your credit report from one or more of the three major bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. This is called a hard inquiry, and it shows up on your credit report. A hard inquiry typically lowers your score by a few points, usually between 5 and 10 points, and the effect fades over time.

Synchrony looks at more than just your score. They examine your payment history (whether you've paid past bills on time), your credit utilization (how much of your available credit you're using), how long you've had credit accounts open, and whether you've recently opened many new accounts. If you have recent late payments or very high balances on other cards, that can hurt your chances even if your score is above 670.

Before you formally apply, you can check whether you're pre-approved without damaging your score. Amazon's website and some credit card comparison sites offer pre-approval checks that use a soft inquiry — this doesn't lower your score and doesn't show up on your credit report the same way a hard inquiry does.

What happens if your score is too low right now

If your score is below 670, you have concrete steps you can take to build it before applying. The fastest way is to lower your credit card balances. Your credit utilization — the percentage of your total available credit that you're actually using — makes up about 30 percent of your score. If you have a $5,000 limit and a $4,500 balance, you're using 90 percent of your available credit. Paying that down to $1,500 (30 percent utilization) can raise your score noticeably within a month or two.

Paying all your bills on time for the next few months also helps. Payment history is the single biggest factor in your score — it accounts for about 35 percent. If you've had late payments in the past, they hurt less as time goes on. A late payment from two years ago matters far less than one from two months ago.

Avoid opening new credit accounts while you're building your score. Each new account triggers a hard inquiry and temporarily lowers your score. If you open three new cards in three months, you'll look like someone who's desperate for credit, and that makes lenders nervous.

The difference between the two Amazon cards and their approval odds

The Amazon Store Card works only at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods. It offers 5 percent cash back at those places but nothing elsewhere. Because it's limited to Amazon's ecosystem, Synchrony takes slightly more risk with approval — they know you'll use it at Amazon, where they have a relationship. This card is generally easier to get approved for, and the typical approval score is around 670 to 680.

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card works anywhere Visa is accepted. It offers 3 percent cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods, 2 percent at gas stations and restaurants, and 1 percent everywhere else. Because this card can be used anywhere, Synchrony is more cautious about who they approve. The typical approval score is higher, usually around 700 or above. This card also requires an active Amazon Prime membership.

If your score is between 670 and 700, you have a better shot at the Store Card. If your score is above 700, both cards are within reach, and you can choose based on where you spend most of your money.

What your credit score actually measures

Your credit score is a three-digit number that summarizes your credit behavior. The most common score is the FICO score, which ranges from 300 to 850. Synchrony uses FICO scores to make lending decisions. Here's what goes into that number: payment history (35 percent), amounts owed or utilization (30 percent), length of credit history (15 percent), credit mix or types of accounts you have (10 percent), and new credit or recent inquiries (10 percent).

A score of 670 falls into the "good" range for most lenders. It means you've generally paid your bills on time, you're not carrying extremely high balances, and you haven't opened a lot of new accounts recently. It's not a perfect score, but it's solid enough that lenders see you as a reasonable risk.

Your score can change month to month based on new information reported to the credit bureaus. If you pay down a credit card balance, your score may go up within 30 to 45 days. If you miss a payment, it can drop significantly and stay low for years.

How to check your score before applying

You can check your credit score for free through several channels. Your bank or credit card issuer may offer free score monitoring to existing customers. Credit Karma, NerdWallet, and Experian all offer free score checks without requiring a credit card. These free tools usually show you a score from one or two of the three bureaus, which is enough to give you a sense of where you stand.

The score you see from a free tool may not be exactly the same as the score Synchrony sees, because different lenders use different scoring models. But if your free score is 680, the score Synchrony pulls is likely in a similar range — probably between 670 and 700. If your free score is 650, you're probably below Synchrony's typical approval range.

Once you know your score, you can decide whether to apply now or spend a few months building it. There's no rush — applying for a card you'll likely be denied for just creates a hard inquiry that lowers your score and stays on your report for a year.

What happens after you apply

If you apply for an Amazon card online, you usually get a decision within minutes or hours. If you're approved, you can start using the card right away in many cases — Synchrony may issue a temporary card number you can use online before the physical card arrives. If you're denied, Synchrony sends you a letter explaining the main reason, usually within a week.

If you're denied, you can reapply after a few months once you've improved your score or credit profile. Each application creates a hard inquiry, so space them out. Applying again after 30 days won't help much because the first hard inquiry is still fresh. Waiting 90 days to six months gives you time to actually improve your credit and gives the first inquiry time to age.

If you're approved but offered a lower credit limit than you expected, that's normal. Synchrony starts new cardholders at conservative limits based on their credit profile. You can request a higher limit after six months of on-time payments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will checking if I'm pre-approved hurt my credit score?

No. Pre-approval checks use a soft inquiry, which doesn't lower your score. Only a formal application triggers a hard inquiry. You can check pre-approval status on Amazon's website or through credit card comparison sites without any impact to your score.

Can I get approved with a score below 670?

It's possible but unlikely. Synchrony approves some people with scores in the 650 to 670 range, especially if the rest of their credit report is strong — low balances, no recent late payments, and a long credit history. But your odds improve significantly once you reach 670.

Does applying for the Amazon card hurt my credit?

The application itself creates a hard inquiry that lowers your score by a few points, usually 5 to 10. This effect is temporary and fades over a few months. Multiple applications in a short time hurt more than a single application, so avoid applying for several cards within 30 days.

What's the difference between the Store Card and Prime Rewards card approval odds?

The Store Card is easier to get approved for and typically requires a score around 670 to 680. The Prime Rewards card is harder to get approved for and usually requires a score around 700 or higher. If your score is between 670 and 700, try the Store Card first.

How long does it take to improve my credit score enough to apply?

Paying down credit card balances can raise your score within 30 to 45 days. Establishing a pattern of on-time payments takes longer — usually three to six months before you see meaningful improvement. If your score is currently 650, you might reach 670 to 680 in two to three months with consistent effort.