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5% back at Whole Foods with the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa!

When the news broke last summer that Amazon was set to buy Whole Foods, rumors were floating around about the potential of this acquisition.  People were dreaming of drones delivering grass-fed beef, lower priced avocados, and so much more.  I'll admit, I was one of these dreamers too.  Unfortunately, a few months have passed and it seems like nothing has changed for an average consumer like me.  The only thing I've noticed is that I can buy an Amazon Echo Dot, Red Boat Fish Sauce, and Halo Top Ice Cream at one store.

Photo by Whole Foods

But it looks like things have changed.  Two weeks ago, I woke up to an email telling me that my Amazon Prime Rewards Visa now gives me 5% cash back at Whole Foods.  In case you didn't know, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa is a credit card affiliated with Amazon provided by Chase.  Today we're going to take a deeper look at this credit card!


The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa is not a travel rewards credit card.

The rewards that we earn on this are only redeemable for cash, Amazon credit, and gift cards.  Here is how much you earn by purchase type:

  • 5% - at Amazon, Whole Foods (3% back w/o Amazon Prime subscription)
  • 2% - at Restaurants, Gas Stations, Drug Stores
  • 1% - back for everything else

This is pretty impressive.  Any time I see 5% back, I get really excited.  When you compare it to the typical 2% or 1.5% cash back, this card knocks it out of the park especially because this category is so broad.  Amazon literally has everything you could ever want to buy!  Pair this with 2% back for dining, gas, and drug stores, this card is one of the best cash back cards out there.


Wait 5% back at restaurants too?!



Yep.  This is getting nuts.  I got this email a few days after the Whole Foods 5% back announcement. There is a $1,500 cap on this and the promotion only lasts through the end of May.  But I can't really complain.  From now to end of May, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa is giving 5% cash back for dining, Amazon, and Whole Foods purchases.  In case you missed this email, here's a link to activate the 5% back on dining.


No annual fee AND you get a $70 Amazon gift card upon approval!

This may sound too good to be true, but this is reality! Yes, you need an Amazon Prime membership ($99 annually) to get 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods, but I don't need to sell you at all on that.   But yes, no annual fee, $70 Amazon gift card, and to top it off, no foreign transaction fees.  If you want to learn more, read about it here!


Ok this card sounds amazing, but if I want to earn travel rewards when do I use it?

In my last post, I wrote about the importance of swiping smart to maximize your earnings for your everyday purchases.  How does this card fit in if your main goal is to earn travel rewards?  Thankfully the answer is simple.  Majority of the time, 5% cash back will have greater value than 1.5x, 2x, or even 3x earning rates of travel rewards credit cards.

This means that any time you can earn 5% cash back, use this card.  Always remember that when you have equal earning rates for both cash and travel rewards, cash almost always loses out in value.


Connect with me on Facebook or comment below! I'd love to hear your thoughts about the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa!

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