Where to find your payment methods on Amazon

Your payment methods live in your Amazon account settings, not in a shopping cart or checkout page. To reach them, sign into your Amazon account, go to the top right corner where your name appears, and click the dropdown menu. Select Your Account, then look for Login & security in the left sidebar. From there, click Payment options — this is where Amazon stores every card, bank account, and gift card balance linked to your account.

The page shows all your saved payment methods in one place. Each one displays the last four digits and the expiration date (for cards). You can add a new method, delete an old one, or set a default — the one Amazon will use unless you pick something different at checkout.

Key Takeaways

  • Payment methods are stored in Your Account > Login & security > Payment options, not in your shopping cart.
  • You can add a new card or bank account, delete old ones, and choose which payment method is your default in one place.
  • Amazon will ask you to verify a new card with a small temporary charge before you can use it for purchases.
  • If you change your default payment method, Amazon will use the new one for future orders unless you pick a different method at checkout.
  • Removing a payment method does not cancel subscriptions or recurring charges tied to it — you must update those separately.

Adding a new card or bank account

Click Add a payment method on the Payment options page. Amazon will ask whether you want to add a credit card, debit card, or bank account. Choose the type that matches what you're adding.

For a card, enter the 16-digit number, expiration date, and CVV (the three-digit security code on the back). For a bank account, you'll need your routing number and account number — both appear on a check or through your bank's website. Amazon will ask for your billing address as well.

After you submit the information, Amazon places a small temporary charge on the card or account — usually between $0.01 and $1.00 — to verify it's real and that you control it. Check your bank or card statement in a few days, find the charge amount, and return to the Payment options page. Click Confirm next to the new method and enter the charge amount. Amazon will reverse the charge within a few days.

Setting a default payment method

Your default is the payment method Amazon uses automatically at checkout unless you change it in the moment. To set a new default, go to Payment options and look for the radio button or checkbox next to each method. Click the one you want to use most often, and Amazon saves it when ready.

Changing your default does not affect orders you've already placed. It only changes what Amazon pre-selects for your next purchase. You can still pick a different method at checkout if you want — the default is just what appears first.

Removing an old payment method

Find the payment method you want to remove on the Payment options page and click Delete or the trash icon next to it. Amazon will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, the method is gone from your account and Amazon won't let you use it for new purchases.

Deleting a payment method does not stop subscriptions or recurring charges that were set up with it. If you have an active Prime membership, a Subscribe & Save order, or a Kindle Unlimited subscription tied to that card or account, Amazon will try to charge the new default method instead. If you don't have a new default set up, the charge may fail and your subscription could pause or cancel. Before you delete a payment method, check whether any recurring charges use it, and update those subscriptions to a different payment method first.

What happens if a payment fails

If Amazon tries to charge a payment method and it fails — because the card expired, the account was closed, or there's not enough money — Amazon will show a warning in your account. You'll see a message like "Payment method declined" or "We need an updated payment method." Click the notification to go straight to Payment options and add or update a method.

For one-time purchases, you can fix the payment method and checkout again. For subscriptions and recurring charges, Amazon will retry the payment a few times over several days. If all retries fail, your subscription pauses. You have about a month to update the payment method before Amazon cancels it entirely.

Updating a card that's about to expire

If you have a card on file that's expiring soon, you don't have to delete it and add a new one. Many card companies let Amazon update the expiration date automatically — you'll see a note on the Payment options page saying the card was updated. If your card company doesn't support automatic updates, Amazon will notify you when the card is about to expire and ask you to enter the new expiration date.

If you're replacing an expiring card with a completely new card number (not just a new expiration date), add the new card as a separate payment method, set it as your default, and then delete the old one. This prevents checkout delays if Amazon tries to use the expired card first.

Security when you change payment methods

Amazon encrypts your payment information, meaning the numbers are scrambled in transit and at rest. Your full card number is never shown on the Payment options page — only the last four digits. When you add a new method, Amazon verifies it with a small charge to confirm you control the card or account.

If you notice a payment method on your account that you didn't add, delete it when ready and change your Amazon password. If you use the same password on other sites, change those too. Consider turning on Two-Step Verification in Login & security to add a second layer of protection — Amazon will text or email you a code when someone tries to sign in from a new device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a gift card as my default payment method?

No. Gift card balances don't appear on the Payment options page because they're not a payment method — they're a balance in your account. When you check out, Amazon automatically applies your gift card balance first, then charges your default payment method for anything left over. You can't set a gift card as the default.

What if I delete a payment method but still have a subscription using it?

Amazon will try to charge your new default payment method instead. If you don't have a default set, the charge fails and your subscription pauses. You have about a month to add a new payment method before Amazon cancels the subscription. To avoid this, update the subscription to a different payment method before you delete the old one.

Do I have to verify every new card with a test charge?

Yes. Amazon places a small temporary charge ($0.01 to $1.00) on every new card or bank account to confirm it's real and that you control it. You'll need to confirm the charge amount on the Payment options page within a few days. The charge reverses automatically after you confirm it.

Can I use someone else's card to pay for my Amazon order?

You can add another person's card to your account, but Amazon may ask for additional verification — like a billing address that matches the card. For recurring charges like Prime or subscriptions, Amazon's terms require the card to belong to the account holder. If you're buying a gift, it's safer to use your own card and have Amazon send it directly to the recipient.

What should I do if my payment method keeps getting declined?

Contact your bank or card company first — they may have flagged the charge as suspicious or your account may have a hold. Once your bank clears it, try the purchase again. If it still fails, delete the payment method from Amazon and add it again. If you're still having trouble, contact Amazon Customer Service through Your Account > Contact Us.