How to delete a card or bank account from your Amazon account
You can remove any credit card, debit card, or bank account from your Amazon account in a few clicks. Go to Your Account (the menu under your name in the top right), select Your Account again from the dropdown, then find Login & security on the left side. Scroll down to Manage your payment methods and click it. Next to any card or bank account, you'll see a Delete button — click it and confirm. The payment method is removed when ready.
You must keep at least one valid payment method on file if you want to make purchases. If you're trying to remove your only payment method, Amazon will ask you to add a new one first. This prevents you from getting stuck unable to buy anything.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete any card or bank account from your Amazon account through Your Account > Login & security > Manage your payment methods.
- Amazon requires at least one active payment method on your account at all times if you plan to make purchases.
- Deletion happens right away — the payment method cannot be used for new purchases when ready after you confirm.
- If you're removing a card because it's compromised or lost, you should also contact your bank or card issuer directly to report it.
- Removing a payment method does not cancel subscriptions or recurring charges tied to that method — you must cancel those separately.
What happens to subscriptions and recurring charges
If you remove a card or bank account that's linked to an Amazon subscription — like Prime, Kindle Unlimited, or a Subscribe & Save order — the subscription does not automatically cancel. Instead, Amazon will try to charge your remaining payment methods when the next billing date arrives. If no other payment method works, the subscription will pause or fail, and you'll get an email about it.
To avoid confusion, cancel any subscriptions tied to that payment method before you delete it. Go to Your Account > Memberships and subscriptions, find the subscription, and select Cancel membership or Edit to change the payment method. For Subscribe & Save orders, go to Your Account > Manage Subscribe & Save items and update the payment method there instead of deleting it.
Removing a card after fraud or loss
If your card was lost, stolen, or used fraudulently, removing it from Amazon is just one step. You should also contact your bank or card issuer directly to report the card and request a replacement. Your bank can freeze the card when ready and may reverse fraudulent charges — Amazon cannot do this.
When you report fraud to your bank, ask whether they recommend canceling the card or if they can issue a new one with the same number. Some banks reissue with a new number, which means you'll need to update your Amazon account with the new card details. If you're unsure whether charges on your Amazon account were fraudulent, check your Order History and Your Account > Login & security > Login activity to see when your account was accessed.
Adding a new payment method before you delete the old one
If you want to switch from one card to another, add the new card to your account first, then delete the old one. This way you always have a working payment method on file. Go to Your Account > Login & security > Manage your payment methods and click Add a payment method. Enter the new card or bank account details and confirm.
Once the new method is added and verified, return to the same screen and delete the old one. Amazon will use your most recently added payment method as the default for new purchases, though you can change this by clicking Set as default next to any method on the list.
Why Amazon might not let you delete a payment method
Amazon will block you from deleting a payment method if it's the only one on your account. You'll see a message saying you need to add another method first. This is a safety feature — it prevents you from accidentally locking yourself out of your account.
In rare cases, Amazon may also prevent deletion if there's a pending charge or dispute on that payment method. If you see an error message when you try to delete, check your Order History to see if there are any recent orders still processing. Once those orders complete or are canceled, you should be able to delete the method. If the problem persists, contact Amazon Customer Service through Your Account > Contact Us.
The difference between deleting and setting a default
Deleting a payment method removes it from your account entirely — it cannot be used for any future purchases. Setting a payment method as default just means Amazon will use it first when you check out, but you can still choose a different method at the time of purchase. If you're not sure whether you'll need a card again, consider leaving it on your account and just changing which one is default.
You can have multiple cards and bank accounts on your Amazon account at the same time. This is useful if you want to use different cards for different purchases, or if you're waiting for a new card to arrive and want to keep the old one active temporarily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing a payment method cancel my Prime membership?
No. Removing a payment method does not cancel Prime. However, if Prime is set to renew on that card and you delete it before adding another method, your renewal will fail. You'll get an email asking you to update your payment information. Add a new card and your membership will continue.
Can I remove a payment method if I have a pending order?
You can delete the payment method, but it's safer to wait until the order ships. If the order is still processing and something goes wrong, Amazon may need to contact you about the payment. Once the order is confirmed and shipped, the payment method is no longer needed for that transaction.
What if I delete a card and then want to use it again?
You can add it back anytime. Go to Your Account > Login & security > Manage your payment methods and click Add a payment method. Enter the card details again. Amazon will treat it as a new entry, so you'll need to verify it if it's a debit card or bank account.
Do I need to delete a card if I'm just getting a new one with a new number?
You can delete the old card, but you don't have to. If you're keeping the account open, it's fine to leave the expired card on file — Amazon straightforward won't be able to charge it. Deleting it keeps your account cleaner and reduces the number of payment methods to manage.
What happens if I delete my only payment method by accident?
Amazon won't let you do this. If you somehow end up with no payment methods, you won't be able to make purchases until you add one. Go to Your Account > Login & security > Manage your payment methods and click Add a payment method to get back to normal.