Amazon gift card balance cannot be transferred directly to a bank account
Amazon does not allow you to move gift card funds to a linked bank account, credit card, or external wallet. Once a gift card is redeemed into your Amazon account, the balance lives only in Amazon's system and can only be spent on Amazon purchases—including physical goods, digital content, and services like Prime Video or Kindle Unlimited.
If you have an Amazon gift card you have not yet redeemed, you have a few options before you redeem it. If you have already redeemed it, your options narrow significantly, though not to zero.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon gift card balances cannot move to your bank account once redeemed into your Amazon account.
- An unredeemed physical or digital gift card code can be sold to a third-party reseller, though you will receive less than face value.
- A redeemed balance can only be spent on Amazon purchases or converted to an Amazon business credit if you own a business.
- Amazon does not refund gift card balances to bank accounts except in rare cases involving fraud or system error.
What happens when you redeem an Amazon gift card
Redeeming a gift card adds the balance to your Amazon account as store credit. This credit is non-transferable and non-refundable under Amazon's terms. It does not appear as money in your bank account, and Amazon will not convert it to cash or send it to a linked payment method.
The balance is tied to your Amazon account and can only be used to pay for items sold by Amazon or third-party sellers on Amazon's marketplace. If you make a purchase and the item is refunded, the money goes back into your Amazon balance, not to your original payment method.
Selling an unredeemed gift card code
If you have not yet entered the gift card code into your Amazon account, you can sell the code itself to a reseller. Websites like Raise, CardCash, and Decluttr buy unused gift cards at a discount—typically 70 to 95 percent of face value, depending on demand.
The process is straightforward: you provide the gift card code, the reseller verifies it works, and they send payment to your bank account via ACH transfer or PayPal. This usually takes three to seven business days. The trade-off is that you lose 5 to 30 percent of the card's value, but you get actual money in your bank account instead of store credit.
Resellers are most likely to buy cards at or near face value if the card is new and the amount is $25 or more. Smaller denominations or cards that have been partially used may not be accepted.
Using your Amazon balance for purchases and refunds
Once redeemed, your gift card balance is the first payment method Amazon uses when you check out. If your purchase costs less than your balance, the remainder stays in your account. If your purchase costs more, you can add a credit card or other payment method to cover the difference.
If you return an item purchased with gift card balance, the refund goes back into your Amazon balance, not to your bank account. This means returned purchases do not reduce your bank account balance—they simply add to your Amazon store credit.
You can check your current Amazon balance by going to Your Account > Gift cards on Amazon's website or app. The balance is displayed at the top of the page.
Requesting a refund from Amazon
Amazon will not refund a gift card balance to your bank account under normal circumstances. However, you can request a refund if the balance was added due to fraud, a system error, or if Amazon made a mistake crediting the card.
To request a refund, go to Amazon's Contact Us page and select "Gift cards" as the category. Explain the situation and provide any relevant order numbers or transaction details. Amazon's support team will review your case, which typically takes five to seven business days. If they determine an error occurred on their end, they may refund the balance to your original payment method or issue a new gift card code.
If you simply changed your mind about the purchase or no longer want the balance, Amazon will not refund it. Gift cards are treated as final sales.
Converting Amazon balance to a business credit
If you own a business and have an Amazon Business account, you can transfer personal gift card balance to your business account in some cases. This does not move the money to your bank account, but it does move it to a different Amazon account where it can be used for business purchases.
This option is limited and not available to all account holders. Contact Amazon Business support to ask whether your account is may be able to access. Even if you can transfer the balance, it remains store credit and cannot be withdrawn to a bank account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my Amazon gift card balance to someone else's account?
No. Amazon gift card balances are locked to the account they were redeemed into and cannot be transferred, gifted, or shared. If you want to give money to someone else, you would need to buy them a new gift card code instead.
What if I have a large Amazon balance I don't want to spend?
Your options are limited. You can spend it on Amazon purchases, request a refund if an error occurred, or let it sit in your account indefinitely—Amazon does not expire gift card balances. Selling an unredeemed code before you redeem it is your only way to convert it to cash.
Do Amazon gift cards expire?
No. Once redeemed into your account, the balance does not expire and will remain available indefinitely. Unredeemed gift card codes may have expiration dates depending on when and where they were purchased, so check the terms on the card itself.
Can I use my Amazon balance to pay bills or transfer money to another person?
No. Amazon balance can only be used to purchase items on Amazon's platform. You cannot use it to pay external bills, send money to other people, or withdraw cash.
What if Amazon charged my gift card by mistake?
Contact Amazon support immediately through Your Account > Contact Us and select "Gift cards." Provide details of the unauthorized charge. Amazon will investigate and may refund the balance to your original payment method if they confirm the charge was an error.