Amazon gift card balance cannot be transferred directly to a bank account
Amazon does not allow you to move money from a gift card balance to a linked bank account, debit card, or external payment method. Once the balance is loaded into your Amazon account, it stays there and can only be spent on Amazon purchases—including physical goods, digital content, and services like Prime memberships or AWS credits.
This is a hard limit in Amazon's system, not a setting you can change or a restriction that varies by account type. The balance is tied to your Amazon account specifically and has no cash-out feature.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon gift card balances cannot be withdrawn to a bank account, credit card, or debit card under any circumstances.
- You can spend the balance only on purchases within Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, or other Amazon-owned services.
- If you received a gift card you cannot use, you may be able to sell it to a third-party marketplace, though you will receive less than face value.
- Unused balances do not expire, so you can hold the money in your account indefinitely without losing it.
- If your account is closed or compromised, contact Amazon support to recover the balance—it will be restored to a new account if verified as yours.
What you can actually do with an Amazon gift card balance
Your options are limited to spending within Amazon's ecosystem. You can purchase physical items shipped to an address, buy digital goods like Kindle books or music, pay for Prime membership renewal, or use the balance toward AWS (Amazon Web Services) credits if you have a business account.
You can also use the balance to buy gift cards for other retailers—Amazon sells third-party gift cards from Target, Starbucks, Best Buy, and hundreds of other merchants. This is a workaround if you want to move the money somewhere else, but you will still be spending it through Amazon, not transferring it out.
Selling your gift card balance to a third party
If you truly cannot use the balance, you can sell the gift card code to a reseller. Websites like Raise, CardCash, and Decluttr buy unused Amazon gift cards, but they pay 70 to 90 cents on the dollar—meaning a $100 card might sell for $70 to $90. The exact payout depends on current demand and the card's condition (whether it has been used or partially spent).
The process is straightforward: you provide the gift card code, the reseller verifies it works, and they send payment via PayPal, bank transfer, or check. However, this route takes several days and costs you money. It is only worth considering if the balance is large and you have no use for it.
Be cautious with reseller sites: only use established platforms with buyer protection. Never sell a gift card code to an individual buyer or through an unverified marketplace, as the buyer can dispute the transaction after receiving the code.
What happens if your Amazon account is closed
If you close your Amazon account or it is closed due to a policy violation, any remaining gift card balance is not automatically forfeited. However, you cannot access it through that account. You will need to contact Amazon Customer Service and provide proof that the balance was yours—such as the original gift card receipt, the email confirmation when it was added, or account statements showing the credit.
If Amazon verifies your claim, they can transfer the balance to a new account you create or, in rare cases, issue a refund to the original payment method if the card was purchased directly from Amazon. This process can take several weeks and is not may provide, so it is not a reliable way to recover money.
Gift card balances do not expire
Unlike some retail gift cards that expire after a set period, Amazon gift card balances have no expiration date. You can hold the money in your account indefinitely without losing it. This means there is no urgency to spend the balance if you are not ready.
However, if your account is inactive for an extended period (typically two years or more), Amazon may close it for security reasons. If that happens, follow the recovery process described above to reclaim the balance.
Why Amazon does not allow transfers
Amazon's no-transfer policy exists for several reasons: it prevents fraud (stolen gift cards cannot be quickly converted to cash), it keeps money within Amazon's ecosystem (encouraging continued purchases), and it simplifies their accounting. From a consumer protection standpoint, the policy also means your balance is safer than cash—it cannot be stolen from your wallet or lost, and it is tied to your account rather than a physical card.
Other retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy have similar policies. Visa and Mastercard gift cards are the exception—those can often be transferred or withdrawn because they function as prepaid debit cards, not store-specific credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my Amazon gift card balance to someone else's account?
No. Gift card balances are locked to the account they were added to and cannot be transferred, gifted, or shared. If you want to give money to someone else, you must purchase a new Amazon gift card and send them the code before you add it to your own account.
What if I have a partial balance left on my card?
Partial balances work the same way as full balances—they stay in your account and can only be spent on Amazon purchases. You can check your current balance by going to Your Account > Gift Cards on Amazon.com, and the balance will be applied automatically at checkout.
Can I use my Amazon balance to pay a credit card bill or loan?
No. Amazon gift card balances can only be used for purchases within Amazon's services. They cannot be used to pay external bills, credit cards, loans, or any account outside of Amazon.
What if I received a fraudulent or duplicate gift card?
Contact Amazon Customer Service immediately. If the card was purchased fraudulently or the code was already redeemed, Amazon can investigate and may issue a replacement or refund to the original purchaser. Do not attempt to resell a card you suspect is fraudulent.
Is there any way to convert my balance to cash?
The only way to convert your balance to cash is to sell the gift card through a reseller like Raise or CardCash, which will pay you 70 to 90 cents per dollar. There is no direct cash-out feature within Amazon itself.