You cannot deposit an Amazon gift card directly into a bank account
Amazon gift cards are store credit only—they live in your Amazon account and can only be spent on Amazon.com or Amazon-owned services like Whole Foods or Audible. Your bank will not accept them as a deposit, and no legitimate service can convert them into cash that lands in your checking or savings account.
What you can do is spend the gift card balance on things you would normally buy anyway, then use the money you save for other purposes. If you need actual cash, there are a few real paths forward—but they involve selling the card itself, not moving its value into banking.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon gift cards cannot be deposited into a bank account because they are store credit, not currency.
- You can spend the balance on Amazon purchases and redirect your own money elsewhere, which is the safest approach.
- You can sell an unused Amazon gift card on a resale marketplace, though you will receive less than face value.
- Any service claiming to convert gift cards to cash when ready or without a discount is a scam.
- If someone gave you the card and you cannot use it, contact Amazon support to discuss your options.
The difference between store credit and bank transfers
An Amazon gift card is a form of store credit—a promise that Amazon will let you buy things up to that dollar amount. It is not money in the traditional sense. Your bank account holds actual currency that you can withdraw as cash, send to anyone, or use anywhere that accepts that currency. These are fundamentally different things, and no bank will convert one into the other.
This is why Amazon gift cards cannot be refunded to a bank account the way a purchase made with a debit card can be. If you buy something with your debit card and return it, the refund goes back to your bank because the original transaction was a bank transfer. A gift card was never a bank transfer—it was always just Amazon's promise to let you shop.
What to do if you need to use the money elsewhere
The simplest option is to spend the gift card on things you were going to buy anyway—groceries at Whole Foods, books, household items, electronics—and use the cash you save for whatever you actually need. This costs you nothing and involves no risk. If you have a $50 gift card and you were planning to spend $50 on groceries this month anyway, buy them on Amazon instead and keep your $50 in the bank.
This works best if the card amount is close to something you actually purchase regularly. If you have a $200 gift card and you rarely shop on Amazon, this approach is less practical.
Selling an Amazon gift card for cash
If you need to convert the card to cash, you can sell it on a resale marketplace. Websites like CardCash, Raise, and Decluttr buy unused gift cards at a discount—typically 70 to 90 percent of face value, depending on demand and the card's condition. The process usually works like this:
- You enter the card's balance and take a photo of the back (covering part of the code for security).
- The site makes you an offer based on current demand.
- If you accept, you provide the full code and they verify the balance.
- They send you payment via bank transfer, check, or PayPal within a few business days.
The discount exists because these sites resell the cards to other buyers, and they need a margin to make that work. A $100 card might sell for $75 to $85. This is a real transaction with real companies, but you will not get full value.
Red flags: what not to do
Do not use any service that promises to convert your gift card to cash when ready, without a discount, or by straightforward entering your code online. These are scams. Legitimate resale sites take time to verify the card, and they always pay less than face value because they are buying something that only works at one store.
Do not give your gift card code to anyone who contacts you first—whether by email, text, or social media. Scammers pose as Amazon support or gift card buyers to steal codes. Real companies do not reach out to you; you reach out to them.
Do not use peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo or Cash App to "sell" your card to someone you do not know. Once you give them the code, they can use it when ready and you have no way to get your money back if they do not pay you.
If someone gave you the card and you cannot use it
If the gift card was a present and you genuinely cannot use it, contact Amazon support directly. Explain the situation—you received it as a gift but have no use for Amazon purchases. Amazon does not have a formal policy for converting gift cards to refunds, but support agents sometimes make exceptions for specific circumstances, particularly if the card was recently purchased or if there are accessibility issues.
This is not may provide to work, but it costs nothing to ask. You can reach Amazon support through the Help section of your account, by phone, or through their chat feature. Be clear and honest about why you cannot use the card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my Amazon gift card balance to someone else's account?
No. Once a gift card code is redeemed into an Amazon account, it becomes that account's balance and cannot be moved. If you want to give the card to someone else, you must do it before redeeming the code—give them the physical card or the code itself, and they can add it to their own account.
What if I lost the gift card code?
If you have the physical card, the code is printed on the back. If you lost that too, contact Amazon support with proof of purchase (the receipt or email confirmation). They may be able to look up the code if you can verify details about when and where it was purchased.
Do gift card resale sites actually pay what they promise?
Yes, established sites like CardCash and Raise do pay—they are legitimate businesses. Read reviews on independent sites before choosing one, and always verify the payment method before you submit your code. Start with a small card if you are unsure about a particular site.
Can I use an Amazon gift card to pay my Amazon credit card bill?
No. A gift card balance is store credit and cannot be applied to a credit card bill. You would need to pay your bill with a bank transfer, check, or debit card. However, you can use the gift card to buy things, which frees up cash in your budget for other purposes.
What happens to an Amazon gift card if I never use it?
Amazon gift cards do not expire. Your balance will remain in your account indefinitely, even if you do not shop for years. However, if your Amazon account is closed for inactivity or violation of terms, you may lose access to the balance, so keep your account active if you plan to use it later.