Amazon gift card balances cannot be transferred directly to a bank account
Amazon does not offer a way to move gift card funds into your bank account. Once a gift card is redeemed to your Amazon account balance, that money lives only within Amazon's system and can be spent only on Amazon purchases—including physical goods, digital content, and services like Prime memberships or AWS credits.
If you have an Amazon gift card you have not yet redeemed, your options are limited to spending it on Amazon or selling it to a third party. If you have already redeemed it and now want the money elsewhere, there is no official path back out.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon gift card balances stay in your Amazon account and cannot be withdrawn to a bank account, credit card, or debit card.
- An unredeemed physical or digital gift card can be sold through resale platforms like CardCash or Raise, though you will receive less than the card's face value.
- If you have already redeemed the card, your only option is to spend the balance on Amazon purchases.
- Amazon does not issue refunds to external bank accounts for gift card purchases made by you or received as a gift.
What happens when you redeem an Amazon gift card
When you redeem a gift card code on Amazon, the funds are added to your account as an Amazon.com balance. This balance appears in your account settings under "Gift Cards" or "Your Account Balance" and is tied to your Amazon login. It is not a separate payment method—it is money that exists only within Amazon's ecosystem.
You can use this balance to pay for anything Amazon sells: books, electronics, groceries through Amazon Fresh, video rentals, Kindle content, or even AWS services if you have a business account. But the money cannot be moved out. Amazon does not convert account balances back to cash or transfer them to linked bank accounts, debit cards, or credit cards.
Selling an unredeemed gift card for cash
If you have a gift card code you have not yet redeemed, you can sell it through a resale marketplace. The most common platforms are CardCash, Raise, and Decluttr. These sites connect buyers and sellers of unused gift cards.
The process is straightforward: you list the card with its balance, set a price (usually 70 to 95 percent of face value), and once a buyer purchases it, you provide the code. The platform then pays you via bank transfer, PayPal, or check. The catch is the discount—a $100 Amazon gift card might sell for $85 to $92, depending on demand and the platform's fees.
Payment timing varies. CardCash and Raise typically deposit funds within 1 to 3 business days after the buyer confirms the code works. Decluttr may take longer. Read each platform's terms before listing, as some require you to verify the card's balance and condition.
What to do if you received a gift card you do not want
If someone gave you an Amazon gift card and you would prefer cash or do not use Amazon, selling it is your fastest option. The resale platforms above accept cards that have not been redeemed, and the process takes a few days from start to payment.
If the card was a gift and you want to return it to the giver, ask them directly. Some retailers allow gift card returns or exchanges within a set window if you have the original receipt, but Amazon's own gift cards (not purchased through a third party) typically cannot be returned once issued. Your best path is to sell the card and offer the giver the cash instead, or to ask them for a different form of payment.
If you already redeemed the card and want your money back
Once a gift card is redeemed to your Amazon account, the balance is yours to spend on Amazon only. Amazon does not refund gift card balances to bank accounts, even if you never use the money. The company treats redeemed gift cards as non-refundable account credit.
The only exception is if you purchased the gift card yourself with a credit or debit card and Amazon made an error—for example, if you were charged twice. In that case, contact Amazon Customer Service and explain the duplicate charge. They may refund the erroneous charge to your original payment method, but this is a refund of your purchase, not a withdrawal of the gift card balance itself.
If you have a large balance you are unlikely to spend, consider buying gifts for others or donating to someone who uses Amazon. Some nonprofits accept Amazon gift cards as donations.
Why Amazon does not allow balance transfers
Gift card balances are not transferable because they are account credit, not money. From Amazon's perspective, the balance is a liability—money the company owes you in the form of goods or services, not cash. Allowing transfers to bank accounts would require Amazon to process financial transactions it is not set up to handle and would create tax and regulatory complications.
This is standard across most retailers. Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and other major chains also lock gift card balances to their systems once redeemed. The restriction keeps the money within the company's ecosystem and ensures the funds are used for purchases rather than cashed out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my Amazon gift card balance to another Amazon account?
No. Gift card balances are locked to the account they were redeemed to and cannot be transferred, shared, or moved to a different Amazon login. If you redeemed a card by mistake, contact Amazon Customer Service when ready—they may be able to reverse the redemption if you have not spent any of the balance yet.
What if I have a balance from a refund, not a gift card?
Refunds from Amazon purchases are normally returned to your original payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank account) within 3 to 5 business days. If the refund went to your Amazon account balance instead, you can contact Amazon Customer Service and request it be sent to your bank account. This is more likely to succeed than requesting a gift card balance transfer.
Can I use my Amazon balance to buy a gift card for someone else?
Yes. You can use your account balance to purchase a physical or digital Amazon gift card and send it to another person. The recipient will receive the code and can redeem it to their own account. This is one way to move your balance forward if you do not plan to use it yourself.
Do third-party gift card resale sites work with Amazon balances?
No. Resale platforms like CardCash and Raise only accept unredeemed gift card codes. Once you redeem a code to your Amazon account, the balance cannot be sold. You would need to spend it on Amazon or let it sit unused.
What happens to my Amazon balance if I close my account?
If you close your Amazon account, any remaining balance is forfeited. Amazon does not refund unused gift card balances when an account is closed. Before closing your account, spend or transfer your balance to a gift card for someone else.