July 26, 2023, 12:29 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Amazon is ending its current partnership with Landesbank Berlin (LBB), which also means the end of the provider’s Visa Card. However, a successor is expected. TECHBOOK provides an overview of the terms.
What has been apparent in recent months is now a reality: The Amazon.de Visa Card is being discontinued. Affected customers are currently being informed by LBB in stages. They plan to introduce a successor called the “Visa Card Extra”; Amazon is also working on a new product of its own. TECHBOOK checks the new offer and provides an overview.
Amazon discontinues Visa Card–what customers need to know
First of all, it should be emphasized that all Amazon Visa Cards, including partner cards, are affected by the discontinuation. The reason for ending the cooperation is not yet known. The official statement is: “The cooperation between Landesbank Berlin AG and Amazon.de has ended. Therefore, the Amazon.de VISA Card cannot be continued as before. For this reason, the terms will change on March 27, 2024.” A spokeswoman for Berliner Sparkasse also confirmed to TECHBOOK that the cooperation was ended amicably.
The mentioned deadline at the end of March only applies if you agree to the terms of the newly announced Visa Card Extra. Those who do not want to switch to the successor must expect an earlier deadline. LBB will inform customers individually and gradually about the exact date. “Those who agree to the changed terms for the Visa Card Extra can use the Amazon.de Visa Card until March 26, 2024. Without consent, the Amazon.de card account will be closed on the date communicated, which is currently September 30, 2023, in the email. If the Amazon.de VISA card account has a balance, it will be paid out to the linked checking account,” the company spokeswoman told TECHBOOK.
Customers should note that they can only transfer their balance and collected points to the new card to a limited extent. This is primarily because Amazon is not involved in the new Visa Card Extra. Any balance will be transferred to the linked checking account. However, Amazon points will expire if they are not redeemed by the individual end of the contract term. Alternatively, you can convert the points into an Amazon voucher by the specified deadline and redeem it later.
Visa Card Extra as LBB’s successor
Those who agree to the new terms for the Visa Card Extra will receive a new card. Note: The transition is not automatic! There are no exact details about the timeline yet. However, according to LBB, the cards will be sent out no earlier than November 2023. They will be valid seamlessly from the end of the Visa Card, starting March 27, 2024. The credit limit and functions remain largely identical to the Visa Card. However, payment via Google Pay will no longer be possible, and you must re-register for the Visa Secure security procedure.
Customers should also note that to activate the “contactless payment” function with the new card, they must first make a payment at a card reader. Since the card number also changes, you must update the new data as a payment method. The transfer does not happen automatically. Meanwhile, Amazon is also considering a successor product, which is still in development.
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These are the terms of the Visa Card Extra
As previously mentioned, collecting points for Amazon is no longer possible. Amazon Prime customers also no longer receive discounts. However, the Visa Card Extra offers 0.75 percent cashback on sales of up to 5,000 euros per year; the card price is also 19.99 euros per year. The account associated with the credit card is managed exclusively as an installment account with a fixed or percentage monthly rate.