Will Amazon launch a credit card in Australia?
Amazon is launching in Australia, so does that mean a new credit card is also on the way?
Get ready, shoppers. Amazon is predicted to soft launch its Australian site this Thursday 23 November. The official launch is expected to happen this Friday, which would line up with the Black Friday sales. Amazon Australia has also hinted at its upcoming launch by slowly stocking its site with products.
Although we know that Amazon is coming to shake up Australia’s retail sector, what are its plans to disrupt other industries down under? As well as its online store, Amazon has already branched into other areas such as music and streaming, but there is also potential for Amazon to enter the payments space in Australia.
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In the USA, Amazon released its latest credit card (the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card) in January 2017. Designed to reward Amazon customers and big spenders, it offers 5% back at Amazon.com for eligible Prime members, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores as well as 1% on all other purchases. The card also offers complimentary travel insurance and extended warranty protection. This wasn't Amazon's first payments alternative either, it also previously introduced the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature card as well as its own store card.
Given Australia’s current disdain towards rewards credit cards, it would be interesting to see how an Amazon rewards credit card would inject some extra competition into the market.
Plus, Amazon already has its foot in the door of the rewards credit card space in Australia. Earlier this year, Citi partnered with Amazon to allow cardholders to redeem their points for products from the US Amazon store.
“Collaborations such as this one with Amazon allow us to reward our cardholders with offers and benefits that they value,” Citi’s head of cards and consumer lending Alan Machet told finder when the partnership was first announced.
Although Citi hasn’t confirmed the details yet, this could mean that Australians may be able to redeem their points for products from the Australian Amazon store in the future.
If Amazon was to launch a credit card in Australia, it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen non-traditional card issuers enter the card market. Earlier this year, Qantas Money launched its debut credit card the Qantas Premier Platinum. So, we know that large non-banking brands have had success entering the Australian credit card market in the past.
This is all speculative at the moment, but you can keep your finger on the pulse for everything Amazon at finder.com.au.
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