**No. A Visa card does not necessarily connect to a checking or savings account.** Visa is the payment network; the card’s issuer manages the account and sets its terms. The Visa logo tells you which network processes the payments. [Visa’s explanation](https://www.visa.com/en-jm/personal/cards/frequently-asked-questions)

Three common types of card use that network:

| Card type | Where the money comes from |
|---|---|
| **Debit** | Your bank account. Purchases and cash withdrawals draw on your money. |
| **Credit** | The issuer lends you money, up to an agreed limit. You receive a bill and repay it later. |
| **Prepaid** | Money loaded onto the card beforehand. You generally don’t need a personal bank account. |

The same Visa logo can appear on all three. [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-are-prepaid-cards-debit-cards-and-credit-cards-different-en-433/)

**Applying for a credit card usually opens a new credit account.** That account records what you owe. You can pay its bill from your existing bank account, including an account at another bank. For example, if you buy something for $100 using the credit card, you owe the card issuer $100; your checking-account balance changes when you pay the bill. Interest may apply if you carry a balance, according to the card’s terms. [Chase’s explanation](https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/basics/how-do-credit-cards-work)

A retailer’s “own” Visa is commonly a **co-branded credit card** offered with a bank. For example, the U.S. Amazon Visa is issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank: Amazon supplies the retail brand and associated rewards, Chase manages the credit account, and Visa provides the payment network. [Amazon Visa rewards agreement](https://asset.chase.com/content/dam/card/rulesregulations/en/RPA0441_0510_Web.pdf?CID=NAV)

The signup bonus is a customer-acquisition expense. The business logic is that future business will justify that upfront cost:

- **The issuer earns revenue** from transaction fees paid through the merchant’s payment system, plus applicable cardholder interest and fees. [Chase on transaction fees](https://www.chase.com/business/knowledge-center/start/a-crash-course-on-taking-the-mystery-out-of-payments), [credit-card terms](https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/basics/how-do-credit-cards-work)
- **The retailer hopes to encourage repeat shopping**, with rewards that make purchases at its stores attractive. Amazon’s agreement specifies rewards for purchases at participating Amazon stores and sites. [Rewards agreement](https://asset.chase.com/content/dam/card/rulesregulations/en/RPA0441_0510_Web.pdf?CID=NAV)

So the $40 offer you saw is a marketing incentive to acquire a customer. Its amount and conditions depend on the particular offer.