Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Credit Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- Cash Back Rewards
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
- No 0% APR Introductory Rate
- Low Merchandise Rewards
On Synchrony Bank’s Website
Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
0% Intro
PROS
- Cash Back Rewards
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
CONS
- No 0% APR Introductory Rate
- Low Merchandise Rewards
APR
19.90% or 27.90% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Balance Transfer Fee
N/A
Credit Requirements
Good - Excellent
Sam’s Club is owned by Walmart and offers the Sam's Club® Mastercard® - their store cashback card with a few different ways to earn rewards. The Sam’s Club Mastercard is a great card for Sam’s Club shoppers. It has very competitive cashback rewards and benefits in some spending categories.
Sam’s Club Mastercard offers 5% cash back on gas anywhere Mastercard is accepted (on the first $6,000 per year, then 1% after), 3% cash back on Sam’s Club purchases for Plus members, 3% on dining and takeout and 1% on all other purchases. The rewards categories do not change and are great for those who spend a lot on gas and traveling and who are Sam’s Club members.
The card does not have a foreign transaction fee or annual fee as long as you are a Sam’s Club member (Membership starts at $45 a year). This card can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, not just at Sam’s Club.
Overall, this can be a great option for Sam's shoppers. However, if you are not a Sam’s Club member a, you would want to pass on this card - there better cashback cards for rotating categories.
- Cash Back Rewards
- Earn More Rewards
- No Annual Fee
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
- Other Benefits
- Redemption Restrictions
- Rewards Cap
- No 0% APR Introductory Rate
- There are Better Cashback Cards
How's The Sam's Store Network?
Sam’s Club has millions of members and 600 locations across the USA. While this isn’t as widespread as some other brand networks, if you have a Sam’s Club in your area and enjoy shopping there, this card could be of benefit to you.
How Hard Is It To Get This Card?
You will need to have good to excellent credit to qualify for a Sam’s Club Mastercard. You will also need to be a Plus card member, which will support your application.
When Should You Consider It?
As a branded mastercard, this card is heavily weighted towards Sam’s Club. So, if you’re already a Plus member and tend to shop regularly at your local store, this could be a good card option for you.
When Shouldn't You Consider It?
Obviously, if you don’t have a Sam’s Club in your area or you infrequently visit your local store, this is not the right card for you. There are other reward card options with grocery and warehouse club tiers that offer similar rewards, yet also support other purchases, which could be a better choice.
In This Review..
Benefits
Let’s take a look at the benefits of the Sam’s Club Mastercard and see if it’s the right one for your wallet or not.
- Cash Back Rewards
Sam’s Club Mastercard has 5% cash back on gas anywhere Mastercard is accepted (on the first $6,000 per year, then 1% after), 3% cash back on Sam’s Club purchases for Plus members, 3% on dining and takeout and 1% on all other purchases.
- Earn More Rewards
If you get the higher tier membership you can earn more rewards like free shipping and an additional $10 cash back on every $500 spent on qualifying purchases.
- No Annual Fee
Sam’s Club Mastercard does not have an annual fee as long as you are a Sam’s Club member. Membership starts at $45 a year.
You can start earning cash back immediately.
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
Sam’s Club Mastercard does not have a foreign transaction fee. This is unusual for a non-travel rewards card.
This is a great perk because you can earn cash back on your travel expenses.
- Other Benefits
Sam’s Club Mastercard offers cardholders extended purchase warranty protection and identity theft protection.
The credit card also acts as your membership card, so you will only need one card.
Drawbacks
Here are the most important cons you should consider before applying:
- Redemption Restrictions
Sam’s Club Mastercard cashback can only be redeemed or spent at Sam’s Club. This redemption also only happens once a year in February. With other cards you can redeem rewards almost anytime.
- Rewards Cap
There is a $5,000 dollar cap on the Sam’s Club Mastercard. Your rewards can not surpass $5,000.
That is a very large threshold for many households but some consumers may spend that much and will find better rewards through other cards.
- No 0% APR Introductory Rate
Sam’s Club Mastercard doesn't offer 0% APR introductory as many other cards, so if you plan a big purchase or you carry debt, it's not the right card for you.
- There are Better Cashback Cards
There are other cashback cards in the market that offer higher cashback rewards. Some have rotating categories, but depending on your spending habits and with a little planning, you can earn more cash back on your purchases.
If you are a big spender and don’t mind an annual fee, there are other cards with higher cashback rewards, but not by much. Also, there are store cards that offer much better rewards when shopping at the store where the card was issued. Sam’s Club Mastercard only offers 1% back on spending at their store.
Is the Sam's Club Mastercard Right for You?
The Sam’s Club Mastercard is a great card for Sam’s Club shoppers. It has very competitive cashback rewards and benefits in some spending categories. Cardholders that spend a lot on gas each year will benefit the most from this card. This card is also great for those who do a lot of traveling. The 3% cash back on dining is not common among store cards.
The biggest drawback to the Sam’s Club Mastercard is you have to wait a year for your cash back, and it can only be redeemed at Sam’s Club.
If you are not a Sam’s Club member, you would want to pass on this card. There are better cashback cards. Sam’s Club Mastercard rewards are straightforward and easy to understand and most Sam’s Club members would benefit by owning this card.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for a store credit card – the Sam's Club is definitely a good option, but there are some good alternatives:
|  |
| |
|---|---|---|---|
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi | Best Buy Visa Card | Sam's Club® Mastercard® | |
Annual Fee | $0 *
| $0–$59
based on creditworthiness
| $0
|
Rewards |
1-4%
4% cash back on on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% cash back on restaurants and most travel purchases, 2% cash back at Costco and Costco.com, 1% cash back on all other purchases
|
1-5%
5% back in rewards on shopping at BestBuy ( 6% back* in rewards for Elite Plus Cardmembers), 3% back in rewards on gas purchases, 2% back in rewards on dining, takeout and grocery purchases, 1% back in rewards on everyday purchases
|
1-5%
5% cash back on gas anywhere Mastercard is accepted (on the first $6,000 per year, then 1% after), 3% cash back on Sam’s Club purchases for Plus members, 3% on dining and takeout and 1% on all other purchases
|
Welcome bonus |
None
None
|
10% first day
10% back in rewards on your first day of purchase
|
None
None
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | 0%
| N/A
| N/A
|
Purchase APR | 19.74% (Variable)
| 29.24% Variable
| 19.90% or 27.90% Variable
|
FAQ
There is no official guidance about what credit limit you can expect when you’re approved for a Sam’s Club Mastercard. However, current and previous customers have reported initial credit limits of $1,000 to $10,000. Your actual credit limit will depend on a number of factors including your income and employment status.
The Sam’s Club is obviously weighted towards this brand. So, if you want to maximize your rewards, make sure that you reach the spending cap for gas purchases, at $6,000 per year.
You’ll also earn high cashback on Sam’s Club purchases, so explore the aisles and aim to make as many of your everyday purchases at the store rather than using other brands.
When you apply for a Sam’s Club Mastercard, you may get instant approval. In other cases, you may need to wait a day or two for your approval decision. Upon approval, you should expect your card within 7 to 10 days.
Sam’s Club has a phone line to contact the customer support team, which is available seven days a week. It is open 7 am to 11 pm Monday to Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 8 pm CST. There is also a chat function available during the same hours.
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