What the Sam's Club credit card is and who issues it
The Sam's Club Mastercard is a credit card issued by Synchrony Bank that you can use both inside Sam's Club warehouses and anywhere Mastercard is accepted. It is not a membership card — it is a separate credit product. You can hold the card whether or not you have a Sam's Club membership, though the rewards structure changes based on membership status.
Synchrony Bank handles the account, billing, and customer service. Sam's Club handles the rewards program and decides which purchases earn bonus points. The two organizations share information about your account but operate separately, which matters if you need to dispute a charge or change your account settings.
Key Takeaways
- The Sam's Club Mastercard earns 5% cash back on gas (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), 3% on dining and travel, and 1% on everything else for members; non-members earn 1% on all purchases.
- There is no annual fee for the card itself, but you must pay for a Sam's Club membership ($45 to $110 per year depending on membership tier) to access the higher rewards rates.
- The card charges a variable interest rate that changes with the prime rate; the current rate is not fixed and will vary based on your creditworthiness and market conditions.
- Rewards are issued as points that convert to dollars at a 1-to-1 rate and can be redeemed as a statement credit, cash back, or Sam's Club purchases.
- The card reports to all three credit bureaus, so on-time payments build your credit history and missed payments damage it.
Rewards structure: what you earn and what it actually costs
For Sam's Club members, the card earns 5% cash back on gas purchased at Sam's Club or any Walmart gas station, up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1% after that). It earns 3% on dining and travel purchases, and 1% on all other purchases. Non-members earn a flat 1% on all purchases.
The membership cost matters when you do the math. A Plus membership costs $45 per year. If you spend $1,500 per year on gas at the 5% rate, you earn $75 in rewards — a net gain of $30 after the membership fee. If you spend less than $900 on gas annually, the membership fee costs more than the rewards you earn. The 3% dining and travel rate helps close that gap, but only if you actually use it.
Rewards are issued as points in your Synchrony account and show up as available balance within a few days of purchase. You can redeem them as a statement credit (reducing your bill), as a check mailed to you, or as Sam's Club purchases. There is no redemption fee and no minimum redemption amount.
Interest rates and how they explore to your balance
The Sam's Club Mastercard charges a variable annual percentage rate (APR) on purchases you do not pay in full each month. The rate is not published as a single number — it varies based on your credit score, credit history, and current market conditions. Synchrony publishes a range, but your actual rate depends on your individual creditworthiness.
If you carry a balance, interest accrues daily on the unpaid amount. There is no grace period for cash advances or balance transfers — interest starts when ready. If you pay your full statement balance by the due date each month, no interest charges explore to purchases.
The card does not offer an introductory 0% APR period for new cardholders or for balance transfers, which is common on other cash-back cards. This means if you are considering transferring a balance from another card, you will pay interest from day one.
Fees and charges beyond interest
The Sam's Club Mastercard itself has no annual fee. You do not pay to hold the card or to use it. However, other fees do explore in specific situations: a late payment fee (amount varies but is typically $25 to $40), a returned payment fee if a check bounces, and a cash advance fee of 3% of the amount withdrawn (with a $3 minimum).
Foreign transaction fees explore if you use the card outside the United States — typically 3% of the purchase amount. If you travel internationally, this can add up quickly on larger purchases.
The membership fee is separate from the card fee. A Plus membership is $45 per year, and a Plus X membership (which includes extra discounts) is $110 per year. You renew this fee annually whether or not you use the card.
How the card affects your credit score
Synchrony reports your account activity to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — all three major credit bureaus. This means on-time payments build your payment history, which is the largest factor in your credit score. Missed payments, high balances relative to your credit limit, and accounts in collections all damage your score and stay on your report for years.
Opening a new credit card temporarily lowers your score because of the hard inquiry and the new account. Over time, if you use the card responsibly, the score recovers and typically improves. Closing the card later can also lower your score because it reduces your total available credit.
The card's credit limit counts toward your total available credit. If you have a $5,000 limit on this card and a $10,000 limit on another card, your total available credit is $15,000. Keeping your balances low relative to these limits (below 30% of your total available credit) helps your score.
When the Sam's Club card makes sense and when it does not
The card is worth considering if you already have a Sam's Club membership and spend at least $900 per year on gas at Sam's Club or Walmart gas stations. The 5% gas reward covers the membership fee at that spending level. If you also use the 3% dining and travel categories, the card becomes more valuable.
The card is less useful if you do not have a membership, because the 1% flat rate is available on many other cards without an annual fee. It is also less useful if you carry a balance month to month, because the lack of an introductory 0% APR period means you pay interest when ready.
If you have poor credit or are rebuilding credit, the card may be harder to get approved for, and if you are approved, your interest rate will be higher. In that case, a secured card or a card designed for credit building might be a better starting point.
How to compare this card to other options
Other cash-back cards offer different reward structures. The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee and no membership requirement. The Capital One SavorOne offers 3% on dining and entertainment with no annual fee. The Citi Double Cash offers 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay) with no annual fee.
The Sam's Club card's advantage is the 5% gas rate, which is higher than most competitors. Its disadvantage is the membership requirement and the lack of an introductory 0% APR period. If you do not shop at Sam's Club or do not spend enough on gas to justify the membership, a card with no annual fee and a higher flat-rate cash back will likely save you money.
If you are deciding between this card and another, calculate your actual spending in each category over the past year. Multiply your gas spending by 5%, your dining and travel by 3%, and everything else by 1%. Subtract the $45 or $110 membership fee. Compare that total to what you would earn with a competing card. The card that produces the highest net reward is the better choice for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Sam's Club card outside of Sam's Club?
Yes. The card is a Mastercard and works anywhere Mastercard is accepted — restaurants, gas stations, online retailers, and more. However, you only earn the bonus 5% gas rate at Sam's Club or Walmart gas stations. Purchases at other retailers earn 1% (or 3% for dining and travel) regardless of where you shop.
What happens to my rewards if I cancel my Sam's Club membership?
Your rewards do not disappear, but your earning rate changes. Once your membership ends, the card reverts to 1% cash back on all purchases. Any rewards you have already earned remain in your account and can still be redeemed. You can keep the card active even without a membership.
Does the card offer any purchase protection or travel insurance?
The card includes purchase protection (covering accidental damage or theft for 90 days after purchase) and travel accident insurance. Specific coverage limits and exclusions explore, so review your cardholder agreement or contact Synchrony for details on what is covered in your situation.
How long does it take to get approved for the Sam's Club card?
Most decisions are made when ready or within a few minutes of submitting your process. If your process requires manual review, Synchrony may contact you for additional information, which can take a few business days. Once approved, the physical card typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days.
Can I transfer a balance from another credit card to this one?
Yes, you can request a balance transfer, but the card does not offer an introductory 0% APR period. Interest will accrue on the transferred balance at your regular variable APR from day one. A balance transfer fee of 3% to 5% of the amount transferred typically applies as well, so this is usually not a cost-effective way to move debt.