The Sam's Club Mastercard is a co-branded card issued by Synchrony Bank that gives you cash back on purchases at Sam's Club and Gas stations, plus a flat rate elsewhere
Sam's Club offers two versions of its credit card: the Sam's Club Mastercard and the Sam's Club Business Mastercard. Both are issued by Synchrony Bank, not by Sam's Club itself. The consumer version gives you 2% cash back on Sam's Club and Gas Station purchases, 1% cash back on all other purchases, and no annual fee. The business version has the same cash back structure but is designed for business owners and sole proprietors.
The card does not require a Sam's Club membership to open, but you will need one to shop there. Cash back rewards post to your account monthly and can be redeemed as a statement credit, transferred to a linked bank account, or used to pay your balance. There is no sign-up bonus, no introductory rate, and no rotating categories — the cash back rates stay the same year-round.
Key Takeaways
- The Sam's Club Mastercard earns 2% cash back at Sam's Club and gas stations, 1% everywhere else, with no annual fee.
- You do not need a Sam's Club membership to open the card, but you will need one to use it for shopping.
- Cash back rewards are posted monthly and can be redeemed as a statement credit or transferred to your bank account.
- The card carries a variable APR that changes with the prime rate, so your interest rate will move if the Federal Reserve changes rates.
- Sam's Club membership costs $45 to $110 per year depending on the tier, which is a separate cost from the card itself.
Cash Back Rates and How Rewards Work
The card earns 2% cash back on all purchases made at Sam's Club locations and at gas stations. This includes both branded Sam's Club Gas stations and third-party gas stations. All other purchases — groceries, restaurants, online shopping, utilities — earn 1% cash back. There is no cap on how much cash back you can earn, and rewards do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
Cash back is calculated on the full purchase amount, including tax. Rewards post to your account once per month, usually between the 15th and the end of the month. You can redeem rewards in three ways: as a statement credit applied to your next bill, as a direct deposit to a linked bank account, or by using the rewards balance to pay down your current balance. Redemptions typically process within one to three business days.
If you close your account, any unredeemed cash back is forfeited. This is different from some other cards that let you redeem rewards after closing, so redeem before you close if you have a balance sitting in rewards.
Annual Fee and Interest Rates
The Sam's Club Mastercard has no annual fee. This makes it a low-cost option if you are comparing it to premium cards that charge $95 or more per year. However, you will still need to pay for a Sam's Club membership if you want to shop there — that membership costs $45 for a basic Gold Star membership or $110 for a Plus membership, and it renews every year.
The card carries a variable APR, which means the interest rate changes when the Federal Reserve changes the prime rate. The exact APR you receive depends on your credit score and credit history at the time you open the account. Synchrony does not publish a range, so you will see your specific rate only after you submit your information. If you carry a balance, you will pay interest on that balance at your APR every month until it is paid off.
There are no introductory 0% APR periods, no balance transfer offers, and no late fees waived for first-time offenders. Late payments are reported to credit bureaus after 30 days past due.
Who Benefits Most From This Card
The Sam's Club Mastercard makes the most sense if you already have a Sam's Club membership and shop there regularly. The 2% cash back on Sam's Club purchases can offset some of the membership cost over time — for example, if you spend $2,500 per year at Sam's Club, you would earn $50 in cash back, which covers more than the basic membership fee. If you also fill up at gas stations frequently, the 2% rate there adds to the value.
The card is less valuable if you shop at Sam's Club only occasionally or if you do most of your shopping at other retailers. The 1% cash back on non-Sam's Club purchases is competitive with basic cash back cards, but it is not higher than what you might earn with a card that offers 1.5% or 2% on all purchases. If you do not have a Sam's Club membership, the card itself is free to open, but you would need to pay for membership to use it, which changes the math.
Business owners can use the business version of the card, which has the same rewards structure. The business card may offer additional reporting tools and a separate billing cycle from personal cards, which can be useful for accounting purposes.
How the Card Compares to Other Warehouse Club Cards
Costco does not issue its own credit card, but it has a co-branded American Express card issued by Citi. That card earns 2% cash back at Costco and gas stations (up to $110 per year, then 1%), 3% on travel, and 1% elsewhere. It has a $65 annual fee. BJ's Wholesale Club offers a co-branded card with 1.5% cash back at BJ's and 1% elsewhere, with no annual fee.
The Sam's Club card's advantage is the lack of an annual fee and the straightforward 2% rate at Sam's Club. Its disadvantage is that it does not offer bonus categories like travel or dining, and the 1% rate on other purchases is lower than some competing cash back cards. If you are deciding between warehouse clubs based on credit card rewards alone, the Sam's Club card is competitive but not exceptional — the real value comes from whether the warehouse membership itself saves you money on groceries and bulk purchases.
How to Open the Card and What Happens Next
You can open the Sam's Club Mastercard online through Sam's Club's website or in person at a Sam's Club location. The online process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, Social Security number, income, and employment status. Synchrony will perform a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points.
You will receive a decision within minutes to a few business days. If you are approved, the card ships to your address within 7 to 10 business days. Once it arrives, you can set up it through the Synchrony website or mobile app and begin using it when ready. If you are denied, Synchrony will send you a letter explaining the reason, and you can contact them to ask about reapplying.
After you open the card, you can link it to your Sam's Club account so that purchases are automatically tracked and rewards are credited. You do not have to do this, but it makes it easier to see your rewards balance and redeem them through the Sam's Club app or website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Sam's Club membership to open the card?
No. You can open the card without a membership. However, you will need to pay for a membership to shop at Sam's Club and use the card there. The card itself is free, but the membership is not.
Can I use the card outside of Sam's Club?
Yes. You can use the card anywhere Mastercard is accepted. You will earn 1% cash back on purchases outside of Sam's Club and gas stations. The 2% rate only applies at Sam's Club locations and gas stations.
What happens to my cash back if I close my account?
Any unredeemed cash back is forfeited when you close your account. Redeem your rewards before you close the card if you have a balance sitting in your rewards account.
Does the card have a sign-up bonus?
No. The Sam's Club Mastercard does not offer a sign-up bonus or introductory rate. You begin earning cash back on your first purchase at the standard rates.
What is the APR, and does it change?
The APR is variable and depends on your credit score and history. Synchrony does not publish a range, so you will see your rate only after you explore. The rate can change if the Federal Reserve changes the prime rate, which affects all variable-rate cards.