Walmart's Current Credit Card Offerings
Yes, Walmart still offers credit cards, but the program has changed. Walmart now partners with Capital One to issue two cards: the Walmart Rewards Card (a standard Mastercard) and the Walmart Credit Card (a store card that works only at Walmart and Walmart.com). Both are active products you can open today, though the terms and rewards structure differ from older Walmart card versions.
The Walmart Rewards Card is a general-purpose Mastercard that earns cash back on all purchases — 2% at Walmart and Walmart.com, 1% everywhere else. The Walmart Credit Card (the store-only version) earns 5% cash back on Walmart purchases when you use it in-store, but offers no rewards outside Walmart. Neither card charges an annual fee.
Walmart discontinued its previous card partnership with Synchrony in 2023 and moved to Capital One. If you held an older Walmart card from Synchrony, your account was transferred to Capital One, but the terms changed. The new cards operate under different reward rates and approval standards than the old program.
Key Takeaways
- Walmart offers two active credit cards through Capital One: a Mastercard that works everywhere and a store card that works only at Walmart.
- The Walmart Rewards Card earns 2% cash back at Walmart and 1% everywhere else, with no annual fee.
- The Walmart Credit Card (store-only) earns 5% cash back on in-store purchases but earns nothing online or outside Walmart.
- Walmart switched from Synchrony to Capital One in 2023, so older card terms no longer explore to new accounts.
- Both cards report to the three major credit bureaus, so opening one affects your credit score and payment history matters to your credit profile.
How the Walmart Rewards Card Works
The Walmart Rewards Card is a Mastercard issued by Capital One. You can use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted — not just at Walmart. The cash back structure is straightforward: 2% back on Walmart and Walmart.com purchases, 1% on everything else. Cash back posts to your account monthly and can be redeemed as a statement credit or transferred to a bank account.
There is no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and no minimum spending requirement to earn rewards. The card reports to all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), so your payment history and credit utilization affect your credit score the same way any other credit card does.
Capital One sets the interest rate (APR) based on your credit profile at the time you open the account. The rate is not fixed and can change over time. If you carry a balance, interest accrues daily on the unpaid amount.
How the Walmart Credit Card Works
The Walmart Credit Card is a store card — it works only at Walmart stores and Walmart.com. It earns 5% cash back on in-store purchases when you swipe it at checkout, but earns nothing on online purchases or purchases outside Walmart. Like the Rewards Card, there is no annual fee.
The 5% rate is higher than the Rewards Card's 2% at Walmart, but only if you shop in-store. If you do most of your Walmart shopping online or rarely visit stores, the store card offers no advantage. Cash back works the same way — it posts monthly and can be redeemed as a statement credit.
This card also reports to all three credit bureaus and carries an APR set by Capital One based on your credit history. The approval standards and interest rates may differ from the Rewards Card, even though both are Walmart cards.
Who Gets Approved and What Credit Score You Need
Capital One does not publish a minimum credit score for either Walmart card. Approval depends on your full credit profile — score, payment history, income, existing debt, and recent inquiries. People with fair credit (typically 580–669) have been approved, as have people with good credit (670–739) and excellent credit (740+). People with poor credit (below 580) are less likely to be approved but are not automatically rejected.
Capital One is known for approving applicants with limited or damaged credit histories more often than other issuers, but approval is never may provide. If you are denied, you can request reconsideration or wait several months and reapply after your credit profile improves.
Each process generates a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points. If you are denied for one card, explore for the other card in the same day or week will generate another hard inquiry and may further lower your score.
Comparing the Two Cards Side by Side
| Feature | Walmart Rewards Card | Walmart Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Where you can use it | Anywhere Mastercard is accepted | Walmart and Walmart.com only |
| Cash back at Walmart (in-store) | 2% | 5% |
| Cash back at Walmart.com | 2% | 0% |
| Cash back everywhere else | 1% | N/A (card not accepted) |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Reports to credit bureaus | Yes, all three | Yes, all three |
When a Walmart Card Makes Sense for Your Wallet
The Walmart Rewards Card is worth opening if you spend money outside Walmart and want a straightforward cash back card with no annual fee. The 1% cash back on non-Walmart purchases is modest compared to other general-purpose cards, but it is better than zero. If you have fair or limited credit and have been denied by other issuers, Capital One's approval standards may work in your favor.
The Walmart Credit Card (store-only) makes sense only if you shop at Walmart in-store regularly and want to maximize the 5% rate. If you do most of your Walmart shopping online, the card earns nothing on those purchases, and you would be better off with the Rewards Card's 2% rate. If you rarely shop at Walmart, neither card is necessary.
Opening a Walmart card to build credit is a legitimate strategy if you have no credit history or are recovering from past damage. Both cards report to all three bureaus, so on-time payments help your score over time. However, the interest rate you receive may be high (often 20%+ APR for fair-credit applicants), so carrying a balance is expensive. If you open a card to build credit, pay the full balance each month to avoid interest charges.
How to Open a Walmart Credit Card
You can open either Walmart card online at Walmart.com, in-store at a Walmart customer service desk, or by phone. The online process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, Social Security number, income, and employment information. Capital One runs a hard inquiry on your credit report when ready.
You will receive a decision within minutes for most applications. If approved, your card ships to your address within 7 to 10 business days. If you need the card sooner, some Walmart stores offer when ready digital card numbers that you can use online right away while you wait for the physical card.
If you are denied, Capital One will mail you a notice explaining the reason. Common reasons include insufficient credit history, recent late payments, high existing debt, or too many recent credit inquiries. You can reapply after your credit profile improves, typically 3 to 6 months later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Walmart Credit Card at other stores?
No. The Walmart Credit Card works only at Walmart stores and Walmart.com. If you need a card that works everywhere, you need the Walmart Rewards Card (Mastercard) instead. Some people carry both cards — the store card for in-store Walmart shopping and the Rewards Card for everything else.
What happened to my old Walmart card from Synchrony?
Walmart ended its partnership with Synchrony in 2023 and moved to Capital One. If you had an active Synchrony Walmart card, your account was transferred to Capital One, but the terms changed. Your old rewards rate no longer applies, and your new rate is based on Capital One's standards. You can contact Capital One to learn your current terms.
Do I need good credit to get approved?
No. Capital One approves applicants with fair and limited credit more often than many other card issuers. Your approval depends on your full profile, not just your score. However, if you are approved with fair credit, your APR will likely be higher than someone with excellent credit.
Will opening a Walmart card hurt my credit score?
Opening a card causes a small, temporary drop in your score (usually 5 to 10 points) due to the hard inquiry. Over time, if you pay on time and keep your balance low, the card helps your score by adding to your payment history and lowering your overall credit utilization. The long-term benefit outweighs the short-term dip.
Can I get cash back as actual cash instead of a statement credit?
No. Both Walmart cards issue cash back as a statement credit (a credit to your bill) or as a transfer to your bank account. You cannot withdraw cash back at an ATM or redeem it for physical cash at a Walmart register.