Yes, Walmart offers two credit cards through Synchrony Bank
Walmart has two branded credit cards: the Walmart Rewards Card (a Mastercard) and the Walmart Credit Card (a store card that works only at Walmart and Sam's Club). Both are issued by Synchrony Bank, not by Walmart itself. The Rewards Card is a general-purpose card you can use anywhere Mastercard is accepted. The store card is restricted to Walmart and Sam's Club locations, including online shopping at those retailers.
The main difference between them comes down to where you can spend and what rewards you earn. The Rewards Card gives cash back on all purchases and higher rewards rates at Walmart and Sam's Club. The store card offers promotional financing options — like deferred interest on large purchases — but only works at Walmart and Sam's Club. Neither card charges an annual fee.
Key Takeaways
- Walmart Rewards Card is a Mastercard that works anywhere, earning 3% cash back at Walmart and Sam's Club and 1% everywhere else.
- Walmart Credit Card is a store card limited to Walmart and Sam's Club, with no cash back but promotional financing offers like 12 months interest-free on purchases over $50.
- Both cards are issued by Synchrony Bank and carry no annual fee.
- You can request a card through Walmart's website, in-store, or by phone, and approval decisions usually come within minutes to a few days.
Walmart Rewards Card: The Mastercard option
The Walmart Rewards Card is a Mastercard that earns cash back on every purchase. You earn 3% cash back on purchases at Walmart and Sam's Club (in-store and online), 2% at gas stations and grocery stores, and 1% on all other purchases. Cash back is credited to your account monthly and can be redeemed as a statement credit or transferred to a bank account.
This card works at any merchant that accepts Mastercard, so you can use it for everyday spending outside Walmart. The cash back structure makes it useful if you shop at Walmart regularly but also want rewards on other purchases. There is no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and no minimum cash back redemption.
The card does not offer promotional financing. If you carry a balance, interest accrues from the purchase date at the card's variable APR, which Synchrony sets based on your creditworthiness and current market rates.
Walmart Credit Card: The store card with promotional financing
The Walmart Credit Card is a store card that works only at Walmart, Walmart.com, Sam's Club, and Samsclub.com. It does not earn cash back. Instead, it offers promotional financing periods — the most common being 12 months interest-free on purchases of $50 or more, though the exact offer changes periodically.
The appeal of this card is the deferred interest option. If you make a large purchase — say, a television or appliance — you can spread the cost over 12 months without paying interest, provided you pay off the full balance within that period. If you do not pay it off in full by the end of the promotional period, interest accrues retroactively on the entire original purchase amount.
Like the Rewards Card, there is no annual fee. The card carries a variable APR for regular purchases and balances that do not may have access to for a promotional offer. Because it is a store card, you cannot use it outside Walmart and Sam's Club.
How to request a Walmart credit card
You can request either card through three channels: online at Walmart.com or Sam's Club's website, in person at a Walmart or Sam's Club location, or by phone. The online process takes about 10 minutes and asks for basic information: name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, income, and employment status.
Synchrony typically makes an approval decision within minutes to a few days. If approved, you receive a decision notice by email or mail. If you request the card in-store, you may receive a temporary card number on the spot that you can use when ready, with the physical card arriving by mail within 7 to 10 business days.
Synchrony will pull your credit report, so the process triggers a hard inquiry that may lower your credit score by a few points temporarily. You do not need to be a Walmart or Sam's Club member to request the card, though you will need a valid government ID and a Social Security number.
Credit requirements and approval factors
Synchrony does not publish a minimum credit score for either card, but both cards are generally easier to obtain than premium travel or cash back cards from major banks. People with fair credit (typically 580 to 669 on the FICO scale) have a reasonable chance of approval, though approval is not may provide.
Synchrony considers your credit history, current debt levels, income, and payment history with other creditors. A recent late payment, high debt-to-income ratio, or very limited credit history may result in a denial. If you are denied, you can request reconsideration by phone or wait several months and reapply after improving your credit profile.
If you are approved but offered a lower credit limit than you expected, you can request a limit increase after making on-time payments for several months.
Comparing the two cards: Which one makes sense for you
Choose the Walmart Rewards Card if you shop at Walmart regularly but also spend money elsewhere and want cash back on all purchases. The 3% rate at Walmart and 1% everywhere else makes it useful as a general-purpose card, especially if Walmart is one of your primary shopping destinations.
Choose the Walmart Credit Card if you make occasional large purchases at Walmart — appliances, furniture, electronics — and want to spread the cost over time without interest. The promotional financing is valuable only if you can pay off the balance within the promotional period; otherwise, the retroactive interest makes it expensive.
You can hold both cards at the same time. Some people use the store card for promotional financing on big purchases and the Rewards Card for everyday spending. There is no rule against having both, and Synchrony will not penalize you for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Walmart Credit Card online at Walmart.com?
Yes. The Walmart Credit Card works at Walmart.com, Walmart stores, Sam's Club locations, and Samsclub.com. You can use it for online purchases the same way you would in-store, and promotional financing offers explore to online purchases as well.
What happens if I don't pay off the promotional financing balance in time?
Interest accrues retroactively on the entire original purchase amount at the card's regular APR. For example, if you buy a $500 item with 12 months interest-free and pay $400 by the end of month 12, you owe interest on the full $500, not just the $100 remaining balance. Read the promotional terms carefully before you make the purchase.
Do these cards help build credit?
Yes, both cards report to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). On-time payments help build your credit history, and keeping your balance low relative to your credit limit improves your credit score over time. Missed or late payments damage your score.
Can I transfer a balance from another card to the Walmart Credit Card?
Walmart does not offer balance transfer options on either card. You can only charge new purchases. If you want to move debt from another card, you would need to pay it off separately and then use the Walmart card for new spending.
What is the difference between the Walmart Rewards Card and a regular Mastercard cash back card?
The Walmart Rewards Card is a Mastercard, so it functions like any other Mastercard. The main difference is the rewards structure: it offers higher cash back at Walmart and Sam's Club than most general-purpose cards. If you rarely shop at Walmart, a different cash back card might offer better rewards for your actual spending pattern.