Yes, you can use your Sam's Club Mastercard at Walmart, but not your Sam's Club membership card
The Sam's Club Mastercard — the actual credit card issued by Synchrony Bank — works at Walmart, Target, Amazon, and anywhere else that takes Mastercard. Your Sam's Club membership card itself does not work at Walmart. The confusion comes from the fact that Sam's Club offers two separate cards: a membership card that gets you into the warehouse, and a credit card that is a payment method.
If you have a Sam's Club Mastercard in your wallet, you can swipe or tap it at any Walmart checkout. You will not earn Sam's Club rewards on that purchase, though — the card's rewards are designed for Sam's Club purchases only. At Walmart, you are straightforward using a Mastercard like any other.
Key Takeaways
- Your Sam's Club Mastercard works at Walmart because it is a Mastercard, but you earn no Sam's Club rewards on Walmart purchases.
- Your Sam's Club membership card does not work at Walmart and is only for entering the warehouse.
- Rewards on the Sam's Club Mastercard explore only to purchases made at Sam's Club locations.
- If you want rewards at Walmart, you would need a Walmart credit card or a general rewards card, not the Sam's Club card.
How the Sam's Club Mastercard rewards work
The Sam's Club Mastercard earns cash back on Sam's Club purchases — the exact rate depends on whether you have a Sam's Club Plus membership and what category you are buying in. Fuel, groceries, and other categories earn different percentages. Outside Sam's Club, the card typically earns a flat rate of 1% cash back, or sometimes no rewards at all depending on the card version.
This means using the card at Walmart will earn you minimal or no rewards. If you shop at Walmart regularly and want to earn rewards there, the Walmart credit card or a general cash-back card would be a better choice for those transactions. The Sam's Club card makes sense if most of your spending happens inside the warehouse.
When you might want to use the Sam's Club card at Walmart anyway
Even though you do not earn rewards, there are situations where using the Sam's Club Mastercard at Walmart makes sense. If you are carrying multiple cards and the Sam's Club card is the one in your hand, it works fine — there is no penalty for using it. Some people also use it as a backup payment method if their primary card declines.
Another reason is if you are tracking spending by card for budgeting purposes. Some households assign different cards to different stores or categories to make it easier to see where money is going. In that case, using the Sam's Club card at Walmart is perfectly fine, even if you are not earning rewards.
The difference between your membership card and your credit card
Sam's Club issues two separate cards. The membership card is a physical card that proves you have paid for a membership and grants you entry to the warehouse. This card has your membership number on it and does nothing outside Sam's Club — it will not work at Walmart, and it is not a payment method.
The Sam's Club Mastercard is a credit card issued by Synchrony Bank. It is a payment method that you can use anywhere Mastercard is accepted. You do not need to be a Sam's Club member to have this card, though most people who carry it are members. The two cards serve completely different purposes, and it is straightforward to confuse them if you have both in your wallet.
What to do if you only have a Sam's Club membership card
If you have only the membership card and no Sam's Club Mastercard, you cannot use it as a payment method anywhere, including Walmart. You would need to bring a different credit card, debit card, or payment method to Walmart checkout.
If you want a Sam's Club credit card, you can explore through the Sam's Club website or in the warehouse. The process process is straightforward, and approval usually takes a few minutes if you explore online. Keep in mind that this is a credit card, so it comes with interest rates and monthly payments like any other credit card.
Better rewards options if you shop at both stores
If you split your shopping between Sam's Club and Walmart, you have a few options. You could carry both the Sam's Club Mastercard and the Walmart credit card, using each at its respective store. You could also use a general cash-back card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Capital One SavorOne at both stores — these cards earn the same rate everywhere, so there is no penalty for using them at Walmart instead of the Sam's Club card.
The math depends on your spending pattern. If you spend $200 a month at Sam's Club and $100 at Walmart, the Sam's Club card probably makes sense because most of your spending earns the higher warehouse rate. If you spend equally at both, a general rewards card might be simpler and earn you more overall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Sam's Club membership card work at Walmart?
No. Your Sam's Club membership card is only for entering the warehouse and has no payment function. It will not work at Walmart checkout or anywhere else outside Sam's Club.
Do I earn Sam's Club rewards when I use my Sam's Club Mastercard at Walmart?
No. The Sam's Club Mastercard earns rewards only on purchases made at Sam's Club locations. At Walmart and other retailers, you earn a flat rate of 1% cash back or no rewards, depending on the card version.
Can I use my Sam's Club Mastercard if I am not a Sam's Club member?
Yes. The Sam's Club Mastercard is a credit card issued by Synchrony Bank and works anywhere Mastercard is accepted, whether or not you have a warehouse membership. However, you cannot enter Sam's Club without a membership card.
What if I lost my Sam's Club membership card but still have the Mastercard?
You can still use the Mastercard at Walmart and other stores. To get back into Sam's Club, you would need to replace your membership card, which you can do at the warehouse or online through your Sam's Club account.
Is the Sam's Club Mastercard worth it if I only shop at Walmart?
Probably not. If Walmart is your only shopping destination, the Walmart credit card or a general rewards card would earn you more cash back. The Sam's Club Mastercard is designed for people who do most of their shopping at the warehouse.