The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® is a credit card issued by Synchrony Bank which is exclusively available to Sam’s Club members. It offers cashback rewards in the form of Sam’s Cash, which can be earned on gas, dining, and everyday purchases.
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Quick Review
The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® is a good credit card option for Sam’s Club members who want to earn rewards on Sam’s Club and everyday purchases. The card offers flexible credit limits, no annual fee, cash advances, and cashback rewards.
However, the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® has a high APR of 19.40%–27.40% (variable) and a high approval threshold, as you need good or excellent credit (700+) to qualify.
The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® is one of two consumer credit cards offered by Sam’s Club. The other card option is the Sam’s Club® Credit Card, which is a limited-use store card. Here’s how the two compare:
Sam’s Club® Credit Card vs. Sam’s Club® Mastercard®
| Credit Card | Annual fee | APR | Rewards | Can be used at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam’s Club Credit Card | $0 | 15.65%–23.65% | None | Sam’s Club and Walmart |
| Sam’s Club Mastercard | $0 | 15.65%–23.65% |
- 3% on dining - 1% on everyday purchases | Everywhere Mastercard is accepted |
If you don’t qualify for the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® due to your credit score, you may be offered the Sam’s Club® Credit Card instead.
This review will only focus on the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®. Here are its major pros and cons:
Sam’s Club® Mastercard® Important Details
Basic Card Details
- Card issuer: Synchrony Bank
- Regular APR: 19.40%–27.40% (variable)
- Annual fee: $0
- Maintenance fees: $0
- Can be used at: Anywhere Mastercard® is accepted
- Authorized users: Allowed
- Credit limit increases: Allowed
Additional Information
- Sam’s Plus members receive higher rewards rates on Sam’s Club purchases
- Credit card doubles as membership card
Sam’s Club® Mastercard® Rewards & Features
Here’s a breakdown of the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®’s rewards and important features:
Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Monthly fee: $0
- Foreign transaction fee: $0
- Cash advance fee: $5 or 3% of amount (whichever is higher)
- Balance transfer fee: $10 or 4% of transfer amount (whichever is higher)
- Late payment fee: $29–$40
- Membership fees: $45–$100
What is the Sam’s Plus membership?
The Sam’s Plus (aka Sam’s Club Plus) membership is the second tier of the Sam’s Club membership program. Sam’s Club offers two consumer membership programs:
- Sam’s Club membership: $45/year
- Sam’s Plus membership: $100/year
Sam’s Plus members pay a higher annual fee, but enjoy more Sam’s Club benefits, including special offers and pricing, cashback rewards, and exclusive benefits (like price protection and free shipping).
Sam’s Club® Mastercard® holders who are also Sam’s Plus members will get a rewards rate of 3% cash back on qualifying Sam’s Club purchases, while regular Club members receive a cashback rate of 1%.
Interest Rates
- APR: 19.40%–27.40% (variable)
- Minimum interest charge: $2
The APR of your Sam’s Club® Mastercard® is variable based on creditworthiness, as determined by a credit check when you apply for the credit card.
The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® APR is relatively high, so be careful about leaving unpaid balances on your account.
Rewards
The biggest perk of the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® is its rewards program. Here’s how the Sam’s Club rewards work:
- 5% cash back on gas (for the first $6,000/year, then 1% after)
- 3% cash back on dining
- 3% cash back on Sam’s Club purchases if you’re also a Sam’s Plus member
- 1% cash back on Sam’s Club purchases if you’re a standard Sam’s Club member
- 1% cash back on everyday purchases
These rewards will be added to your account in the form of Sam’s Cash. Sam’s cash can then be used in any of three ways:
- To pay your membership fees
- To spend at Sam’s Club (online or in stores)
- To cash out at any Sam’s Club store through the Membership Services counter
Unlike with many rewards cards, you can access your Sam’s Cash as soon as it’s applied to your account. No minimum needs to be reached before you can spend, apply, or cash out your rewards.
Introductory Offer
The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® offers new cardholders a $30 statement credit when you spend $30 within 30 days of account opening.
Special Promotional Financing
Sam’s Club offers special financing on certain purchases when you use your Sam’s Club® Mastercard®. Special financing offers allow you to defer interest for 6–48 months, depending on the offer.
However, if you don’t pay your balance in full by the end of the promotional period, you’ll be charged the entire period of interest, starting with the date of purchase. Be careful when taking advantage of special financing deals, as you could end up paying a lot in interest.
Credit Reporting
The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® issuer is Synchrony Bank. Synchrony Bank reports to major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Is the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® Worth It?
FinanceJar verdict
The SSam’s Club® Mastercard® is worth it for Sam’s Club members who want to enjoy more perks for using their Sam’s Club credit card. As the card has no annual fee, applying won’t come at any extra cost to consumers who are already members of Sam’s Club.
The rewards rate, low fees, and broad use make the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® a good choice of credit card. However, keep an eye out for high APR, and try not to leave a balance on your Sam’s Club® Mastercard® to avoid paying interest.
Who is the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® for?
The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® is for:
- Sam’s Club members: If you’re already a Sam’s Club member, applying for the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® comes at no extra cost to you, and can earn you cash back on Sam’s Club purchases. Sam’s Plus members can particularly benefit from the card, as they enjoy greater reward rates.
- Families: Sam’s Club credit cards allow authorized users, meaning you and your spouse or child can have separate Sam’s Club credit cards on the same account. Given the range of products available at Sam’s Club, families can easily use this card to help finance everyday living expenses.
- Good credit holders: You need good credit to qualify for a Sam’s Club® Mastercard®. However, even good credit can often be improved. If you want to expand your credit holdings and are already a Sam’s Club member, this card can be a great credit hacking
FAQs About the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®
1. How do I apply for a Sam’s Club® Mastercard®?
You can apply for a Sam’s Club® Mastercard® online via the Sam’s Club Credit page, or by going to a Sam’s Club store and asking for a credit card application.
Keep in mind that you need to already be a Sam’s Club member to apply, and will be asked to provide your membership account number.
2. Where can I use my Sam’s Club® Mastercard®?
You can use the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® anywhere Mastercard® is accepted, both domestic and internationally.
3. How do I pay my Sam’s Club® Mastercard®?
There are four ways you can pay your Sam’s Club® Mastercard®:
- Online: Log into the Sam’s Club Credit Account Management platform to pay your bill online.
- By phone: Call the number listed on the back of your Sam’s Club® Mastercard® to pay your bill over the phone.
- At a Sam’s Club register: Go to any Sam’s Club register or customer service desk and request to pay your Sam’s Club credit card bill.
- At a Walmart register: Go to any Walmart register or customer service desk and request to pay your Sam’s Club credit card bill.
Comparable Cards
See how the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® compares to similar credit card options.
Sam’s Club® Mastercard® vs. Capital One® Walmart Rewards® Card
The Capital One® Walmart Rewards® card offers cashback rewards on Walmart purchases as well as everyday categories like gas, dining, and groceries.
The Capital One® Walmart Rewards® Card gets you 3% cash back on purchases made at Walmart stores, and 5% cash back for purchases made through the Walmart website. Unlike with the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®, you don’t need to have a paid membership in order to earn these rewards.
This generous rewards program and lack of member exclusivity makes the Capital One® Walmart Rewards® Card an even better choice of credit card.
Sam’s Club® Mastercard® vs. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Costco and Sam’s Club’s are major competitors that employ similar retail strategies. Furthermore, the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® and Costco Anywhere Visa® are very similar credit cards.
Both credit cards have $0 annual fees and cashback rewards programs. The Costco Anywhere rewards include:
- 4% cash back on gas
- 3% cash back on dining
- 2% cash back on Costco purchases
- 1% cash back on everyday purchases
However, the Costco Anywhere card boasts a lower APR of 18.99% (variable) than the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®. Like with the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®, you need good to excellent credit to apply for the Costco Anywhere credit card.
Sam’s Club® Mastercard® vs. Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card
You can also consider financing your Sam’s Club using a regular credit card, rather than a retail credit card. One great credit card option for Sam’s Club shoppers is the Chase Freedom Flex. This Chase credit card offers cashback rewards, an introductory offer up to $200, and 0% APR for the first year.
Chase Freedom Flex rewards include:
- 5% cash back on purchases in bonus categories*
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3% cash back on dining
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
- 1% cash back on everyday purchases
* Bonus categories change each quarter, and are posted on the Chase Freedom Flex Rewards Calendar. Bonus categories sometimes include warehouse clubs, meaning this card could potentially get you 5% cash back at Sam’s Club.
