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Sam's Club Credit Card: Rewards, Fees, and How It Actually Works (2026)
Two cards, one 5-3-1 cash-back program, and a few real catches on how you get paid.
Updated for 2026 · Page 1 of 1
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The Sam's Club credit card isn't one card — it's a program with two versions, both issued by Synchrony Bank. There's an open-loop Sam's Club Mastercard that works anywhere Mastercard is accepted, and a closed-loop store card that only works at Sam's Club and Walmart. Which one you're offered depends on your credit profile when you apply.
Both cards run on the same '5-3-1' cash-back structure and neither charges an annual fee for the card itself. The one non-negotiable cost is an active Sam's Club membership, which you'd need to shop the warehouse anyway.
This is an independent guide, not the issuer's site. Below we break down exactly how the rewards work, what they cost, the fine print on redeeming your cash back, who the card actually fits, and honest alternatives worth comparing before you commit.
Two cards, one rewards program
When you apply for a 'Sam's Club credit card,' Synchrony evaluates you and issues one of two products. The Sam's Club Mastercard is a network card that works anywhere Mastercard is accepted — gas stations, restaurants, online, everywhere. The Sam's Club store card (sometimes called the personal or private-label card) is closed-loop: it works at Sam's Club and, per Sam's, at Walmart stores and Walmart.com, but not at Walmart fuel stations.
Stronger credit profiles are typically routed to the Mastercard; thinner or lower-scored files are more often approved for the store card. Both cards carry the same 5-3-1 cash-back program, so the practical difference is where you can swipe. The Mastercard is far more useful because its 5% gas rate follows you to virtually any pump, while the store card's earning is limited to the Sam's Club and Walmart ecosystem.
Both cards are issued by Synchrony Bank. Synchrony renewed its roughly 30-year relationship with Sam's Club in 2025, so — unlike Walmart's separate Capital One card program, which ended — the Sam's Club card is not changing issuers.
How the 5-3-1 cash back works
The headline rate is 5% back on gas, which is genuinely strong for a no-annual-fee retail card. That 5% applies to the first $6,000 in gas purchases per calendar year; after that, gas earns 1%. On the Mastercard, the 5% works at most stations worldwide, not just Sam's Club fuel centers.
Beyond gas, the card earns 3% back on dining and takeout and 1% back on most other purchases. On Sam's Club purchases specifically, Plus-tier members effectively earn 3% (combining the card's base earning with the Plus membership's own Sam's Cash benefit), while standard Club members earn 1%. Total cash back across all categories is capped at $5,000 per calendar year — a ceiling only very heavy spenders will hit.
All rewards are paid as 'Sam's Cash,' the program's branded cash-back currency, rather than a traditional statement credit. That distinction matters a lot for how — and where — you can actually use what you earn, which we cover below.
Fees and the real cost of the card
The card itself has no annual fee. The recurring cost is the Sam's Club membership you're required to keep active. As of 2026, Sam's raised its membership fees: the base Club membership runs about $60 per year and the upgraded Plus tier about $120 per year. Confirm current pricing on Sam's Club's site, since promotions and fees change.
As with any credit card, the biggest cost risk is interest. Sam's Club cards, like most store-linked cards, tend to carry a relatively high purchase APR, and the exact rate you get varies by creditworthiness. If you carry a balance, interest can easily erase the value of 5% gas rewards — so this card pays off most for people who pay in full each month.
Watch for other standard charges too, such as late payment fees and cash advance fees. Always read the current Synchrony cardholder agreement you receive at approval for the exact APR and fee schedule that applies to your account.
The catch: how you redeem Sam's Cash
This is the most misunderstood part of the card. You don't get flexible cash back you can spend anywhere. Rewards accrue as Sam's Cash and are redeemable within the Sam's Club ecosystem — in club, on SamsClub.com, or in the app — and can also be applied toward your membership renewal. You can generally cash it out at a staffed register or Member Services, but the everyday use is spending it back at Sam's Club.
Historically, store-card rewards have been tallied and issued once a year rather than posting instantly, so don't expect the same real-time redemption you'd get from a mainstream cash-back card. Check your account terms for the current earning and issuance schedule.
Bottom line: the 5% gas rate is real and valuable, but the reward is only as useful as your willingness to keep shopping at Sam's Club. If you rarely go, the cash back is harder to spend.
Who it fits — and the honest downsides
The card is a strong fit if you're already a regular Sam's Club member who buys a lot of gas, eats out or orders takeout often, and pays the balance in full each month. For that person, 5% on the first $6,000 of annual gas spending alone can be worth up to $300 a year, plus 3% on dining — with no card fee on top of a membership you already pay for.
The downsides are real. Rewards are locked into Sam's Cash instead of flexible cash, redemption leans on the Sam's ecosystem, the 5% gas rate is capped at $6,000 a year, and you must maintain a paid membership. If you don't shop Sam's Club regularly, a general-purpose card will likely serve you better.
It's also not a card to carry a balance on. The rewards math only works when you avoid interest, so heavy revolvers should look elsewhere.
Honest alternatives to compare
If you want cash back you can spend anywhere, a flat-rate 2% card (the kind that pays 2% on everything with no annual fee) is more flexible than Sam's Cash, even if it earns less on gas specifically. Pairing a 2% card for general spend with a dedicated gas card can beat a single store card for many people.
If you're loyal to a warehouse club but shop a competitor, that club's co-branded card (for example, a Costco member card) plays a similar role there — though it, too, requires that club's membership. And if your credit is still building, a secured card or an entry-level Synchrony store card can help establish history before you aim for the Mastercard.
The right pick comes down to where you actually spend. The Sam's Club card wins on gas and warehouse loyalty; flat-rate and flexible-redemption cards win on everything else. Compare the effective rate on your real spending, not just the flashy 5% headline.
Frequently asked questions
- Who issues the Sam's Club credit card?
- Both the Sam's Club Mastercard and the Sam's Club store card are issued by Synchrony Bank. Synchrony renewed its long-standing (roughly 30-year) partnership with Sam's Club in 2025, so the card is not switching issuers.
- Does the Sam's Club credit card have an annual fee?
- No, the card itself has no annual fee. Your only required recurring cost is an active Sam's Club membership, which as of 2026 runs about $60 per year for Club and $120 for Plus. Confirm current pricing on Sam's Club's site.
- How much cash back does it earn?
- It uses a 5-3-1 structure: 5% back on gas on the first $6,000 in gas purchases per year (then 1%), 3% on dining and takeout, and 1% on most other purchases. Plus members effectively earn 3% on Sam's Club purchases; Club members earn 1%. Total rewards are capped at $5,000 per calendar year.
- Do I need a Sam's Club membership to get the card?
- Yes. Both versions of the card require an active Sam's Club membership. The card can also serve as your membership card in the app and in club.
- Where can I use my rewards?
- Rewards are paid as Sam's Cash and are primarily redeemed within the Sam's Club ecosystem — in club, on SamsClub.com, in the app, or toward a membership renewal. You can generally cash it out at a staffed register, but it isn't a flexible, spend-anywhere statement credit.
- What's the difference between the Mastercard and the store card?
- The Sam's Club Mastercard works anywhere Mastercard is accepted, so its 5% gas rate follows you to most pumps. The store card is closed-loop and works only at Sam's Club and Walmart (not Walmart fuel stations). Both share the same rewards program.
- What credit score do I need?
- There's no published cutoff, and approval is never guaranteed. Generally, the Mastercard is easier to get with good credit (often reported around the 700s), while the store card tends to accept somewhat lower scores. Your income, existing credit, and overall profile all factor in.
- Is the Sam's Club card affected by the Walmart–Capital One change?
- No. That change involved Walmart's separate Capital One card program. Sam's Club's cards remain with Synchrony Bank under a renewed partnership, so they are a distinct product.
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Advertiser disclosure: general information only, not financial advice. Confirm current terms on the issuer's official site before applying.