What the Sam's Wholesale Club Credit Card offers
The Sam's Wholesale Club Mastercard is a co-branded card issued by Synchrony Bank that gives you cash back on purchases at Sam's Club and Sam's Club Gas, plus smaller rewards elsewhere. You earn 2% cash back on fuel at Sam's Club and Sam's Club Gas stations, 1% on other Sam's Club purchases, and 0.5% on purchases outside Sam's Club. There is no annual fee, and the card is open to both Sam's Club members and non-members, though members get the higher rewards rates.
The card's main appeal is the 2% fuel reward, which stacks with Sam's Club's already-discounted gas prices. If you fill up at Sam's Club regularly, this can add up faster than a general cash-back card. The 1% rate on in-club purchases is modest compared to premium warehouse cards, but it requires no category rotation or spending caps.
Synchrony handles the account, so you manage it through their app or website, not through Sam's Club's member portal. Rewards post as cash back that you can redeem as a statement credit, check, or direct deposit.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns 2% cash back on fuel at Sam's Club and Sam's Club Gas stations, and 1% on other Sam's Club purchases, with no annual fee.
- You do not need a Sam's Club membership to open the card, but members receive higher rewards rates than non-members.
- The 0.5% rate on non-Sam's Club purchases makes this card most valuable if the majority of your spending happens at Sam's Club.
- Synchrony Bank issues and manages the card, so you will receive statements and manage payments through Synchrony's platform, not Sam's Club.
- Cash back can be redeemed as a statement credit, check, or direct deposit, and does not expire as long as your account remains open.
How rewards work and what they're worth
The 2% fuel reward is the card's strongest feature. At a typical Sam's Club gas price of 20 to 40 cents below market rate, plus 2% cash back, a regular fuel buyer can save $100 to $200 per year on gas alone. If you buy 50 gallons per month at an average price of $3.50 per gallon, the 2% reward equals $42 annually. The discount from Sam's Club pricing itself is often larger, but the cash back is real money back to your card.
The 1% rate on other Sam's Club purchases covers groceries, household goods, and bulk items. This is lower than some competing warehouse cards offer, but it requires no set up, no category tracking, and no spending caps. You earn it automatically on every purchase. For a household spending $200 per month at Sam's Club, that's $24 per year in cash back.
Outside Sam's Club, the 0.5% rate is below what most general cash-back cards offer. A card like the Citi Double Cash or Chase Freedom Unlimited pays 1% or 1.5% on all purchases. The Sam's Club card makes sense only if Sam's Club is where most of your money goes.
Cash back does not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. You can let it accumulate and redeem it all at once, or take it as a statement credit each month.
Membership status and who can open the card
Sam's Club members and non-members can both open this card. The difference is in the rewards rate. Members earn 2% on fuel and 1% on other Sam's Club purchases. Non-members earn 1% on fuel and 0.5% on other Sam's Club purchases. If you are not a member, the card is less valuable because the rewards drop by half.
A Sam's Club membership costs $50 to $110 per year depending on the tier (Club, Plus, or Executive). If you are considering the card without a membership, the math rarely works. You would need to spend roughly $10,000 per year at Sam's Club just to earn back the membership fee in rewards. Most non-members do not shop there that heavily.
If you already have a Sam's Club membership, the card is worth opening because it costs nothing and adds rewards on top of what you already spend. The card does not require you to renew your membership, but your rewards rate will drop if your membership lapses.
Fees, interest rates, and account management
There is no annual fee. There is no foreign transaction fee, though the card is not designed for international use and Synchrony does not actively market it for travel.
The purchase APR, balance transfer APR, and cash advance APR all vary by creditworthiness and are set by Synchrony at the time you open the account. Synchrony typically offers promotional 0% APR periods on purchases for may have access to applicants, but you should not assume you will receive one. Check your offer before you explore.
Late fees, returned payment fees, and other standard penalties follow Synchrony's card agreement. Synchrony is known for charging higher late fees than some competitors, so set up automatic payments or calendar reminders to avoid them.
You manage the account through Synchrony's website or mobile app. Statements arrive monthly by mail or email. There is no integration with Sam's Club's member app, so you are managing two separate logins if you use both services.
How this card compares to other warehouse options
The main competitor is the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, which earns 2% on Costco gas and 1% on other Costco purchases, plus 1% on travel and dining. Costco's card has an annual fee of $65 (or $130 for the Executive version), but Costco members already pay $60 to $130 per year for membership anyway. The Citi card is stronger for travel and dining rewards, but requires Costco membership to use.
If you shop at both Sam's Club and Costco, you cannot use the Sam's Club card at Costco, and the Costco card is not accepted at Sam's Club. You would need to choose one or carry both cards.
For non-warehouse spending, a flat-rate card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5% on all purchases) or Citi Double Cash (1% on all purchases, 1% on payments) will earn more cash back outside Sam's Club. The Sam's Club card makes sense only if Sam's Club is your primary shopping destination.
Approval and credit requirements
Synchrony typically approves applicants with fair credit and above, though the exact threshold is not published. You will need a Social Security number, current address, and income information. The process takes a few minutes online.
Synchrony will perform a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may lower your score by a few points temporarily. If you are approved, your card usually arrives within 7 to 10 business days.
If you are denied, you can call Synchrony's reconsideration line to ask whether additional information might change the decision. Synchrony is sometimes willing to reconsider if you have a recent positive change in income or credit.
When this card makes sense and when it doesn't
This card is worth opening if you are a Sam's Club member who buys fuel there regularly and spends at least $100 per month on other Sam's Club purchases. The combination of member rewards rates, no annual fee, and the fuel discount creates real value. A household filling up at Sam's Club twice per month and buying groceries there weekly will see $50 to $100 per year in cash back, with no cost.
The card does not make sense if you shop at Sam's Club only occasionally, if you are not a member, or if most of your spending happens elsewhere. The 0.5% rate on non-Sam's Club purchases is too low to justify carrying it as a secondary card. A general cash-back card will serve you better.
If you are choosing between Sam's Club and Costco membership, the card does not tip the scales either way — both warehouses offer co-branded cards with similar rewards structures. The choice should rest on which warehouse's product selection and prices fit your household better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Sam's Club membership to use the card?
No, but your rewards rate will be half as high without one. Members earn 2% on fuel and 1% on other purchases; non-members earn 1% on fuel and 0.5% on other purchases. A membership costs $50 to $110 per year, so you would need to spend heavily at Sam's Club for the card alone to justify the cost.
Can I use this card at other stores?
Yes, but you will earn only 0.5% cash back outside Sam's Club. The card is a Mastercard, so it works anywhere Mastercard is accepted. However, the rewards rate is so low that a general cash-back card would be better for non-Sam's Club spending.
How long does it take to get the card after I explore?
Approval typically happens within minutes to a few hours. If you are approved, the physical card usually arrives within 7 to 10 business days. You may be able to use a digital card number when ready through the Synchrony app for online purchases.
What happens to my rewards if my Sam's Club membership expires?
Your existing cash back does not disappear, but your rewards rate will drop to the non-member level (1% on fuel, 0.5% on other purchases) once your membership lapses. You can still use the card at Sam's Club as a non-member, but you will earn less cash back on future purchases.
Is there a sign-up bonus?
Synchrony occasionally offers promotional cash back for new cardholders, but there is no permanent sign-up bonus. Check the current offer before you explore, as promotions change and are not may provide to all applicants.