Sam's Club® Mastercard® Review: Rewards, Fees & Benefits

Rewards

Reward TypeCash Back

Base Rate1x / 1%

Bonus RateUp to 5x

Point Value~0.01¢ each

Travel Portal1x

Annual Cap$6,000

ExpirationCash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.

Redemption NotesMinimum $10 in cash back rewards required for payout. Rewards forfeited if account is closed.

Category	Rate	Type	Cap
Gas Eligible gas purchases at Sam's Club and other gas stations (excluding fuel purchased at Walmart and certain other merchants).	5x	Cash Back	$6,000/yr
Groceries Purchases made at Sam's Club (in-club and samsclub.com).	3x	Cash Back	No cap
All Other Purchases All other eligible purchases everywhere else Mastercard is accepted.	1x	Cash Back	No cap

Benefits & Protections

Benefit	Category	Value / Coverage
No Annual Fee The Sam's Club Mastercard has no annual credit card fee, provided the cardholder maintains an active Sam's Club membership.	Financial	$0 annual fee Up to $0
Cash Back Redemption Cash back earned with the Sam's Club Mastercard is issued as Sam's Club Cash. This Sam's Club Cash can be used for purchases at Sam's Club or redeemed for cash.	Rewards	Redeemable as Sam's Club Cash or for cash
Gas Cash Back Earn 5% cash back on eligible gas purchases at Sam's Club and other gas stations. This rate applies to the first $6,000 in eligible gas purchases per year, after which the rate becomes 1%.	Rewards	5% cash back (up to $6,000/year, then 1%)
General Purchases Cash Back Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases made everywhere Mastercard is accepted.	Rewards	1% cash back
Sam's Club Purchases Cash Back (Plus Members) Sam's Club Plus members earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases made in-club and online at Sam's Club.	Rewards	3% cash back

Interest Rates

Purchase APR21.24%–31.24% Variable

Cash Advance APR31.24%

Penalty APR29.99%

Min. Interest Charge$2

Deferred Interest Warning: Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within 6, 12, 18 or 24 months or if you make a late payment.

Fees

Annual Fee $0 — No Annual Fee

Authorized User FeeFree

Foreign Transaction FeeNone

Cash Advance FeeEither $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

Late Payment FeeUp to $41

Returned Payment FeeUp to $41

Approval & Eligibility

670 Recommended minimum FICO · Range 670–850

300 Poor580 Fair 670 Good740 Very Good 800+ Exceptional

Approval DifficultyModerate

Credit ProfileGood

Approval OddsVery Good

Decision TimeInstant

Pre-QualificationAvailable (no hard pull)

Co-ApplicantNot allowed

Business EligibleNo

Issuer Rules & Restrictions

Maximum Cards per Issuer

You can hold up to 5 cards from this issuer simultaneously.

Shutdown Risk Triggers

Manufactured spending, excessive credit cycling, high cumulative credit limit across Synchrony accounts, sudden drastic changes in spending patterns, late payments, going over credit limit, multiple recent applications with Synchrony, or suspected fraudulent activity.

Cliff Effect Rules

The Sam's Club credit card program includes two distinct products: the Sam's Club Store Card (usable only at Sam's Club and Walmart locations in the US) and the Sam's Club Mastercard (globally accepted). Approval for one does not automatically preclude approval for the other, but Synchrony's underwriting considers overall credit exposure across both. There are no specific 'family' rules that prevent earning bonuses on both if eligible, but simultaneous applications or very close applications might be scrutinized.

International Friendly

This card works well for international travel and transactions.

Additional Issuer Rules

As of 2026, applicants for the Sam's Club credit card (issued by Synchrony) must be current Sam's Club members, 18 years or older, and a US resident with a valid Social Security Number. Approval for the Sam's Club Mastercard typically requires good to excellent credit (FICO score generally 670+), while the Sam's Club Store Card may be approved with fair to good credit (FICO score generally 600+). Synchrony generally allows multiple credit products per customer, but underwriting considers overall credit exposure across all Synchrony accounts and recent application history. A common signup bonus for the Mastercard version is a statement credit (e.g., $30-$50) after making a qualifying purchase within 30 days of account opening.

Military & Hardship

MLA Compliant

Complies with the Military Lending Act (36% APR cap for active duty servicemembers).

Hardship Program

Hardship program available.

Sam's Club® Mastercard®