Using Your Sam's Club Credit Card at Walmart and Other Stores

The Sam's Club Mastercard works at Walmart, but with limits

Yes, you can use a Sam's Club Mastercard at Walmart. The card is a standard Mastercard, so it works anywhere Mastercard is accepted — including Walmart stores, Walmart.com, and other retailers. However, the card's rewards and benefits are designed specifically for Sam's Club members, so you'll earn the most cash back when you use it at Sam's Club locations.

The key difference is where you get the best value. At Sam's Club, you earn higher cash back rates on purchases. At Walmart and other stores, you earn a lower cash back rate. If you're deciding whether to carry this card, understanding these earning rates helps you know when it makes sense to pull it out.

Key Takeaways

• The Sam's Club Mastercard is accepted anywhere Mastercard is accepted, including Walmart stores and online.
• Cash back rates are higher at Sam's Club than at Walmart or other retailers, so the card rewards you most for Sam's Club purchases.
• You must be a Sam's Club member to open the card, but you can use it at any store that accepts Mastercard.
• The card has no annual fee for Sam's Club members, making it free to carry even if you only use it occasionally outside Sam's Club.

Cash back rates: Sam's Club versus everywhere else

The Sam's Club Mastercard earns different cash back rates depending on where you shop. At Sam's Club gas stations and Sam's Club locations, you earn a higher percentage back on each dollar spent. At Walmart and all other retailers, you earn a lower percentage back.

The exact rates change over time and may vary based on your membership level (Sam's Club Plus members sometimes earn higher rates). Check your card's current terms or log into your Sam's Club account to see the rates that apply to you right now. The difference between the two rates is usually significant enough that using the card at Sam's Club makes more sense than using it at Walmart.

If you shop at both stores regularly, the card can still be worth carrying. You get cash back at Walmart even if it's not the highest rate, plus you avoid annual fees if you're already a Sam's Club member paying for membership.

How to use the card at Walmart

Using the Sam's Club Mastercard at Walmart works exactly like using any other credit card. At checkout, tell the cashier you're paying with a credit card, hand over the card, and either sign the receipt or enter your PIN depending on the transaction amount. Online, enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV code just as you would with any Mastercard.

The card will be declined only if you've reached your credit limit, the card is expired, or there's fraud protection triggered on your account. Walmart's payment system doesn't know or care that the card is issued by Sam's Club — it only sees a Mastercard.

When the Sam's Club card makes sense to use at Walmart

You might choose to use this card at Walmart if you're already carrying it and don't have another rewards card with a higher rate. You'll earn some cash back, even if it's less than you'd earn at Sam's Club. The card also has no annual fee for members, so there's no cost to keeping it in your wallet.

However, if you have a different credit card that earns a higher cash back rate at Walmart or at general retailers, that card would give you more value. Compare the rates: if your other card earns 2% cash back everywhere and the Sam's Club card earns 1% at Walmart, the other card is the better choice for that purchase.

The real advantage of the Sam's Club Mastercard shows up when you're at Sam's Club itself. That's where the higher earning rate makes the card worth carrying, even if you use it less often at other stores.

Other places you can use the Sam's Club Mastercard

Because it's a Mastercard, you can use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted. That includes grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, online shopping sites, and subscription services. You'll earn the same lower cash back rate at all these places as you do at Walmart — the higher rate is reserved for Sam's Club locations only.

The card also works internationally at any merchant that accepts Mastercard. There are no foreign transaction fees, which can be useful if you travel. You'll still earn cash back on international purchases at the standard rate, though the exact amount depends on the exchange rate at the time of the transaction.

What happens if you cancel your Sam's Club membership

If you stop being a Sam's Club member, you can still use the card at Walmart and other retailers. However, Sam's Club will likely close the card account or convert it to a different product. Check your cardholder agreement or contact Sam's Club directly to understand what happens to your specific card if you let your membership lapse.

The card's main value comes from Sam's Club membership, so if you're no longer a member, it makes sense to switch to a different rewards card that works better for where you actually shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Sam's Club membership to use the card at Walmart?

No. Once you have the card, you can use it at Walmart or anywhere else Mastercard is accepted without needing your membership card. However, you do need to be a Sam's Club member to open the card in the first place.

Will Walmart know I'm using a Sam's Club card?

No. Walmart's payment system only sees that you're using a Mastercard. It doesn't know or care which bank issued it or that it's connected to Sam's Club. The transaction processes the same way as any other Mastercard.

Can I earn Sam's Club rewards points at Walmart with this card?

The card earns cash back, not points. Cash back is deposited into your Sam's Club account or paid as a statement credit. You don't earn Sam's Club member rewards (like the member discount on gas) just by using the card at Walmart — those rewards come from your membership itself, not the card.

What's the difference between using this card and a regular Mastercard at Walmart?

The main difference is cash back. The Sam's Club Mastercard earns cash back on Walmart purchases, while a regular Mastercard with no rewards earns nothing. If you compare it to another rewards card, the Sam's Club card may earn less cash back at Walmart than a card designed for general retail spending.

Can I use the card if I'm not shopping at Sam's Club?

Yes. The card works at any Mastercard-accepting retailer. Many people carry it for everyday purchases and use it most often at Sam's Club where the rewards are highest, but there's no requirement to shop at Sam's Club to use the card elsewhere.