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

Yes, you can use your Sam's Club Mastercard at Walmart, but you won't get the same rewards

Your Sam's Club Mastercard works at Walmart just like any other Mastercard — the cashier will accept it at checkout, online, or through the Walmart app. However, Walmart does not give you Sam's Club member rewards when you use the card there. You earn cash back or points only when you shop at Sam's Club itself, at gas stations Sam's Club operates, or at certain travel and dining partners listed in your cardholder benefits guide.

The card is a co-branded Mastercard, which means it carries both the Sam's Club name and the Mastercard logo. Mastercard is the payment network — the system that processes the transaction — while Sam's Club is the bank that issued the card and sets the rewards program. Because of this structure, the rewards are tied to Sam's Club locations and partners, not to Mastercard's network as a whole.

Key Takeaways

• Your Sam's Club Mastercard is accepted anywhere Mastercard is accepted, including Walmart, because Mastercard is a global payment network.
• You earn Sam's Club cash back rewards only at Sam's Club warehouses and Sam's Club gas stations, not at Walmart or other retailers.
• Using the card at Walmart still counts as a credit card purchase on your statement and affects your credit utilization and payment history.
• If you shop frequently at Walmart, a Walmart credit card or a general cash back card may earn you more rewards than the Sam's Club card.

How the Sam's Club Mastercard works outside Sam's Club

When you swipe or insert your Sam's Club Mastercard at Walmart, Target, Amazon, or any other merchant, the transaction goes through Mastercard's payment processing network. Mastercard handles the authorization, the security, and the transfer of funds from your bank account to the merchant. From the merchant's perspective, they see a Mastercard payment — they do not see that it is a Sam's Club card.

You will earn standard interest or purchase protections that come with any Mastercard, such as fraud protection and purchase dispute resolution. However, the cash back or rewards that Sam's Club advertises are separate from Mastercard's benefits. Those rewards are controlled by Sam's Club and only activate at Sam's Club merchants.

Where your Sam's Club card does earn rewards

Your Sam's Club Mastercard earns cash back at Sam's Club warehouses and Sam's Club fuel stations. The cash back rate depends on your membership tier — Plus members and regular members earn different percentages. You may also earn rewards at select travel and dining partners, though these vary by year and are listed in your benefits guide or online account dashboard.

Some cards offer a small cash back rate (often 1%) on purchases outside Sam's Club, but this is not may provide and depends on the specific card version you hold. Check your cardholder agreement or log into your online account to see what rewards structure applies to your card.

Why Walmart has its own credit card

Walmart offers its own credit card — the Walmart Mastercard — because it wants to reward customers who shop at Walmart specifically. When you use a Walmart card at Walmart, you earn cash back or discounts on Walmart purchases. This encourages loyalty to Walmart rather than to a general rewards card.

Sam's Club and Walmart are both owned by Walmart Inc., but they operate as separate retail brands with separate membership and rewards programs. A Sam's Club card is designed to reward Sam's Club members, not Walmart shoppers. If you shop at both, you may want to carry both cards to maximize rewards at each location.

What happens to your credit when you use the Sam's Club card elsewhere

Using your Sam's Club Mastercard at Walmart or any other store counts as a regular credit card purchase. The transaction appears on your credit report and affects two key factors: your credit utilization (how much of your available credit you are using) and your payment history (whether you pay on time). Neither of these is affected by where you use the card — only by whether you pay your bill.

The card issuer, Sam's Club, reports your account activity to the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Your credit score depends on this reported information, not on which merchants accept your card or which merchants give you rewards.

Comparing the Sam's Club card to other options for Walmart shopping

If you shop at Walmart regularly but do not have a Sam's Club membership, the Walmart Mastercard or Walmart credit card will earn you more rewards than the Sam's Club card. The Walmart card offers cash back on Walmart purchases and gas, with no annual fee and no membership required.

If you shop at both Sam's Club and Walmart, carrying both cards makes sense. Use the Sam's Club card at Sam's Club to earn the higher rewards rate there, and use the Walmart card at Walmart. If you only shop at one location, choose the card tied to that location.

For shoppers who want a single card that works everywhere, a general cash back card (such as a card offering 1.5% cash back on all purchases) may be simpler than juggling multiple store cards, even though the rewards rate is lower.

How to check your Sam's Club card benefits

Log into your Sam's Club online account or call the customer service number on the back of your card to see your specific rewards structure. Your cardholder agreement, which you received when you opened the account, lists where you earn rewards and at what rate. You can also view this information in the Sam's Club mobile app under your account settings.

If you are unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for rewards, ask the Sam's Club customer service team. They can tell you whether a particular store, restaurant, or travel partner is part of the rewards program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my Sam's Club card be declined at Walmart?

No. Walmart accepts all Mastercards, including the Sam's Club Mastercard. The only reason your card would be declined is if you have reached your credit limit, your account is frozen, or there is a fraud alert on the card.

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

No. You can use the card anywhere Mastercard is accepted, whether or not you have an active Sam's Club membership. However, you will not earn Sam's Club rewards without a membership, and some card benefits may be tied to membership status.

Can I use my Sam's Club card online at Walmart.com?

Yes. Walmart.com accepts all Mastercards. You will not earn Sam's Club rewards on the purchase, but the transaction will process normally and appear on your statement.

What is the difference between the Sam's Club card and a regular Mastercard?

The Sam's Club card is a Mastercard issued by Sam's Club's bank partner. It works like any Mastercard at any merchant, but the rewards program is controlled by Sam's Club and only pays out at Sam's Club locations and partners. A regular Mastercard from another bank may have different rewards, fees, or benefits.

If I don't shop at Sam's Club, should I get this card?

Probably not. The card's main benefit is the rewards at Sam's Club. If you do not shop there, a card designed for the stores you actually visit — like the Walmart card if you shop at Walmart — will earn you more rewards.