If you fill your tank and your fridge in roughly equal measure, the Sam's Club personal credit card has one number that grabs attention: 5% back on gas. That is one of the highest gas rewards rates from any retail card, and it works at almost any pump, not just at Sam's Club fuel stations.
But a high headline rate does not automatically make a card right for you. This Sam's Club personal credit card review covers the full picture as of June 2026: the rewards caps, how you actually redeem, the APR, the membership requirement, and the important difference between the store-only card and the Mastercard version.
Key facts at a glance
| Feature | Detail (as of June 2026) |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Synchrony Bank |
| Versions | Sam's Club Mastercard (open-loop) and Sam's Club store card (closed-loop) |
| Annual fee | $0 (Sam's Club membership required, from $50/year) |
| Rewards (Mastercard) | 5% gas, 3% dining/takeout, 3% Sam's Club for Plus members, 1% else |
| Rewards caps | 5% gas on first $6,000/year, then 1%; total rewards capped at $5,000/year |
| Redemption | Cash-back rewards issued yearly, redeemable at Sam's Club |
| Purchase APR | 20.15% or 28.15% variable |
| Score needed | Fair to good, roughly 640+ |
| Reports to bureaus | Experian, TransUnion, Equifax |
Store card vs Mastercard: know which one you have
There are two products under the Sam's Club name, and they are very different. The Sam's Club store card is closed-loop, meaning it only works at Sam's Club and Walmart. The Sam's Club Mastercard is open-loop, so it works anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
The rich 5% gas and 3% dining rewards belong to the Mastercard version. The store-only card is far more limited and mainly useful for financing larger Sam's Club purchases. When people talk about the rewards card, they almost always mean the Mastercard.
Both are issued by Synchrony Bank, and both require an active Sam's Club membership, which starts at $50 per year for the Club tier.
Rewards: the 5-3-1 structure and its caps
The Sam's Club Mastercard uses a 5-3-1 cash back structure. You earn 5% back on gas at most stations worldwide, 3% on dining and takeout, and 1% on most other purchases. Plus members also earn 3% back on Sam's Club purchases, while standard Club members earn 1% there.
The caps matter. The 5% gas rate applies to the first $6,000 in gas purchases per year, then drops to 1%. Total cash back across all categories is capped at $5,000 per calendar year, which only affects very heavy spenders.
Rewards are not posted monthly. They are tallied and issued once a year in February, and you redeem them as cash back at Sam's Club, in club, online, or in the app. That annual payout is a real drawback if you want flexible, on-demand rewards.
If the Synchrony approval bar feels out of reach right now, the Aspire Cash Back Rewards Mastercard is a more forgiving starting point that still earns rewards. It is an unsecured Mastercard with no security deposit, lets you prequalify without a hard pull, and pays up to 3% cash back, so a reader who gets denied for a store co-brand can still build toward one. Our full Aspire Mastercard review covers the fee details.
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard. Prequalify* For Up To $1000 Credit Limit. No security deposit. Packed with great benefits, it’s designed to give you more flexibility—and purchasing power—along with up to 3% cash back rewards!** Good anywhere Mastercard is accepted, it’s the go-to card for any lifestyle.
Standout feature
Up to 3% cashback rewards
Fees
$49 to $175; after that $0 to $49 annually; - $60 to $159 annually billed at $5 to $12.50 per month after the first year.
Pros
No Deposit Required. Prequalify for up to $1000 credit limit
Cons
High APR. 25.74% to 36%, based on your creditworthiness.
APR and fees
As of June 2026, the Sam's Club Mastercard carries a variable purchase APR of 20.15% or 28.15%, depending on your creditworthiness. Cash advances run higher, with a variable cash advance APR of 25.15% or 31.15% plus a 3% fee (minimum $5).
The card has no annual fee of its own. Your only recurring cost is the Sam's Club membership, which starts at $50 per year. Because the APR sits above 20% even at the low end, this card rewards people who pay in full each month and punishes anyone who carries a balance.
APRs vary by creditworthiness, so check Synchrony's current Rate and Fee disclosures before you apply. Treat the rewards as a discount on spending you would do anyway, not a reason to finance purchases.
Readers who want to spread larger Sam's Club hauls over time without a deposit or credit check should look at the Perpay Credit Card. It is powered by your paycheck rather than a revolving balance: payments come out of direct deposit automatically, there is no security deposit, and it reports to the bureaus, so you build credit while you pay over time instead of paying a 20%-plus APR.
Who it fits, and who should look elsewhere
This card makes the most sense for an existing Sam's Club member with fair-to-good credit who buys a lot of gas and dines out often. For a heavy commuter, 5% back on the first $6,000 of gas alone is up to $300 a year.
It fits poorly if you do not have a Sam's Club membership, prefer rewards you can redeem any time, or tend to carry a balance. The once-a-year payout and the 20%-plus APR both work against casual users, and keeping your credit utilization low becomes much harder when interest piles up.
Approval generally calls for fair-to-good credit, roughly a 640 score or higher for the Mastercard. If you are not quite there, the best credit cards for fair credit and building the payment history this card wants is the smarter first move. The Current Build Card charges a $0 annual fee, requires no security deposit and no credit check, and reports to all three bureaus, so it is a low-friction way to grow the score a retail rewards card looks for before you apply.
Perpay Credit Card
Perpay Credit Card
Meet the only card powered by your paycheck. With automatic transfers from your paycheck, you can manage payments stress-free and build credit with ease.
Fee
$9/month plus $9 account opening fee
APR
Marketplace: 0% / Credit Card: 27.74% to 29.99% depending on your creditworthiness.
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Credit Check
No
Cashback
2% reward on purchases made in Perpay Marketplace
Benefit
2% rewards, no security deposit
Current Build Card
Current Build Card
$0 annual fee. No minimum deposit required. No credit check required. 1 point per dollar on eligible categories. Reports to Experian, TransUnion, Equifax.
Fee
$0
APR
0%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Credit Check
No
Cashback
1 point/dollar on eligible categories (with qualifying payroll deposit)
Benefit
No credit check, no deposit minimum
What users commonly report
Reviewers frequently praise the gas rewards, calling them genuinely useful for daily drivers, and many mention that using the card as their Sam's Club membership card is convenient. The no-extra-annual-fee structure is a common plus.
A common complaint is the once-a-year reward payout, which many users find frustrating compared with cards that post cash back monthly. Some also report that customer service through Synchrony can be slow, and that the high APR makes carrying any balance costly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Sam's Club store card and the Mastercard?
The store card only works at Sam's Club and Walmart, while the Mastercard works anywhere Mastercard is accepted. The 5% gas and 3% dining rewards belong to the Mastercard version, so most reward-seekers want that one.
Do I need a Sam's Club membership to get the card?
Yes. Both versions require an active Sam's Club membership, which starts at $50 per year. The card itself has no separate annual fee, so the membership is your only recurring cost.
How do I redeem Sam's Club credit card rewards?
Cash-back rewards are tallied during the year and issued once annually in February. You redeem them as Sam's Club cash back, in club, online, or in the app, which means you cannot redeem on demand throughout the year.
What credit score do I need for the Sam's Club Mastercard?
Based on our research, approval typically calls for fair-to-good credit, generally around 640 or higher. Synchrony does not publish a hard cutoff, so on-time payments and low utilization improve your chances.
This review reflects publicly available terms as of June 2026. APRs and rewards rules vary and can change, so confirm current details with Synchrony and Sam's Club before applying. Terms and conditions apply.
