Sam’s Club is owned and operated by Walmart, but does that mean they are the same? They are clearly two very different business models, but does the Sam’s Club credit card work at Walmart?
We looked into it and this is what we found…
Does Sam’s Club Credit Card Work At Walmart?
Sam’s Club offer two kinds of credit card to paid members and which are linked to member paid accounts: a Sam’s Club credit card and a Sam’s Club Master card. Both are also accepted at Walmart nationwide.
This article takes a look at Walmart and Sam’s Club credit cards: what they are, where you can get them, and where you can use them.
Are The Sam’s Club And Walmart Credit Cards The Same Thing?
Sam’s Club credit cards and the Walmart credit cards are not the same cards, but they are accepted as a form of payment with both companies, although this can depend on where you shop – online or instore.
Sam’s Club (which is actually Sam’s West Inc) is owned and operated by Walmart Inc., and Walmart founded and named Sam’s Club in 1983 after Walmart founder Sam Walton. The first Sam’s Club store was opened in Oklahoma.
This is why you can use Sam’s Club credit cards and gift cards across both companies, and vis versa.
Sam’s Club (instore) will accept as payment:
- Sam’s Club credit cards (Sam’s Club credit card or Sam’s Club Mastercard)
- Walmart credit cards
- Sam’s Club and Walmart gift cards
- Cash or check
- Debit cards
- American Express, Visa, Mastercard
- Discover
- SNAP/EBT payments
- Prepaid credit cards
SamClub.com (online) will accept as payment all of the above options except for:
- Walmart credit (reward) cards
- Cash or check
- SNAP/EBT payments
Walmart (instore) will accept as payment:
- Capital One Walmart credit cards (Walmart credit card or Walmart Mastercard)
- Sam’s Club credit cards
- Walmart and Sam’s Club gift cards
- Cash or check
- Debit cards
- American Express, Visa, Mastercard
- EBT payments
- Prepaid credit cards
- PayPal/Affirm
Walmart (online) will accept as payment all of the above options except for:
- Some states such as Alaska, Montana, and Louisiana do not support EBT online
- Cash or check
Read: Sam’s Club Hours
Can I Use My Walmart Capital One Card At Sam’s Club?
You can definitely use your Walmart Capital One card at Sam’s Club – and anywhere else a Mastercard is accepted. In contrast, your Walmart credit card (or rewards card is for Walmart (and Sam’s Club instore) shopping only.
Similarly, your Sam’s Club credit card is for Sam’s Club (and Walmart) warehouses only, and your Sam’s Club Mastercard can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted.
Your Walmart rewards card will earn you:
- A 5% rebate from Walmart.com
- A 2% rebate at Walmart stores
And your Walmart Capital One Mastercard will earn you:
- A 5% rebate from Walmart.com
- A 2% rebate at Walmart stores
- A 2% rebate from restaurants and travel
- A 1% rebate on all other purchases
Your Sam’s Club Credit card has:
- No annual fee
- Can be used at all Sam’s Club/Walmart outlets
Your Sam’s Club Mastercard will earn you:
- 5% cash back on gas anywhere Mastercard is accepted (for the first $6,000 a year)
- 3% cash back on Sam’s Club purchases (Plus Members/Club Members earn 1%)
- 3% cash back on dining/ takeout
- 1% cash back on purchases wherever Mastercard is accepted
Read: Does Sam’s Club Cash Checks?
Conclusion..
Matching your credit cards to the right store can be confusing, especially when stores issue multiple credit cards with different rewards and which can be used across different outlets.
Sam’s Club also offers a choice of membership: Club ($45 a year) and Plus ($100 a year). It’s important to remember that your Mastercard brings you greater rewards if you’ve purchased the Plus membership.
Therefore, it’s always best to work out how often you shop, how much you buy, and what the the terms and conditions attached to each card are before you apply for your credit card.