[Update] Sam’s Club Mastercards: 5% Cash Back On Gas, 3% On Travel & Dining

(Update 5/3/22: They’ve now added 5% at electric vehicle charging stations as well.)

Sam’s Club recently introduced two MasterCard’s, a personal & business version. They both have the same benefits so we’ll do a quick run down of what they offer:

  • 5% cash back on the first $6,000 in gas purchases every year. Excludes other discount warehouses other than Sam’s club
  • 3% cash back on dining & travel
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • Limit of $5,000 in cash back per calendar year
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Requires a Sam’s Club membership

This is a much better card than what was previously offered by Sam’s Club. I still wouldn’t recommend this to most people unless they are doing the majority of their gas purchases at Sam’s Club itself, you’d most likely be better off with the Fort Knox Credit Union card that is 5% cash back without any restrictions. The Sallie Mae card also offers 5-5.5% cash back on all gas purchases, but there is a $250 monthly limit.

[Read: Best Credit Cards For Gas Purchases]

There are also better options for restaurant purchases, with the U.S Bank Cash+ being the most obvious earning 5% cash back with a $1,500 quarterly limit and no annual fee. Although it’s the one of the better options and is now a third place for restaurant spend.

When it comes to travel, most people prefer a card that earns loyalty points but for those that don’t then this is the best cash back offering. What do you think of the new cards offered by Sam’s Club, will you be signing up for one?

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themidn02
themidn02 (@guest_1376413)
May 4, 2022 23:26

I’m not really impressed by the mastercard or the Sams Club Plus program. I have had the mastercard one year. I understand annual Sams membership auto renews via charge to the card (if open). I found buying physical gift cards from Walmart.com using BoA CCR at 5.25% (online shopping category) to be more effective. Unlike the $6k cap on 5% fuel savings from Sams MC, you can get 5.25% back on BoA CCR up to $2.5k quarterly ($10k per year), and you can use the giftcards instore and online at Walmart and Sams.

If you have AMEX Plat, you can get a free Walmart Plus monthly subscription. Walmart+ allows gas purchases at Sams via scan and go. Load Walmart giftcard to Walmart+ app, pull up, scan QR code, select giftcard in app, pump gas, leave. Fastest 5.25% back option I’ve found. I believe wm giftcards also knock $0.10/gallon off at (non-shared w/ Sams) Walmart pumps. If you don’t have Walmart+, you just swipe walmart gift card instead of this mastercard at Sams. Without Walmart+, the giftcards get you an extra $0.03/gallon off fuel at Walmart pumps.

If you just want gas, Walmart+ may be the way to go. No requirement to be a Sams member. If you do plan to shop in store Sams, the walmart giftcards work in store, too. So you effectively save 5.25% on any instore or online purchase (as well as at the pump).

The extra 2% back with Sams Club plus doesn’t apply to giftcards or gas. So one needs to spend at least $3k in store to break even each year. Online purchases from Sams may get free shipping with Plus, but I found most of my online purchases didn’t have a shipping fee anyway. If you’d spend more than $3k in store at Sams during your membership period, walmart gift cards and Sams Club Plus could combine to save you 7.25%, which may at least offset the local sales tax in many parts of the country.

Marv
Marv (@guest_1376434)
May 5, 2022 01:44

Do you know if you can use Walmart gift cards to pay for gas at Mobil/Exxon gas stations through the app?

John
John (@guest_1376174)
May 4, 2022 16:58

The Sam’s Club MC does not offer 3% on travel anymore. That benefit was removed two years ago.

https://www.samsclub.com/content/credit?xid=hdr_sams-club-credit

The monthly crediting of rewards just started in March, IIRC.

Chuck
Editor
Chuck(@chucksithe)
May 4, 2022 19:41

Crossed out Travel, thanks

Adam
Adam (@guest_1376150)
May 4, 2022 16:28

So you have to be a plus member to get the full 5%.

Does anyone know card i can use for cashback at Sams Club gas? Ive read not all cards will code it as gas when used at Sams Club. Any tips?

Lily
Lily (@guest_1376317)
May 4, 2022 20:44

You don’t have to be a Sam’s Club plus member to get the 5/3/1% cash back for the Mastercard credit card. If you are a plus member, you get an extra 2% cash back on your purchases at Sam’s, excluding gas, milk, cigarettes, alcohol. If you use the Sam’s Club Mastercard credit card for gas at any gas station, including Sam’s Club’s, it will code as 5% cash back.

Christian
Christian (@guest_1375477)
May 3, 2022 13:30
Bulba
Bulba (@guest_1376027)
May 4, 2022 13:54

Only 5% off? 50% or totally free charging would be more reasonable to get the credit card. But 5% is almost nothing when there are also free chargers available

Christopher Aviles
Christopher Aviles (@guest_1386625)
May 28, 2022 20:03

Christian thank you

Christian Aviles
Christian Aviles (@guest_1386626)
May 28, 2022 20:03

Have you been doing this?

Aloha808
Aloha808 (@guest_717777)
February 5, 2019 19:44

Curious, does the business version of this card affect 5/24 status?

West
West (@guest_537473)
December 18, 2017 03:25

No FTF should be added to the bulletin

Sure it’s not a CSR or Amex Platinum. But you don’t have to pay extra to add an AU

Billy
Billy (@guest_221408)
January 31, 2016 22:53

Unfortunately, the Sallie Mae card isn’t available anymore.

Alex
Alex (@guest_127513)
June 1, 2015 23:45

I have a credit score of 725, and got rejected for Sam’s Club Master Card. Instead they gave a store credit card with $487 credit limit. The master card seems like a scam to me, such that they can lure new customers.

I paid $45 membership fees and became Sam’s club member just to get this credit card, and save some dollars at the pump. Their gas price is 15 cent lower than other pumps + the 5% cash back seemed like a good deal. Moreover, 3% cash back at restaurants would have been useful. I would have saved $150 per year with this card.

However, their scam is that they do not tell you that they have rejected your mastercard application. Instead they give you a regular Sams store card, which sounds similar to the mastercard. Upon calling the customer service, I got informed that they approve master card only for high 700s or 800s. Without the 5% cash back Sam’s club is pretty useless for me + they horrendous customer service is just a hassle.

It also appears that many people are falling for the Scam’s club latest scam. Here are some other people complaining about this: https://www.creditkarma.com/reviews/credit-card/single/id/sams-club-credit-card?pg=2&pgsz=10&prdhlder=0

Ed deel
Ed deel (@guest_390155)
April 15, 2017 15:52

What you all are missing is that having the card allows the card company to sell your personal information including your social security number. I have the language rift in front of me. I cancelled my card. Increasing ones chances for identity theft is not worth saving a little bit on gasoline. Stick with credit unions as they give the best security and pretty good incentives.

Ed deel
Ed deel (@guest_390157)
April 15, 2017 15:53

What you all are missing is that having the card allows the card company to sell your personal information including your social security number. I have the language right in front of me. I cancelled my card. Increasing ones chances for identity theft is not worth saving a little bit on gasoline. Stick with credit unions as they give the best security and pretty good incentives.

Mike
Mike (@guest_93645)
March 25, 2015 22:50

Their interest rates are terrible. You have to have an 825 credit score to get their best. I have almost an 800, and the interest rate they gave me is 22.9%. My other cards are around 9-12%. Not worth the rewards when you can get similar ones with cards that have much better interest rates, like Costco & AARP.

Sondra
Sondra (@guest_62509)
January 18, 2015 22:25

Unfortunately you guys are off base with you info in regards to the Sams Club Mastercard 531. You cash it at Sams Club and you can do whatever you want with the cash. You have to be an active member to apply for the credit. BUT, once the account is open, you don’t have to remain a member to keep the credit. The rewards program is a annual program that is done by net purchases for the calander year. It pays out in February, for the previous years rewards, to all active credit accounts that earned 5.00 or more in rewards the previous year. AND all checks are only good for 6 months from the day they are dated for. Not just on this rewards check. There is no annual fee for the credit card. And is a fee for Sams Club, but AGAIN, after you get the card, you don’t have to remain a member. The rewards for gas are 5% for Sams Club Or with any gas station that isn’t in direct compatation with Sams Club. If they are, it is 1%. Travel and restaurants earn 3% and everything else earns 1%.
That is how the new Sams Club Mastercard works.