Wholesale Club Credit Cards
I have a turbulent relationship with wholesale clubs. The Sam’s Club parking lot is one of my least-favorite domestic locations, but I enjoy the savings I obtain. And the major chains offer credit cards for even more savings, perhaps blunting the blow from this particular consumer masochosim. Plus, these cards offer refreshing rewards options beyond the stores’ large sliding doors. Today, I’m focusing on several wholesale club credit cards from three major chains. Maybe one’s for you!
Note: In this article, I’m describing cards that can be used at wholesale clubs and elsewhere rather than credit options which can only be used at a specific chain.
Sam’s Club Mastercard
I’m starting with perhaps my favorite card of them all. While my wife and I regularly use the Sam’s Club Mastercard in-club (and when warehouse clubs isn’t a Chase PYB category), we enjoy the earning rewards elsewhere even more. The card highlights paint the picture.
This no annual fee Synchrony card earns 5% back on gas station spend, up to $6k spend annually. Sam’s Club spend earns an additional 3% on top of my 2% as a Plus member for an overall 5% rate. I earn uncapped 3% on dining purchases, as well (all other spend earns 1%). A business card version is also available and appears to offer similar earning options.
Cardholders earn rewards in Sam’s Cash, redeemable on purchases or straight cash money at checkout or customer service. The rewards from credit card spend post at statement cut and are immediately redeemable.
Costco Anywhere Visa
Citi offers two Costco cards without annual fees – personal and business versions – with the same earning structure:
- 4% on eligible gas and EV charging, for the first $7k annually, 1% subsequently
- 3% on restaurants and eligible travel
- 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
Unfortunately, Costco credit cardholders don’t have as readily available access to their earned rewards. They receive their credit card reward certificates once annually, at the close of the February statement period. If Citi shuts a cardmember down in the meantime, they shouldn’t expect that certificate next February.
BJ’s One Mastercard
Capital One offers two no-fee versions of BJ’s Mastercards, tied to membership levels. Let’s start with the One Mastercard affiliated with the Club membership level:
- 3% back in rewards on most purchases at BJ’s
- 1.5% back in rewards on purchases everywhere else
- 10¢ off/gallon at BJ’s Gas
The One+ Mastercard is tied to the Club+ membership level and offers:
- 5% back in rewards on most purchases at BJ’s
- 2% back in rewards on purchases everywhere else
- 15¢ off/gallon at BJ’s Gas
Each card’s rewards are redeemable with BJ’s in-club or online. A member must have at least $10 in accumulated rewards in order to redeem.
Wholesale Club Credit Cards – Conclusion
Shocker, most individuals will be more interested in the card version(s) associated with their preferred wholesale club chain(s). We actually prefer Costco to Sam’s Club, but we have more locations of the latter in my area. And, for what it’s worth, I also like how one of the non-heavyweights, Synchrony, issues the Sam’s cards. Meanwhile, I hadn’t realized until now that the BJ’s One+ card earns 2% back everywhere beyond BJ’s.
Bigger picture, though, wholesale club shoppers have plenty of reliable, fee-free options to earn rewards. Which wholesale club credit cards do you hold? Why?
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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
USBAR is my go to for wholesale clubs, love this card
I’ve held a Costco credit card for many years and I rarely use it anymore. Until they issue the annual cash back so that you can use it online or at least electronically through their app or something it’s worthless to me. We also moved a few years ago so the nearest Costco is far away so we end up at Sam’s mostly.
Until Sam’s and Walmart can get their common ownership act together and combine Sam ‘s+ and Walmart+ together into one benefit they will never catch up with Amazon. It’s so simple to do. Also, the Sam’s card should include Sam’s+, and as I mentioned that should carry over to Walmart+ as one program. I buy less stuff from Sam’s online because of this.
I’m a Sam’s only. I shop there more than Costco. We don’t have BJ’s in Utah so I couldn’t shop there even if I wanted to