What Sam's Club Payment Methods Accept
Sam's Club takes most major credit cards, debit cards, and their own Sam's Club Mastercard at checkout in stores and online. You can also pay with cash, checks, or an EBT card if you have one. Sam's Club does not take American Express, though some warehouse locations may have older policies — call ahead if you plan to use Amex.
For your membership fee itself, Sam's Club bills the card or payment method you registered when you signed up. If that card expires or gets declined, Sam's will send you a notice before your membership lapses, and you can update your payment information online or at the membership desk.
If you have a Sam's Club Mastercard, you earn rewards on purchases both inside and outside the warehouse. The card is issued by Synchrony Bank and works like any other Mastercard — you can use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted, not just at Sam's.
Key Takeaways
- Sam's Club accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Diners Club credit and debit cards, plus cash, checks, and EBT at the register.
- Your membership renewal fee is charged to the payment method on file, and Sam's notifies you before the card is charged if it has expired.
- The Sam's Club Mastercard earns rewards on all purchases and can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, not only at Sam's.
- Online purchases require the same payment methods as in-store, and you can save multiple cards to your Sam's Club account for faster checkout.
Paying Your Membership Fee
Your Sam's Club membership renews on the same date each year. About 30 days before renewal, Sam's sends an email or mailed notice telling you the renewal date and the amount you will be charged. The charge goes to the payment method you provided when you joined or last updated.
If the card on file is expired, closed, or has insufficient funds, Sam's will attempt the charge and then notify you that it failed. You have a grace period to update your payment information — usually a few weeks — before your membership is suspended. You can update it online through your Sam's Club account, by calling the membership line, or in person at the warehouse.
If you want to change your membership tier (for example, from Gold Star to Plus) or cancel before renewal, you can do that through your online account or at the membership desk. Sam's does not charge a cancellation fee, but you forfeit any remaining membership time.
Paying for Purchases at the Register
At checkout in the warehouse, swipe, insert, or tap your card depending on the payment terminal. Sam's Club registers accept contactless payments from phones and smartwatches that have a payment app loaded. If you are paying with a check, bring your membership card — the cashier will verify your account before accepting it.
If your card is declined, the cashier will tell you when ready and you can try a different payment method. Sam's does not hold items while you find another way to pay, so have a backup card or cash with you. If you are a member and your card is declined for a reason you think is wrong, you can speak to the membership desk or call Sam's customer service to dispute the charge.
Paying for Online Orders
On samsclub.com, you can pay with the same cards accepted in stores: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Diners Club. You can also pay with PayPal if you have an account. Sam's does not take American Express online either.
When you check out, you can save your card to your account so you do not have to enter it every time. Sam's encrypts saved cards and stores them securely. If you want to remove a saved card, go to your account settings and delete it from your payment methods list.
For online orders, your payment is charged when you place the order, not when the item ships. If an item goes out of stock before it ships, Sam's will refund the charge to your original payment method within a few business days.
Using the Sam's Club Mastercard
The Sam's Club Mastercard is a rewards credit card issued by Synchrony Bank. You earn cash back on all purchases — the rate varies depending on where you shop (higher at Sam's, lower elsewhere) and your membership tier. Gold Star members earn one rate; Plus members earn a higher rate.
You can use the Sam's Club Mastercard at any store that takes Mastercard, not just at Sam's. The card has no annual fee. You receive a statement each month and can pay online, by phone, or by mail through Synchrony's website.
If you want to open a Sam's Club Mastercard, you can do so at the membership desk, online at samsclub.com, or through the Sam's Club mobile app. Synchrony will do a credit check, and you will learn about you are approved within minutes. The card typically arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days.
What to Do If a Payment Is Declined
If your card is declined at the register, the most common reasons are an expired card, insufficient funds, a fraud alert from your bank, or a mismatch between the address on file and the one you provided. Ask the cashier for the decline code if you want to call your bank and find out why.
If you believe the decline was a mistake, contact your card issuer (your bank or credit card company) directly — they control whether a transaction goes through, not Sam's Club. Your bank can lift a fraud hold or let you know if there is another issue with the card.
For membership renewal payments that are declined, Sam's will try the charge again a few days later. If it fails a second time, you will receive another notice. Update your payment information as soon as you see the notice to avoid your membership being suspended.
Updating Your Payment Information
To change the card or payment method on file for your membership, log into your Sam's Club account online and go to "Membership" or "Account Settings." You can add a new card, delete an old one, or set a different card as your primary payment method. Changes take effect when ready.
You can also update your payment information at the membership desk in any Sam's Club warehouse. Bring your membership card and the new card or payment method you want to use. The desk staff will update it in the system right away.
If you have a Sam's Club Mastercard and want to change how you pay your monthly bill, log into your Synchrony account (separate from your Sam's Club account) and update your payment method there. Synchrony handles all billing for the credit card itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my Sam's Club membership with a gift card?
No, Sam's Club does not accept gift cards as payment for membership fees. You must use a credit card, debit card, or cash. However, you can use a Sam's Club gift card to pay for purchases at the register.
What happens if my membership payment fails twice?
After two failed attempts, Sam's will suspend your membership. You will receive a notice with instructions on how to update your payment information and reactivate. Once you provide a working card, your membership resumes when ready and you keep your original renewal date.
Can I use two different payment methods for one purchase?
Sam's Club registers can split a payment between two cards or between a card and cash, but you must tell the cashier before they process the transaction. Not all registers support split payments, so ask at checkout if you need to use two methods.
Do I earn Sam's Club Mastercard rewards on my membership fee?
Yes, if you pay your membership renewal with the Sam's Club Mastercard, you earn the cash back rate for that purchase. The rewards post to your account along with your other purchases.
Is my saved payment information find on samsclub.com?
Sam's Club uses encryption to protect saved cards, and your card number is not displayed in full on your account — only the last four digits show. If you are concerned about security, you can delete saved cards from your account at any time and enter a new card for each purchase instead.