When Sam Walton founded the first Wal-Mart store in 1962, it's doubtful he could have imagined his company becoming the world's largest retailer, netting more than $480 billion a year in revenue. Indeed, who could have imagined that from his single store would spawn nearly 12,000 more, with locations in 28 countries around the world, operated by a workforce of more than 2.3 million employees.
As you'd expect from the world's largest retailer, Walmart (as it's been known since 2008) provides a wide range of general merchandise, selling everything from clothing to housewares in its discount department stores, as well as groceries and prepared food in its Super Walmart stores. Helping customers save on those everyday items, Walmart Credit Card users earn cash back on Walmart purchases, including bonus rewards for shopping online at Walmart.com.
Better Cards to Use at Walmart
Despite its immense inventory, you can't really find everything at Walmart — so why limit yourself to a card that limits you? With a paltry 1% cash back for in-store purchases and gas rewards that just can't compete with some of the other options, the Walmart Credit Card will rarely be your most lucrative way to pay unless you make most of your purchases through Walmart.com, and the high APR makes carrying a balance akin to financial masochism.
A better option for saving on all of your purchases, from everyday needs to out-of-the-ordinary expenses, is an all-around, open-loop credit card that can be used wherever you need to shop — including Walmart. With myriad options for earning rewards and even skipping interest fees, you can likely find the perfect card for your individual financial lifestyle.
Cash Back
When it comes to cash back rewards, even the most basic card will likely give you the same 1% (or more) on in-store purchases as a Walmart Credit Card, plus you'll be able to use it at thousands of additional merchants. Many cash back cards will also offer bonus categories, some yearlong and others that rotate quarterly, offering 2%, 3%, or even 5% cash back on qualifying big-box purchases.
4.9
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
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0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
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18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
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$0
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Excellent/Good
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Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
0% APR
With an APR well over 20%, the Walmart Credit Card is a bad idea for anyone who tends to carry a balance, as the interest fees can quickly overcome any rewards you earn. A good way to avoid paying more for your purchases than you need to is by taking advantage of a credit card with an introductory 0% APR offer. These offers can provide 12 months or more of interest-free financing, letting you pay down your balance over time without worrying about interest fees piling on.
4.8
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
|
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
Travel Rewards
Trudging down aisle after aisle in the search for Bobby's socks and Betty's notepaper, many of us likely find our minds wandering to daydreams of hot stone massages, fruity drinks — and magical dishes that wash themselves. With a great travel rewards credit card, each menial purchase can mean more points or miles you can use to pay for airfare, hotel stays, and the other travel expenses that can get you out of the aisle and onto the beach.
4.9
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 15 months
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0% for 15 months
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19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
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$0
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Excellent, Good
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Unless the bulk of your buys occur online, the Walmart Credit Card is a mediocre option for most consumers, its rewards barely holding a reasonably-priced candle to the cushy cash back and travel rewards of a better card. And when it comes to APR — well, unless you're going to pay off your entire balance every month, stay away from the Walmart Credit Card and choose a card with a 0% APR offer, instead.
Walmart Card Overall Rating: 2.7/5.0
There's something about Walmart that has an exponential effect on your shopping: you head into the store for just one or two items — but end up leaving with half a dozen more. And it's exactly that effect that makes the Walmart Credit Card dangerous for anyone who might carry a balance, as the card's 23.9% APR is only competitive when compared to other store cards or subprime cards.
As far as its rewards are concerned, the Walmart Credit Card offers a decent return for online shoppers, providing 3% cash back on purchases made through Walmart.com. Cardholders also earn 2% cash back on gas purchased from Walmart or Murphy gas stations, which is a competitive rate for those who live nearby (locations do not exist in every state). On the other hand, the 1% rewards on in-store Walmart purchases isn't really all that great — even if you add on the 1% at Sam's Clubs, as well.
Walmart Credit Card
- APR: 23.90% as of Feb 2024
- Annual Fee: $0
- Rewards: Earn 3% back on Walmart.com purchases
It could be argued that the biggest perk of the Walmart Credit Card is actually the signup bonus, which earns you a $25 statement credit after your first purchase of $25 or more made with your card the day you're approved. While not a huge bonus, the Walmart Credit Card has no annual fee to cancel out your savings.
Of course, the bonus has a few caveats. It only works if you apply and shop online, and you have to make your purchase the day you're approved. You also won't earn rewards on your initial bonus-earning purchase. On the plus side, if you're not immediately approved when you apply (this sometimes occurs when information needs to be augmented or verified), you'll receive a comparable offer certificate in your cardholder package if approved.
Approval Requirements & Application
As America's most-shopped discount store, you'd think the Walmart Credit Card would be available to those with poor credit — and you'd likely be wrong. While some reviewers report being accepted with lower scores, the consensus is that you generally need a credit score of 620 or above to qualify. You can typically apply for the card in-store, but you'll be better off heading online using the link below to take advantage of the associated signup bonus.
What Others Say About the Walmart Credit Card
While it's difficult to find anyone who hasn't been in a Wally World, you may actually not know someone with a Walmart Credit Card to ask for advice. We've put together a collection of reviews to give you a second, third, and fourth opinion about the ups — and downs — of the card.
Walmart's credit cards offer half-decent benefits and are available to people with credit scores as low as 550. Walmart reports to all three credit bureaus and usually approves requests for a credit limit increase after six months of regular payments. This makes it an attractive option for people looking to rebuild their credit while they earn some rewards on the side. The rates are higher than most cards, so avoid this card if you plan to keep a balance. Instead, use this card to build your credit by requesting a credit limit increase every six months and keeping your credit usage as low as possible. Walmart bases approval for credit limit increases on soft pulls of your credit, so don't worry about credit inquiries bringing your score down. — SuperMoney.com
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After rounding out the Walmart store credit card review and providing details on benefits, feature, and fees, it's time to decide whether or not this card is for you. If you frequently shop at Walmart stores and fill up at Walmart gas stations, the Walmart® Credit Card provides those with lower credit ratings an opportunity to save money with the special in-store financing offer and the sign-up bonus. However, one of the only ongoing benefits of the Walmart® Credit Card is the gas discount, which isn’t competitive when compared to other gas credit cards. Further, many other credit cards on the market like the BankAmericard Cash Rewards™, Citi Simplicity®, and Discover it®, offer similar benefits that actually allow you to get more for your money, even if you use them for the occasional Walmart purchase. — MyBankTracker.com
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I have had a Walmart store card for several years and I am very happy with it. I can do everything online with this card. I can shop at Walmart.com with it. I can get my statements and pay them online. It has been very convenient. I also get a discount on gas when I pay at the pump with my Walmart card and when gas prices were higher, that was a big benefit. On the few occasions when I've had to do returns, it has been super easy even without a receipt because it's very easy for them to verify the purchase. I just try to keep this card paid off the same month or next month at the latest because the interest can get you, but if you use it responsibly and not charge more than you can afford to pay at the next statement date, it's not an issue. — WalletHub.com
”Is the Walmart Card Right for You?
With more than $480 billion a year in revenue, you'd think Walmart could swing a better credit card — but, sadly, that's not the case. Perhaps valuable for shoppers who spend a lot through Walmart.com thanks to the 3% bonus cash back rate, the 1% rewards rate for in-store purchases makes the Walmart Credit Card less-than-ideal even for regular shoppers.
Yes, in a bit of colloquial irony, the best credit card deals for shopping in Walmart aren't actually from the store that prides itself on offering the best deals. Overall, the vast majority of customers will benefit far more from an all-purpose credit card with better rewards and/or a more reasonable APR than that of the Walmart Credit Card.
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