Sam’s Club Debuts Credit Card Cash-back Program
Sam's Club has introduced a credit card cash-back program that enables its members to earn 5 percent cash back on fuel, 3 percent cash back on dining and travel, and 1 percent cash back on all other purchases, up to $5,000 annually.
As of June 23, Sam Club's "5-3-1" program on the warehouse club retailer’s new co-branded MasterCard, issued by GE Capital Retail Bank, will be available to qualifying Sam's Savings, Sam's Business and Sam's Plus members in the United States and Puerto Rico.
"We're always looking for ways to find time and money-saving solutions for our members," noted Sam's Club President and CEO Rosalind Brewer. "The 5-3-1 Sam's Club program and co-branded MasterCard mean industry-leading savings and security innovation for today's consumer."
Continued Brewer: "Under the 5-3-1 cash-back program, Sam's Club members can earn up to $5,000 cash back annually. That could cover a family of four's travel to Disney, or five sets of laptops and wireless phones for a small business. We believe this value is the best in the industry."
Additionally, Sam's Club is the first U.S. mass retailer to actively implement chip-enabled technology. Each credit card has an embedded chip that makes the card harder to duplicate, providing better security from fraudulent activity.
"MasterCard has taken a strong stance on the need for the U.S. market to make the transition to chip-enabled credit cards for the benefit of cardholders and merchants alike," said MasterCard President North America Chris McWilton. "This move by Sam's Club makes them a trailblazer in getting chip cards in the hands of businesses and consumers, and leading the push toward a safer and more secure customer experience. This will no doubt help drive chip-enabled technology forward here in the U.S. as it gains more traction."
Additional Sam's Club MasterCard benefits include no annual fee for club members (required for card eligibility); the ability to be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted worldwide; extended warranty coverage for consumers and extended warranty insurance for businesses; and identity theft resolution services for consumers and MasterRental coverage for businesses.
Beginning June 12, all Sam's Plus members will be automatically enrolled to receive $10 in cash rewards for every $500 spent on qualifying pre-tax purchases at the chain, regardless of payment type. Sam's Plus members can earn up to $500 annually through cash rewards on top of earning up to $5,000 annually when they use the co-branded Sam's Club MasterCard. These funds are redeemable for cash, for purchases in-club or online, or to cover annual membership fees.
Men's Health Screenings
In other company news, for Men's Health Month in June, Sam's Club's free health-screening event on Saturday, June 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will aim to help men learn about risk factors and how to remain healthy.
The screenings, available to the public at all 590 Sam’s Clubs with a pharmacy, will include a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test for men 40 and over; blood pressure; BMI (body mass index); total cholesterol; glucose; HDL ("good" cholesterol); and vision testing.
"Men's Health Month is a great reminder of the unique health risks men face," observed Jill Turner-Mitchael, SVP, Sam's Club Health and Wellness. "The free health screenings at Sam's Club make it easy for men and their families to be proactive in learning about their health. It's a tool everyone should take advantage of as a way to gather information that can benefit them for years to come."
Sam's Club, a division of Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc., operates 635 clubs in the United States and Puerto Rico.