5 Benefits of the Sam's Club Mastercard

It's hard to imagine our economy operating without credit cards. And yet, the first modern-day credit card wasn't invented until 1950. It was Diners Club and, at first, could only be used at restaurants. By the time it was expanded to include additional retailers, other cards had begun to catch on.

There was only one catch. These early-day cards had to be paid off in full each month. We now know that paying a card off monthly is a good thing, but at the time, it didn't seem very convenient. It wasn't until 1958 that Bank of America launched BankAmericard® credit card (now Visa®) and made revolving credit the norm.

All this to say, it wasn't so long ago that Americans were simply thrilled to be able to charge a purchase and pay it off over time. Today, we're a bit more spoiled and want credit cards that offer rewards and other perks.

The Sam's Club® Mastercard® has gotten in on the action by adding the following five attractive perks.

1. Savings

Everyday eligible purchases earn 1% cash back, dining out results in 3% cash back, and fueling up anywhere offers an industry leading 5% cash back (up to $6,000). That means if you purchase $6,000 worth of gasoline in a year you'll have an extra $300 in your pocket.

2. Even more savings for Plus members

Sam's Club members who shell out an extra $60 for a Plus membership can really pack on the rewards. Not only do they earn 3% back on eligible purchases in-club or online when they use their Mastercard to pay, they snag another 2% back simply for being a Plus member. That's a total of up to 5% on all eligible purchases. That's a sweet bonus for the dollar-conscious shopper hoping to pay off debt or build an emergency savings account.

3. Easy Scan & Go integration

One thing Sam's Club has over Costco is its Scan & Go system. Scan & Go allows shoppers to scan items as they place them in their carts, and pay for their purchases directly through their app instead of standing in a line waiting to pay. It's made even more convenient by seamlessly integrating the Sam's Club® Mastercard® as the payment method. Not only can it be used in-club, but shoppers can also use their Scan & Go at the gas pumps.

4. Mobile first

The world is busy and many of us don't have the time we need to track spending like we should. A great thing about making purchases with the Sam's Club® Mastercard® is that cardholders can do everything -- from making purchases to paying their balances via the Sam's Club mobile app. They can even use the app to freeze their account if the need arises.

5. Digitized rewards

Once rewards have stacked up, shoppers don't have to wait for a paper check to be sent. Rewards are automatically loaded onto their membership cards. That means they have the rewards waiting for them the next time they're shopping online or in-club. If they'd prefer to have the money sitting in their checking account, rewards can also be exchanged for cash back.

For anyone who regularly shops at Sam's Club, using the Mastercard to pay is an easy way to save, and upgrading to a Plus membership boosts a member's ability to pay less for the things they regularly buy anyway.