Walmart credit cards do not offer cash back as a reward
The Walmart credit card and the Walmart MoneyCard do not give you cash back on purchases. Instead, the Walmart credit card earns rewards points that you redeem for discounts on future Walmart purchases — not cash. The MoneyCard is a prepaid card with no rewards at all.
If you want actual cash back from a credit card, you would need a different card entirely. Many mainstream credit cards offer cash back as a percentage of what you spend, but the Walmart cards are designed to lock you into shopping at Walmart rather than giving you money to spend anywhere.
This matters because the difference between "discount on Walmart purchases" and "cash in your pocket" is real. A $50 discount at Walmart only helps if you were planning to shop there anyway. Cash back works whether you shop at Walmart, Target, or a local grocery store.
Key Takeaways
- The Walmart credit card earns rewards points redeemable only for Walmart discounts, not cash.
- The Walmart MoneyCard is a prepaid card with no rewards program at all.
- If you want cash back, you need a different credit card — not a Walmart card.
- Walmart rewards points expire after a set period if you do not use them, so they are not the same as money in your account.
How Walmart credit card rewards actually work
The Walmart credit card earns points on every purchase you make with the card. The exact earning rate depends on where you shop — you earn more points per dollar at Walmart than you do at other retailers. You accumulate these points in your account, and Walmart shows you your balance online or in the app.
When you have enough points, you redeem them at checkout by telling the cashier or selecting the option in the app. The points convert to a discount on that transaction only — you cannot transfer them to your bank account, use them at other stores, or withdraw them as cash. Once you use the points, they are gone.
Points do expire. Walmart's current policy is that points expire after a certain period of inactivity, though the exact timeline can change. If you stop using the card and do not redeem your points before they expire, you lose them entirely. This is different from cash back, which sits in your account indefinitely.
Why Walmart does not offer cash back
Walmart's business model depends on keeping you shopping at Walmart. A rewards program that pays cash back would let you take that money to a competitor. A program that only works at Walmart keeps you coming back to their stores and their website.
This is not unique to Walmart — many store-branded credit cards work the same way. Target's card, Kohl's card, and Amazon's card all offer rewards that work only within their ecosystem. The tradeoff is that you get a higher earning rate at that store than you would with a general-purpose cash back card, but only if you shop there regularly.
If you shop at Walmart frequently anyway, the points can add up to real savings. But if you are looking for flexibility — the ability to use your rewards anywhere — a Walmart card will not give you that.
What to do if you want cash back instead
If cash back matters to you, you have two options: use a different credit card, or use the Walmart card only for Walmart purchases and use a cash back card everywhere else.
Many mainstream credit cards offer cash back ranging from 1% to 5% depending on the category and the card. These cards deposit cash back into your account, which you can use to pay your bill, transfer to your bank, or leave as a credit. The cash back does not expire as long as your account is open.
Some people use both: a Walmart card for Walmart shopping (to get the higher point rate there) and a general cash back card for everything else. This works if you are disciplined about tracking multiple cards and paying both on time. If managing multiple cards feels like too much, a single cash back card is simpler.
The difference between points and cash back
Points and cash back sound similar but work very differently. Cash back is money that goes into your account — you can use it however you want. Points are a currency that only works within one system, and they expire if you do not use them.
With cash back, you earn 2% on a $100 purchase and get $2 added to your account. You can use that $2 to pay your credit card bill, transfer it to your bank, or leave it as a credit. With points, you earn points on a $100 purchase, but those points only work at Walmart, and they disappear if you do not redeem them within the expiration window.
Over time, this difference adds up. If you earn $500 in cash back over a year, you have $500 to use anywhere. If you earn $500 in Walmart points over a year but only shop at Walmart once a month, you might forget to redeem them before they expire and lose them entirely.
When a Walmart card might still make sense
Even though the Walmart card does not offer cash back, it can still be worth using if you shop at Walmart regularly and the earning rate is high enough. If you spend $200 a month at Walmart and earn points that equal 2% back, that is $48 a year in discounts — real money, even if it only works at Walmart.
The card also makes sense if you are building credit and need a card that is easier to get approved for. Walmart cards are often available to people with limited or damaged credit history. In that case, the rewards are a secondary benefit; the primary benefit is getting a card that reports to the credit bureaus and helps you build a credit history.
But if you are choosing between cards purely for rewards, and you want the flexibility of cash back, a Walmart card is not the right choice. A cash back card from a major issuer will give you more flexibility and no expiration date on your rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert Walmart points to cash?
No. Walmart points only work as a discount at Walmart checkout. You cannot transfer them to your bank account, convert them to cash, or use them anywhere else. Once you redeem them, they become a discount on your purchase.
What happens to my points if I close my Walmart credit card?
Your points will expire according to Walmart's policy, which typically means they disappear after a period of inactivity. Check your account or contact Walmart before closing the card if you have points you want to use.
Does the Walmart MoneyCard earn rewards?
No. The Walmart MoneyCard is a prepaid card, not a credit card, and it has no rewards program. You load money onto it and spend it, but you do not earn points or cash back on purchases.
Can I use Walmart points at Sam's Club?
No. Walmart points work only at Walmart stores and Walmart.com. Sam's Club is a separate business and does not accept Walmart rewards.
Is there a Walmart credit card that does offer cash back?
Walmart currently offers two cards: the Walmart credit card (points-based) and the Walmart MoneyCard (prepaid, no rewards). Neither offers cash back. If you want cash back, you need to use a different credit card.