Walmart Credit Card Requirements
Walmart offers two credit cards through Capital One: the Walmart Rewards Card (store card) and the Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard. Both cards offer solid rewards for Walmart shoppers, but they have different requirements and different use cases. Here’s what you need to qualify for each.
Minimum Credit Score Requirements
Walmart Rewards Card (Store Card)
- Minimum score: ~640 FICO
- Best approval odds: 660+
- Only works at Walmart and Walmart.com
Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard
- Minimum score: ~660 FICO
- Best approval odds: 680+
- Works everywhere Mastercard is accepted
When you apply, Capital One decides which card to offer you based on your credit profile. You might apply for the Mastercard and be offered the store card instead. That’s normal. It means your credit qualifies for the store card but not quite the Mastercard.
What Capital One Looks At
Your credit score is the starting point. But Capital One evaluates more:
Payment history. They want to see consistent on-time payments. Recent late payments, especially in the last 6 months, are red flags.
Credit utilization. How much of your available credit are you using? Under 30% is good. Under 10% is great. Our credit utilization guide breaks down why this matters so much for your score.
Income. Self-reported income on the application. Capital One wants to see enough income to support the credit they’d extend.
Existing Capital One relationship. Already have a Capital One card in good standing? That can help.
Recent credit activity. Multiple recent applications signal risk. Keep it to one application every few months.
Walmart Card Benefits
Walmart Rewards Card (Store Card)
- 5% back on Walmart.com purchases (including pickup and delivery)
- 2% back on Walmart in-store, restaurants, and travel
- 1% on everything else (at Walmart only)
- No annual fee
Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard
- 5% back on Walmart.com purchases
- 2% back on Walmart in-store, restaurants, and travel
- 1% on all other purchases (anywhere)
- No annual fee
- Works everywhere Mastercard is accepted
The key difference is flexibility. The store card locks you into Walmart. The Mastercard gives you the same rewards at Walmart plus 1% everywhere else.
How to Apply
You can apply in three ways:
- Online at Walmart.com/credit
- In-store at the customer service desk or checkout
- Through the Walmart app
In-store applications sometimes offer a one-time discount on your purchase if approved. Capital One does a hard pull on your credit, which may temporarily lower your score by 5 to 10 points.
What to Do If You’re Denied
Get the reason. Capital One must tell you why. Common reasons: score too low, high utilization, recent late payments, or too many recent applications.
Check your credit reports. Pull free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for errors that might be dragging your score down. Our credit report errors guide shows what to look for.
Dispute errors. If you find inaccuracies, dispute them. Credit Booster AI can analyze your reports and generate dispute letters to fix mistakes.
Pay down balances. High utilization is one of the most common denial reasons. Get balances below 30% of your limits.
Wait and reapply. Give it 3 to 6 months of positive credit behavior. Don’t apply again right away.
Alternatives If You Can’t Get Approved
Capital One Platinum Secured. A secured card from Capital One with a deposit requirement. Build 6 to 12 months of history, then try again. Our secured credit cards guide compares options.
Discover it Secured. Another solid secured option with cashback rewards.
Capital One Quicksilver. If your score is high enough for the Walmart card, you might also qualify for this general-purpose card with 1.5% back on everything.
Walmart Pay with debit. You can still use Walmart Pay with a debit card. You won’t earn credit card rewards, but you can shop while building your credit.
Tips to Boost Approval Odds
- Get your FICO to 660+. That gives you a shot at both cards
- Pay down credit card balances below 30%. Utilization is a key factor
- Make all payments on time for 6 months. Clean recent history matters
- Don’t apply for other cards right before. Space out applications
- Report all income. Include side gigs and other legitimate sources
- Check your reports for errors first. Fix mistakes before applying
The Bottom Line
Walmart credit cards are moderately accessible. The store card works for people with fair credit (640+), and the Mastercard requires a bit more (660+). Neither card is impossible to get, but you do need to be in decent shape.
If you’re not there yet, focus on credit repair first. Credit Booster AI identifies what’s hurting your score and creates a plan to fix it. Visit JoinCreditClub.com for monitoring tools and CreditBooster.com for more help.
Build your credit, then grab the card. The rewards will be waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do you need for the Walmart credit card?
The Walmart Rewards Card (store card) typically requires a FICO score of 640 or higher. The Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard, which works everywhere, generally needs 660+. Approval odds improve significantly above 680.
Can I get a Walmart card with bad credit?
Possibly, if your score is in the 580 to 639 range with strong income and clean recent payment history. But approval is far from guaranteed. Below 580, you'll likely need a secured card first.
What's the difference between the Walmart store card and the Mastercard?
The Walmart Rewards Card (store card) only works at Walmart and on Walmart.com. The Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard works anywhere Mastercard is accepted. The Mastercard has slightly higher credit score requirements but offers more flexibility.
Loving This Info? You'll Love Our App.
Everything you just read — plus AI-powered tools to understand and master your credit. Free to start.
