BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam’s Club has become the first major American retailer with a credit card with chip-enabled technology for enhanced security.

Sam’s Club has become the first major American retailer with a credit card with chip-enabled technology for enhanced security.

The embedded chip in the new Sam’s Club MasterCard makes it much harder to duplicate than cards with just a magnetic stripe. The technology is widespread in Europe.

"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," says Chris McWilton, North American president for MasterCard. "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."

Sam’s also debuted a credit card cash-back program that lets members earn 5% cash back on fuel, 3% back on dining and travel, and 1% back on all other purchases, up to $5,000 annually.