Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

This device is too small

If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.

Skip to main content
Advertiser Disclosure Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which The Motley Fool receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear) and may influence which products we write about, but our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. We do not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace.
    |    Accessibility Options

Costco Visa Card Review: Bonus Cash Back on Everyday Spending

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
Author: Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Writer

Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. His work with Motley Fool Money and The Motley Fool has appeared syndicated in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.

See Full Bio

| 1 other [ + ]
Nathan Alderman
Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Fact checker

Nathan Alderman has been a full-time Motley Fool employee since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As Motley Fool Money's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

See Full Bio

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.  Citi is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money.

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is good for Costco fans who want a one-card wallet. This card earns bonus cash back not just at Costco, but in several other popular categories, including gas, restaurants, and travel. We'd prefer if it also had a welcome bonus, but it's still a solid cash back card.

Check out this full Costco credit card review to decide if you should apply.

Ratings Methodology

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Apply Now for Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

On Citi's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Excellent (740-850)
Apply Now for Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

On Citi's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Excellent (740-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

19.49% - 27.49% (Variable)

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases. 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com. 1% cash back on all other purchases.

1% - 4% back

Annual Fee Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$0

Welcome Offer

N/A

  • There aren't many cash back cards that earn this much on gas and EV charging. Bonuses at restaurants, on travel, and at Costco and costco.com make this a well-rounded card overall. But there are some frustrating downsides, including a slow cash back redemption process and the lack of a sign-up bonus.

    • Bonus gas and EV charging rewards
    • Bonus restaurant and travel rewards
    • No annual fee
    • No foreign transaction fees
    • Purchase protection
    • No sign-up bonus
    • No 0% intro APR
    • Inconvenient cash back redemptions
    • Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
    • 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
    • 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
    • 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
    • 1% cash back on all other purchases
    • No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
    • Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Costco Visa Card review

Is the Costco Visa Card worth it?

If you have a Costco membership, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is an easy way to earn cash back there and elsewhere. It earns high rates in a few major categories, in particular gas and EV charging, making it one of the best cash back cards for drivers with long commutes.

Author's note
Image of reviewer

With cash back cards, it's all about finding one that fits your spending habits. I know a Costco credit card wouldn't be right for me because I don't drive much, and gas/EV charging is its top bonus category. But if this card's bonus categories line up well with your usual bills, then you could earn quite a bit of cash back with it.

This credit card is also convenient. Since it has several bonus categories, you could use it as your everyday credit card, and it doubles as your Costco membership card.

What everyone else is saying

Want to know what cardholders and other credit card reviews say about this card? Here's what we found.

What other review sites say

Average review site rating: 3.4 / 5.0 stars

This Costco Visa credit card is polarizing, if the online reviews are any indication. We read five of them, and ratings varied quite a bit -- from 2.5 stars to 4.6 stars.

Everyone agrees that this card is good for earning cash back. Reviewers mentioned that its cash back rates on gas and EV charging, at restaurants, and on travel are some of the best you can find. They also like that this card has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, and that you can use it as your Costco membership card.

The clumsy cash back redemption process was widely criticized, as you can only get your cash back once per year. Other complaints were the lack of a welcome bonus and a 0% intro APR, benefits that many top credit cards offer.

Online consensus

Just like with professional reviews, people on social media are divided about this Costco card. Some really like it, while others say that there are plenty of better options. Opinions seem to depend on how much work people are willing to do managing their credit cards.

Those who want to keep it simple generally have a positive opinion about the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. They consider it a well-rounded card that's easy to use and has good cash back rates. People who spend a lot of time reading about credit cards, and who don't mind carrying several of them to maximize rewards, are more negative about it.

Costco Visa Card features and benefits

High cash back rates help you save at Costco, on gas, and more

The main benefit of this card is the cash back. It earns:

  • 4% on eligible gas and EV charging purchases, up to a spending cap of $7,000 per year
  • 3% on restaurants and travel spending, including Costco Travel purchases
  • 2% on other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
  • 1% on all other eligible purchases

If most of your spending is at Costco, going out to eat, filling up your car, and the occasional vacation, this will be one of the best cards you can find. And if it's a long drive to your nearest Costco warehouse, knowing you'll get 4% back on gas is a nice consolation.

That also happens to be the highest cash back rate I've seen on gas and EV charging. So if you have a long commute to work, or you just spend a lot of time on the road, you're probably going to earn lots of cash back with this card.

TIP

How to increase your overall cash back

You can earn 2% back on purchases by becoming a Gold Star Executive Costco member. You'll still earn the 2% base rate this card offers, meaning a total of 4% back on regular purchases and 5% back on Costco Travel.

Extra protection for your purchases -- and not just the ones at Costco

It's always exciting to unbox something you've been looking forward to, whether that's a new laptop, TV, or a pair of AirPods (Apple always nails the presentation). And if you're anything like me, you might immediately start worrying about dropping it and seeing all that money you spent go down the drain.

That's why I always pay for important items with a card that has purchase protection. With this Costco card, eligible purchases are covered for damage or theft for the first 120 days (90 days if you live in New York). The coverage limit is $1,000 per item and $50,000 per calendar year.

This card can also come in handy when you book travel, and not just because you'll earn 3% back. It also has a few useful travel protections:

  • Worldwide car rental insurance
  • Roadside assistance dispatch service
  • Travel and emergency assistance
  • Travel accident insurance

You can use it when you travel without paying a foreign transaction fee

A lot of cash back cards are better off left behind when you travel abroad, for one reason: Foreign transaction fees. The standard amount is 3%, meaning for every $1,000 you spend outside the United States, your card issuer charges you an extra $30.

Thankfully, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi isn't one of them. It has no foreign transaction fee, so you can take it along on all your family's overseas adventures.

Just so you know, if you're a frequent traveler, you might want to look at travel credit cards instead. The Costco credit card works fine, but it's not really a travel card. There are other options that could be better if you take several trips a year.

What could be improved

You'll miss out on a welcome offer

This card has no sign-up bonus and no 0% intro APR offer. The lack of a 0% intro APR isn't the worst thing in the world -- this sometimes does more harm than good by encouraging people to spend more. Still, lots of store credit cards have zero-interest offers, so it's worth mentioning.

When a rewards credit card doesn't have a sign-up bonus, it's a red flag. Not quite as bad as someone on a dating app asking you to wire them money, but it's not a good sign.

There are plenty of cards that give new cardholders the opportunity to earn big bonuses. Even on no annual fee cards, you can find sign-up bonuses worth $200 that only require you to spend $500 in the first three months. With a Costco credit card, you'd need to spend $10,000 at Costco to earn that much.

The cash back program isn't right for everyone

Here's the elephant in the room with the Costco credit card: It doesn't actually earn that much at Costco. A rate of 2% is the bare minimum for a store credit card. Amazon offers 5% back on Amazon spending with its Prime Visa, to give you an example of a store card that does a better job of rewarding loyal customers.

There are also other cash back cards that earn just as much at Costco. So even if you shop there often, it doesn't necessarily mean this card is the best choice. You could go with a card that earns 2% back on all your purchases, so you'd earn that rate at Costco and everywhere else.

Getting your cash back is a slow, inconvenient process

This card's process for using cash back feels like it comes out of the 1990s. You'll get your cash back once a year. After your February billing statement closes, Costco sends you a reward certificate with all the cash back you earned for the previous year.

Some cardholders like getting their cash back in a big lump sum, instead of redeeming $15 to $20 here and there. But you can do that with other cash back cards, if you want. They just also give you the option of using your cash back without needing to wait a year first.

What makes this even worse is that you lose all your cash back if your card is canceled before Costco sends you the reward certificate. Even if you aren't using your Costco credit card anymore, you need to keep it open until you at least receive your cash back.

Find the best credit card for your needs
Image of reviewer

Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

Compare cards

What to know before applying

Costco Visa Card credit score

A FICO® Score of 720 or higher is recommended to apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. This credit card is intended for shoppers with excellent credit. You will also need to be a Costco member and provide your membership number when you apply.

Pre-approval process

Visit the Citi website, place your cursor over "Credit Cards" to open its drop-down menu, and then select "See if You're Pre-Qualified." Provide some basic information and submit the form. You'll instantly see if you're pre-qualified for any Citi credit cards, with no impact on your credit score.

Regular APR

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi has a 19.49% - 27.49% (Variable) APR. Many of its competitors have a 0% intro APR, so the fact that it doesn't is a drawback.

Fees

Here are the fees for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi:

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Cash advance fee: 5% ($10 min.)
  • Foreign transaction fee: 0%

Credit limit

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi has a minimum credit limit of $500, according to the terms and conditions. Citi sets your credit limit based on your income and overall creditworthiness.

Apply now for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • The minimum credit limit for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is $500, but it's possible to receive a much higher limit depending on your creditworthiness. Some cardholders have reported limits of more than $25,000 with this credit card.

  • You can use the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi anywhere Visa is accepted.

  • Yes, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi can help you build credit. Citi, the card issuer, reports card activity to all three consumer credit bureaus. When you use the card regularly -- and consistently pay the bill on time -- it can boost your credit score.