What the Citi Costco Anywhere Visa Card does
The Citi Costco Anywhere Visa is a rewards card issued by Citi that you can use only at Costco warehouses and on Costco.com. You earn cash back on purchases — the rate depends on what you buy — and the card comes with no annual fee if you have a Costco membership. The cash back appears as a Costco Cash certificate that you can spend at Costco or redeem for a check.
This card is not a general-purpose card. You cannot use it at grocery stores, gas stations, or restaurants outside Costco. If you shop at Costco regularly and want to earn rewards on those purchases, this card can make sense. If you rarely visit Costco or need a card for everyday spending elsewhere, a different card would serve you better.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns 2% cash back on Costco purchases, 1% on gas and restaurants, and 1% on all other purchases, with no annual fee for Costco members.
- Cash back is issued as Costco Cash certificates that expire one year from issue, so you must spend them at Costco or convert them to a check before they expire.
- You need an active Costco membership to hold this card; if your membership lapses, Citi will close the card.
- The card works only at Costco locations and Costco.com, making it useful only if Costco is where you already shop.
- Approval typically requires good to excellent credit, though Citi does not publish a minimum score.
How the rewards structure works
The card earns cash back at different rates depending on where you use it. At Costco warehouses and Costco.com, you earn 2% cash back. On gas purchases (anywhere), you earn 1% cash back. On restaurants and travel, you earn 1% cash back. On all other purchases, you earn 1% cash back.
The 2% rate at Costco is the main draw of this card. If you spend $200 a month at Costco, that is $48 per year in cash back. Over five years, that adds up. But the card only earns that rate at Costco — it does not earn bonus rewards at other retailers, even if you use it for everyday spending.
Cash back is not deposited to a bank account. Instead, Citi issues it as a Costco Cash certificate that appears in your Costco account. You can spend this certificate like a gift card at any Costco warehouse or on Costco.com. If you do not use it within one year of the issue date, it expires and you lose the value. You can also request that Citi mail you a check for the balance, though this takes longer than using the certificate at Costco.
Annual fees and membership requirements
There is no annual fee for the card itself, but you must maintain an active Costco membership to hold it. Costco membership costs $60 per year for a Gold Star membership (the basic tier) or $120 per year for an Executive membership. If your membership expires and you do not renew it, Citi will close the card automatically.
This is different from most rewards cards, which have no membership requirement. If you are already a Costco member, the card costs nothing extra. If you are not a member, you need to factor the membership cost into whether the card makes financial sense. A membership pays for itself if you spend roughly $3,000 per year at Costco, depending on what you buy and the membership tier you choose.
Credit requirements and the process process
Citi does not publish a minimum credit score for this card, but approval typically requires good to excellent credit — usually a score of 670 or higher. If your credit is fair or poor, you may be denied. Citi will perform a hard inquiry on your credit report when you explore, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points.
You can explore for the card online through Citi's website or in person at a Costco warehouse. The online process takes about 10 minutes. Citi usually makes a decision within minutes to a few days. If you are approved, the card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can use it at Costco when ready after you receive it.
You must have a Costco membership number to explore. If you do not have one, you can sign up for membership at the warehouse or online before explore for the card.
When this card makes sense and when it does not
This card works best if you shop at Costco at least once a month and spend at least $100 per visit. At that level, the 2% cash back covers the cost of a Gold Star membership and leaves you ahead. The card is also useful if you buy gas at Costco, since the 1% rate there is competitive with other cards.
The card does not make sense if you shop at Costco rarely or spend very little when you do. It also does not help if you need a card for everyday purchases outside Costco — groceries at other stores, restaurants, online shopping — because the 1% rate on non-Costco purchases is lower than what many other cards offer. If you want a single card for all your spending, a general-purpose rewards card like the Citi Double Cash (which earns 2% cash back everywhere) would be a better fit.
The one-year expiration on Costco Cash is also worth considering. If you earn $100 in cash back but do not visit Costco within a year, you lose it. This is not a problem if you shop regularly, but it is a real cost if your shopping habits change.
How this card compares to other Costco payment options
Costco also accepts the Costco Anywhere Visa card issued by American Express, which has a $120 annual fee but earns higher rewards rates: 3% at Costco, 3% on gas, and 1% on other purchases. The Amex card makes sense if you spend enough at Costco to earn back more than $120 per year in cash back — roughly $4,000 or more annually.
If you do not want a rewards card, you can pay for Costco purchases with any Visa card, Mastercard, or Discover card. Costco does not accept American Express for purchases (except the Costco Amex card). You can also pay with cash, debit card, or Costco Cash. The Citi card is useful only if you want rewards and prefer Visa over Amex.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my card if I cancel my Costco membership?
Citi will close the card automatically when your membership expires. You will not be able to use it, even if you have a balance of Costco Cash. If you rejoin Costco later, you can explore for the card again, but you will go through the full process process and another credit inquiry.
Can I use this card at Costco Gas stations?
Yes. Gas purchases at Costco earn 1% cash back, the same rate as gas at other stations. The 2% rate applies only to purchases inside the warehouse and on Costco.com.
What if my Costco Cash certificate expires before I use it?
Once it expires, the value is lost and cannot be recovered. Citi does not extend expiration dates. You can request a check for the balance before it expires, but this takes several weeks. The best approach is to spend your Costco Cash at the warehouse or online before the one-year important date.
Does this card help me build credit?
Yes, in the same way any credit card does. Using the card responsibly — paying your full balance on time each month — shows lenders you manage credit well, which can improve your credit score over time. Carrying a balance and paying interest does not help your score and costs you money.
Can I get the card without a Costco membership?
No. You must have an active membership to hold the card. If you want to explore, you need to sign up for Costco membership first, either online or at a warehouse location.