The Costco Credit Card Does Not Come With Executive Membership
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi is a separate product from a Costco Executive membership. You can hold the credit card without being an Executive member, and you can be an Executive member without the credit card. They are two different things that serve different purposes.
The credit card gives you cash back on purchases and other cardholder benefits. The Executive membership gives you access to Costco's warehouse, discounts on bulk goods, and a membership rebate. You need to pay for each one independently, and the benefits do not automatically roll together.
Many people confuse them because both are Costco products and both cost money. But understanding which one you actually need — or whether you need both — depends on how often you shop at Costco and what you want to get out of membership.
Key Takeaways
- The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is a credit card that offers cash back; it is not a membership product and does not grant warehouse access on its own.
- A Costco Executive membership is a paid warehouse membership that requires a separate annual fee and gives you access to the warehouse and member discounts.
- You must have a Costco membership (Gold Star or Executive) to use the Costco credit card, but the card itself does not provide that membership.
- The credit card can be held by Gold Star members or Executive members, and the cash back rates differ slightly depending on which membership tier you have.
- If you want both the credit card and Executive membership, you pay for both: the membership fee and the card's annual fee (if any).
What the Costco Credit Card Actually Gives You
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is a rewards credit card issued by Citi. When you use it to make purchases, you earn cash back at different rates depending on what you buy. For example, you earn cash back on gas, travel, restaurants, and other categories. You also earn a base rate of cash back on all other purchases.
The card has an annual fee. The exact amount varies, so check Citi's current terms when you are considering it. The cash back you earn is credited to your Costco membership account as a Costco Cash certificate, which you can use to buy things at Costco or redeem for cash.
To hold this card, you must already have a Costco membership. Costco does not issue the card to non-members. But the card itself does not create or upgrade your membership — it only works if you already have one.
What Costco Executive Membership Includes
A Costco Executive membership is a paid tier of warehouse membership. It costs more per year than a Gold Star (standard) membership. In exchange, you get a higher annual rebate on your purchases, access to Executive-only deals and services, and discounts on certain Costco services like travel and insurance.
The Executive membership gives you the right to enter the warehouse and shop. It does not come with a credit card. If you want the Costco credit card and you are an Executive member, you still need to open the card separately through Citi.
Both Gold Star and Executive members can hold the Costco credit card. The cash back rates are the same regardless of which membership tier you have, though Executive members do get the higher annual rebate on all their Costco purchases (whether they use the card or not).
Do You Need Both, or Just One?
Whether you need the credit card, the Executive membership, or both depends on your shopping habits and how much you spend at Costco each year.
If you shop at Costco frequently and spend enough to earn back more than the Executive membership fee in annual rebates, upgrading to Executive makes sense. The rebate is automatic — you do not need the credit card to get it. If you also use the Costco credit card for your purchases, you earn cash back on top of the membership rebate.
If you shop at Costco less often or spend less, a Gold Star membership with the credit card might be enough. You still earn cash back on your purchases without paying the higher Executive membership fee. The credit card works with either membership tier.
Some people hold both because they want the membership rebate (Executive) and the credit card cash back. Others hold only the membership and use a different card. There is no requirement to have both.
How the Cash Back Works With Each Membership Type
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card earns cash back at set rates: a higher rate on gas and travel, a mid-range rate on restaurants and other categories, and a base rate on everything else. These rates are the same whether you are a Gold Star or Executive member.
The cash back is paid out as Costco Cash, which appears as a certificate in your Costco membership account. You can use it to pay for purchases at the warehouse or online, or you can redeem it for cash at the membership desk.
If you are an Executive member, you also earn an annual rebate on all your Costco purchases — not just credit card purchases. This rebate is separate from the credit card cash back. So an Executive member who uses the Costco credit card earns both the card's cash back and the membership rebate.
The Annual Fees You Will Pay
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card has an annual fee. Costco membership also has an annual fee — a lower amount for Gold Star and a higher amount for Executive. These are two separate charges.
If you want both the card and an Executive membership, you will pay the card's annual fee plus the Executive membership fee. If you want just the card with a Gold Star membership, you pay the card's annual fee plus the Gold Star membership fee. There is no bundled price or discount for holding both.
Before you open the card, confirm the current annual fee with Citi. Costco's membership fees also change periodically, so check Costco's website for the current rates.
How to Get the Credit Card if You Already Have Membership
If you already have a Costco membership (Gold Star or Executive), you can open the Costco Anywhere Visa Card through Citi's website or by visiting a Costco warehouse. You will need your membership number and basic personal information to start the process.
Citi will review your credit and make a decision. If you are approved, the card will be mailed to you. You can then set up it and start using it for purchases at Costco and anywhere else Visa is accepted.
You do not need to upgrade your membership or change your membership tier to open the card. The card works with whatever membership level you currently have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Costco credit card give me warehouse access?
No. The credit card is a rewards card only. To shop at Costco, you must have a separate Costco membership (Gold Star or Executive). The card does not provide warehouse access and cannot be used as a membership card.
Can I get the Costco credit card without being an Executive member?
Yes. You can hold the Costco credit card with a Gold Star (standard) membership. The card works with either membership tier, and the cash back rates are the same. You do not need to be an Executive member to open or use the card.
If I upgrade to Executive membership, do I automatically get the credit card?
No. Upgrading your membership does not issue you a credit card. If you want the card, you must open it separately through Citi. Your membership tier does not change the card's benefits or cash back rates.
Do I earn cash back twice if I use the Costco card as an Executive member?
You earn cash back from the credit card and a separate annual rebate from your Executive membership, but they are two different rewards. The card's cash back is earned on individual purchases. The Executive rebate is a lump sum paid once per year on all your Costco spending. Both are real benefits, but they work separately.
What happens to my credit card if I cancel my Costco membership?
Citi may close your Costco credit card if you no longer have an active Costco membership, since membership is a requirement to hold the card. Check Citi's terms for their specific policy, but generally you cannot keep the card without membership.