The Citi Visa Card for Costco is a co-branded card issued by Citibank that offers cash back at Costco and on gas, plus an annual Costco Gold Star membership
The card is called the Citi Visa Card for Costco (sometimes listed as Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi). It is issued by Citibank, not by Costco itself. The card comes with an annual Costco Gold Star membership included — you do not pay separately for the membership if you hold the card.
The main benefit is cash back: 4% at Costco warehouses and Costco.com, 1% on gas (up to $7,500 per year, then 1% after that), 1% on restaurants and travel, and 1% on all other purchases. You earn the cash back as you spend, and it posts to your account as a statement credit or can be redeemed for a Costco Cash check.
There is an annual fee. As of now, Citibank charges $65 per year for the card. This fee is separate from the Costco membership fee — the membership is included with the card, but the card itself costs $65. The membership alone would cost you $65 per year anyway (for the Gold Star level), so the real question is whether the cash back rewards justify keeping the card.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns 4% cash back at Costco and Costco.com, 1% on gas up to $7,500 per year, and 1% on restaurants, travel, and other purchases.
- An annual $65 fee is charged by Citibank, but this includes a Costco Gold Star membership that would otherwise cost $65 on its own.
- You must be a Costco member to open the card, and the card membership renews automatically each year with the annual fee.
- Cash back is posted as a statement credit or can be taken as a Costco Cash check, and there is no limit on how much you can earn.
- The card is a Visa, so it is accepted anywhere Visa is taken, not just at Costco.
Who can open the card and what you need
You must already have an active Costco Gold Star or Executive membership to open this card. Costco will not issue the card to someone without a membership. If you do not have a membership, you would need to join Costco first — that membership costs $65 per year for Gold Star or $130 per year for Executive.
Once you have a membership, you can open the card online at Citibank's website or in person at a Costco warehouse. You will need to provide your Social Security number, income information, and employment details. Citibank will run a credit check. There is no minimum credit score published, but the card is typically offered to people with good to excellent credit.
If you are approved, your card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days. Your Costco membership renews automatically when you pay the annual $65 fee each year — you do not have to renew it separately.
How cash back works and when you receive it
Cash back is earned on every purchase and appears on your monthly statement. You do not have to do anything to earn it — it accrues automatically as you use the card. The 4% rate applies only at Costco warehouses and Costco.com; the 1% gas rate applies at any gas station.
You can redeem your cash back in two ways. The first is as a statement credit — the cash back is applied directly to your card balance, reducing what you owe. The second is as a Costco Cash check, which you can pick up at the warehouse or have mailed to you. The check can be spent at Costco on anything, including groceries, gas, or the pharmacy.
There is no minimum cash back amount you need to accumulate before redeeming, and there is no cap on how much you can earn. If you spend $10,000 at Costco in a year, you earn $400 in cash back.
Annual fee and whether the card pays for itself
The $65 annual fee is charged to your card each year on your membership renewal date. This fee includes the Costco Gold Star membership — you are not paying for both separately. If you cancel the card, your Costco membership ends when your current membership period expires.
To break even on the annual fee, you need to earn $65 in cash back rewards. At Costco, where you earn 4%, you would need to spend $1,625 per year ($1,625 × 0.04 = $65). For most Costco members who shop regularly, this threshold is reached within the first few months of the year.
The math changes if you also use the card for gas. If you spend $7,500 on gas per year (the cap for the 4% rate), you earn $75 in cash back on gas alone, which already covers the annual fee. Add in Costco purchases and you come out ahead.
How this card compares to other Costco payment options
Costco also accepts a Costco Mastercard issued by Synchrony Bank. That card has no annual fee but offers lower cash back rates: 2% at Costco, 1% on gas, and 1% elsewhere. If you shop at Costco less frequently or do not spend enough to cover the $65 fee, the Mastercard may be cheaper. If you shop regularly, the Citi Visa card's 4% rate at Costco usually wins.
You can also pay for Costco purchases with any other credit card or with cash. Costco does not require you to use a co-branded card. The choice is whether the rewards are worth the annual fee and whether you want the included membership.
If you have a Costco Executive membership (which costs $130 per year), there is no separate Citi card for it — the Citi Visa Card comes with Gold Star membership only. An Executive member would need to decide whether downgrading to Gold Star and paying the $65 card fee is worth the higher cash back rate.
Annual fee renewal and cancellation
Citibank charges the $65 annual fee automatically on your membership renewal date each year. You will receive a notice before the fee is charged. If you want to cancel the card, you can call Citibank or manage it online through your account.
If you cancel the card, your Costco membership ends on your current renewal date — Citibank does not refund the annual fee if you cancel mid-year. Some cardholders call Citibank before the annual fee posts and ask for a waiver; Citibank sometimes grants a one-time waiver, but this is not may provide.
If you do not use the card for a long period, Citibank may close the account for inactivity. This would also end your Costco membership, so you would need to rejoin Costco separately if you wanted to shop there again.
Foreign transactions and travel use
The Citi Visa Card for Costco charges a 1% foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the United States. This applies whether you use the card at a Costco warehouse abroad or at any other merchant. If you travel internationally and plan to use the card, factor in this fee.
The card offers no travel insurance, trip cancellation coverage, or other travel protections beyond the standard Visa protections. If travel benefits are important to you, this card is not designed for that purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use this card to shop at Costco?
No. Costco accepts cash, debit cards, and most credit cards. The Citi Visa card is optional. You can shop at Costco with any payment method and still use your membership. The card is only worth opening if you plan to use it regularly enough to earn back the $65 annual fee.
What happens to my Costco membership if I cancel the card?
Your membership ends on your current renewal date. You would need to rejoin Costco separately and pay the membership fee if you wanted to continue shopping there. Canceling the card does not when ready end your membership — it ends when the current membership period expires.
Can I use this card outside of Costco?
Yes. It is a Visa card and works anywhere Visa is accepted. You earn 1% cash back on restaurants, travel, and other purchases outside Costco, and 1% on gas at any gas station. The 4% rate applies only at Costco warehouses and Costco.com.
Is there a sign-up bonus for opening this card?
Citibank occasionally offers sign-up bonuses on the Citi Visa Card for Costco, but these vary and are not always available. Check Citibank's website or ask at a Costco warehouse to see if a bonus is currently being offered. Bonuses are usually in the form of cash back or a Costco Cash certificate.
What if I have an existing Costco membership — do I still have to pay the $65 fee?
Yes. When you open the card, Citibank charges the $65 annual fee, which includes a Gold Star membership. If you already have a membership, it will be replaced by the card membership. You do not get a refund for the remaining time on your old membership.