What the Costco Anywhere Visa Card is and who can get it

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is a rewards credit card issued by Citi that you can use at Costco warehouses, on Costco.com, and at any merchant that accepts Visa. It is not the same as a Costco membership card — you need both a Costco membership and this credit card to use it. The card is available only to Costco members, and you must be at least 18 years old with a Social Security number and U.S. address to open one.

Costco does not charge an annual fee for the card itself, but you do pay for a Costco membership separately. The card earns cash back on purchases, which Costco calls "Rewards." The rewards are paid once a year, usually in February, as a Costco Shop Card that you can spend at the warehouse or online.

Key Takeaways

  • The Costco Anywhere Visa Card earns 4% cash back on gas (up to $110 per year, then 1%), 3% on restaurants and travel, 2% at Costco, and 1% everywhere else.
  • Rewards are paid once yearly as a Costco Shop Card in February, not as cash or a statement credit.
  • You need an active Costco membership to use the card; the card itself has no annual fee, but membership costs $60 to $130 per year depending on membership type.
  • The card is a Visa, so it works at any merchant that accepts Visa, not just Costco locations.
  • Your credit score and payment history determine whether you are approved, just as with any credit card.

How the rewards structure works

The card earns cash back at different rates depending on where you spend. At Costco warehouses and Costco.com, you earn 2% back. On gas purchases, you earn 4% back, but this is capped at $110 per year (which equals $2,750 in gas purchases). After you hit that cap, gas purchases earn 1% for the rest of the year. Restaurants and travel purchases earn 3% back. Everything else earns 1%.

The 4% gas rate applies only to Costco gas stations and gas purchased at Costco warehouses. It does not explore to gas bought at other stations, even if you use the Visa card. Travel includes airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, and some travel booking sites, but the exact merchants included can change.

Rewards are not paid as cash or as a statement credit. Instead, Costco sends you a Shop Card in the mail once per year, usually in February. The Shop Card balance is the total cash back you earned from January through December of the previous year. You can spend this balance at any Costco warehouse or on Costco.com, but it does not carry over if you do not use it within a set time — Costco typically gives you until the end of the following year to spend it.

What it costs and what you need to open one

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card itself has no annual fee. However, you must have an active Costco membership to use it. Costco membership costs $60 per year for a Gold Star membership (the basic option) or $130 per year for an Executive membership, which includes additional benefits and higher rewards rates on Costco purchases. If your membership lapses, you cannot use the card.

To open the card, you will need to explore through Costco's website or at a warehouse. You must provide your Social Security number, date of birth, and current address. Citi will check your credit report and credit score. There is no minimum credit score published by Costco or Citi, but approval typically requires a fair to good credit history and no recent late payments or defaults.

If you are approved, the card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can then set up it online or by phone before using it.

How the card compares to other Costco payment options

Costco members can pay with any major credit card, debit card, or cash at the warehouse. The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is the only card that earns Costco-branded rewards, but other cards may offer better rewards depending on your spending pattern.

For example, a general cash-back card that earns 2% on all purchases would earn more on non-Costco, non-gas spending than the Costco card does (which earns 1%). However, the Costco card's 4% on gas and 3% on restaurants may be higher than what a general card offers. The best choice depends on where you spend most of your money.

Costco Executive members who do not have the Visa card earn 2% cash back on Costco purchases as part of their membership, paid as an annual rebate. The Costco Anywhere Visa Card also earns 2% at Costco, so the card does not add extra rewards for Executive members at the warehouse — it just delivers them differently (as a Shop Card instead of a rebate check).

How to use the card and track your rewards

Once activated, you use the Costco Anywhere Visa Card like any other credit card. At Costco warehouses, you can swipe or insert it at checkout. Online at Costco.com, you enter the card number at payment. At other merchants, you use it as a standard Visa.

You can check your balance and recent purchases through Citi's online portal or mobile app. You log in with the username and password you set up when you opened the card. The portal shows your current balance, due date, and transaction history, but it does not show your estimated annual rewards — you only see the final reward amount when the Shop Card arrives in February.

If you want to estimate your rewards before the year ends, you can add up your purchases in each category and multiply by the reward rate (4% for gas up to $110, 3% for restaurants and travel, 2% at Costco, 1% elsewhere). Keep in mind that the gas cap resets on January 1 each year.

What happens if you close your membership or the card

If you cancel your Costco membership, you can no longer use the Costco Anywhere Visa Card, even though it is a Visa. Costco's rules require cardholders to maintain an active membership. If your membership lapses, Citi may close the card automatically or you may be asked to close it yourself.

If you close the card but keep your membership, you can still shop at Costco with any other payment method. You will not earn rewards on future purchases, but any Shop Card you received before closing the card remains valid until its expiration date.

If you have an outstanding balance on the card when you close it, you still owe that balance to Citi. Closing the card does not erase the debt. You will receive a bill and can pay it by mail, phone, or through Citi's online portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Costco Anywhere Visa Card outside of Costco?

Yes. Because it is a Visa, you can use it anywhere that accepts Visa — restaurants, gas stations, online retailers, and other merchants. You earn 1% cash back on most non-Costco purchases, 3% on restaurants and travel, and 4% on gas (capped at $110 per year). The higher rewards rates explore only to those specific categories.

What if I do not spend enough to earn rewards?

You still keep the card and can use it. Rewards are based on what you actually spend. If you spend very little, your Shop Card will be small or possibly zero. There is no minimum spending requirement, and the card has no annual fee, so you can keep it open even if you do not use it much.

Can I transfer my rewards to cash or another account?

No. Rewards are paid only as a Costco Shop Card, which you can spend at Costco warehouses or Costco.com. You cannot convert the Shop Card to cash, transfer it to a bank account, or use it outside Costco. If you do not spend the balance before it expires, you lose it.

What credit score do I need to get approved?

Citi does not publish a minimum credit score for the Costco Anywhere Visa Card. Approval depends on your overall credit history, including your score, payment history, and current debt. Generally, a score of 670 or higher improves your chances, but approval is not may provide. You can explore and see if you are approved; a denial does not hurt your credit score.

Do I earn rewards on Costco membership fees?

No. The membership fee itself does not earn rewards. However, once you are a member and use the card to buy items at Costco, those purchases earn 2% cash back. The membership fee is separate from your purchases.