Costco offers two credit cards, and which one you want depends on where you shop and how much you spend
Costco has partnered with Visa to offer two cards: the Costco Anywhere Visa Card and the Costco Visa Signature Card. The main difference is where you earn cash back. The Anywhere card gives you rewards at Costco and gas stations everywhere. The Visa Signature card gives you rewards only at Costco, but the rate is higher. Both cards charge an annual fee that matches your Costco membership tier.
You do not need to be a Costco member to open either card, but you will need to become one to use it at the warehouse. The card itself arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days after you are approved.
Key Takeaways
- The Costco Anywhere Visa Card earns 1% cash back at Costco and gas stations, 2% at restaurants and travel, and 1% everywhere else, with an annual fee of $55 or $120 depending on membership level.
- The Costco Visa Signature Card earns 2% cash back at Costco, 1% at gas and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else, with the same annual fee structure.
- You must have a Costco membership to use either card at the warehouse, though you can open the card without one.
- Cash back posts to your Costco account as a certificate you can use when ready or let accumulate, and it does not expire.
- Both cards require a credit check, and approval typically takes a few minutes if you open online.
Costco Anywhere Visa Card rewards and fees
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card earns 1% cash back on all Costco purchases, 1% at Costco gas stations, 2% at restaurants and travel, and 1% on all other purchases. The annual fee is $55 for a Gold Star membership or $120 for an Executive membership. If you do not have a Costco membership when you open the card, you will be enrolled in a Gold Star membership at $65 per year.
This card is useful if you buy groceries at Costco but also use your credit card at other retailers. The 2% back on restaurants and travel adds up if you eat out or take trips regularly. The 1% everywhere else means you are not losing rewards on non-Costco purchases the way you would with a warehouse-only card.
Cash back appears as a Costco Cash certificate in your account. You can print it, use it at the warehouse or online, or let it sit in your account indefinitely. There is no expiration date.
Costco Visa Signature Card rewards and fees
The Costco Visa Signature Card earns 2% cash back on all Costco purchases, 1% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else. The annual fee is $55 for Gold Star or $120 for Executive. Like the Anywhere card, you will be enrolled in a Gold Star membership if you do not have one.
This card makes sense if you do most of your shopping at Costco and want the highest reward rate there. The 2% back on Costco purchases is double the Anywhere card. However, you earn less outside Costco — 1% instead of 2% at restaurants and travel — so it is best for people whose spending is concentrated at the warehouse.
Cash back works the same way: it posts as a Costco Cash certificate with no expiration date.
How to open a Costco credit card
You can open either card online at Costco.com or in the warehouse. Online is faster. Go to the Costco credit card page, select which card you want, and click the link to Visa's process. You will enter your name, address, Social Security number, and income. Visa will run a credit check and tell you within minutes whether you are approved.
If you explore in the warehouse, a Costco employee can start the process on a tablet, but you will still be sent to Visa's system to complete it. The in-warehouse route takes longer and is mainly useful if you have questions about membership or the card benefits.
Once approved, your card ships within 7 to 10 business days. You can use it anywhere Visa is accepted when ready, but you cannot use it at Costco until it arrives and you set up it in your Costco account.
Credit requirements and approval odds
Costco does not publish a minimum credit score, but Visa typically approves applicants with fair credit or better — usually a score of 650 or higher. If you have recent late payments, collections, or a very high debt-to-income ratio, approval is less likely.
The credit check is a hard inquiry, which means it will show on your credit report and may lower your score by a few points temporarily. If you are denied, you can reapply after 30 days, though your situation would need to improve — paying down debt or disputing an error — for approval odds to change.
Using your card at Costco and elsewhere
At the warehouse, you must present your Costco membership card and your Costco credit card to check out. You cannot use the credit card alone. Online at Costco.com, you can use either Costco credit card or any other payment method.
Outside Costco, both cards work like any Visa card. You can use them at restaurants, gas stations, retailers, and online merchants. The cash back categories explore everywhere — 2% at restaurants on the Visa Signature card, for example, whether you are at a Costco food court or a local diner.
Both cards come with Visa Signature benefits, including travel protections, purchase protection, and emergency card replacement if your card is lost or stolen while traveling.
Comparing the two cards side by side
| Feature | Costco Anywhere Visa | Costco Visa Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Cash back at Costco | 1% | 2% |
| Cash back at gas stations | 1% | 1% |
| Cash back at restaurants and travel | 2% | 1% |
| Cash back everywhere else | 1% | 1% |
| Annual fee (Gold Star) | $55 | $55 |
| Annual fee (Executive) | $120 | $120 |
| Foreign transaction fees | None | None |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Costco membership to open a credit card?
No. You can open either card without a membership. However, you will need to join Costco to use the card at the warehouse. If you do not have a membership when you open the card, Costco will enroll you in a Gold Star membership at the standard rate.
Can I use my Costco credit card at other stores?
Yes. Both cards are Visa cards and work anywhere Visa is accepted. You earn the same cash back rates outside Costco as you do inside — for example, 2% at restaurants on the Visa Signature card, even if you are not at a Costco location.
How long does it take to get my card after I am approved?
Your card ships within 7 to 10 business days after approval. You can use it at any merchant when ready, but you cannot use it at Costco until it arrives and you set up it in your Costco account online or at the warehouse.
What happens to my cash back if I do not use it?
Cash back posts as a Costco Cash certificate in your account. It does not expire, so you can let it accumulate and use it whenever you want. You can also print the certificate and give it to someone else.
Which card should I choose if I shop at Costco once a month?
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is better for light warehouse shoppers. You earn 2% back at restaurants and travel, which means you get value from the card even in months when you do not visit Costco. The Visa Signature card is best if Costco is where you spend most of your money.