Costco Anywhere Visa Card Review: A Must-Have for Loyal Costco Shoppers

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Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

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Rates & Fees

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR19.74% - 27.74% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0 More info

  Active Costco membership required

• Sign Up Bonus $0Cash Bonus

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card, from our partner Citi, is a must-have for all Costco members. Not only do cardholders earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases, but they also earn 3% cash back on restaurant and travel spending and 2% cash back on all other Costco in-store and online purchases.

A Rewarding Cash-Back Card for Costco Die-Hards

If you have a Costco membership, you’ll want to consider the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, one of our partners. This cash-back rewards card has no annual fee and is only available if you are a Costco member. It is among the best credit cards for gas purchases. With a 4% cash-back rate on up to $7,000 in annual gas and EV charging purchases, including Costco gas stations, this card can save you more money on fuel spending than any other. Those who dine out at restaurants often, spend on travel annually, and do the bulk of their shopping at Costco or Costco.com will also find a lot of value from this card.

Card Highlights

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is a credit card designed specifically for Costco members. Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Generous cash-back rewards. You can earn 4% cash back on up to $7,000 in annual gas and EV charging purchases (and then 1% after), 3% back on restaurant and travel purchases, 2% back at Costco and Costco.com, and 1% everywhere else. Aside from the $7,000 caveat, there are no other limits on what you can earn with this card.
• $0 annual fee. There is no annual fee, provided you have a paid and active Costco membership.
• No foreign transaction fees. There are no fees on international purchases, and you can continue to earn rewards on purchases abroad.

Sign-Up Bonus

Unfortunately, this Citi credit card does not offer a bonus to new cardholders.

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Earning Rewards

Here’s a rundown on the rewards you get with the Costco Anywhere Visa Card:

• 4% back on gas and EV charging: You'll get 4% back on qualified gas and electric vehicle charging purchases ($7,000 annual limit).
• 3% back on restaurants and travel: Earn 3% back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, which can include flights, cruises, hotels, car rentals, and Costco Travel. Spending at timeshares and campgrounds is generally not eligible.
• 2% back on Costco and Costco.com purchases: Get 2% back on all your Costco purchases in stores or online.
• 1% on everything else: You'll still earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases that do not fall into any of the previously mentioned categories.

Citi and Costco define eligible fuel as gas stations classified as such by Visa. Other than Costco, this could include fuel purchased at superstores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and warehouse clubs other than Costco. So if you fill up at a gas station classified as a convenience store by Visa, you will only receive 1% in cash back. 

Redeeming Rewards

Rewards earned with the Costco Anywhere Visa Card come in the form of a reward certificate that is redeemable at any U.S. Costco warehouse.

You bring your certificate (or your phone with the certificate pulled up) to the cashier when you check out at Costco. You can ask the cashier for cash back or use the certificate to pay for your purchase. If you use part of the rewards on a purchase, the remainder is given to you in cash at checkout.

Your reward certificate can be accessed in several ways:

• By email if you’re enrolled in paperless billing
• By snail mail if you get paper statements
• Via the Citi mobile app if you have it installed

One significant disadvantage of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card is the time and effort required to redeem your rewards. After receiving your rewards along with your February billing statement, you will have until December 31 to redeem your previous year's cash rewards earnings. For example, if you earned cash back in 2023, you won't be able to redeem it until March through December of 2024.

Card Benefits and Perks

The main benefit of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card is the rewards you'll earn on everyday purchases. But it does have a few additional benefits that add value to the card beyond the cash back rewards. Those include:

• No foreign transaction fee: You can use this card anywhere in the world that Visa is accepted, and you won’t be charged additional foreign transaction or currency exchange fees. Most cards charge around 3% extra for foreign purchases.
• Damage and theft purchase protection: New purchases made with this card are insured against unintentional damage or theft for up to 120 days. Limits apply.
• Citi Entertainment benefits: The card gives you early access to tickets for thousands of events, as well as other member exclusives. As a result, it may help you get tickets to a popular concert or sporting event.

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Drawbacks

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is a solid card all around, but the fine print reveals a number of disadvantages. Here's what you can expect.

• No sign-up bonus: Unlike many cashback credit cards, this one does not have a sign-up bonus for new cardholders.
• A year-long wait for rewards: You receive your rewards in the form of an annual certificate issued each February following the closing of your billing statement for that month. What's more, you only have until December 31 of that year to redeem your rewards; if you don't use them, they will expire.
• Inconvenient cash rewards: You can exchange your annual certificate for cash rather than using it only for Costco purchases. You will, however, need to physically go to your local Costco to exchange it for cash.
• Membership requirement: Although there is no annual fee to carry the card, you must be a Costco member to qualify. Costco memberships begin at $60 per year.

Annual Fee

The credit card has no annual fee, but it does require a Costco membership that starts at $60 per year. When you have the Costco Anywhere Visa Card, you can use the credit card in place of your membership I.D. card, so it doesn’t add any weight to your wallet.

Other Fees

In addition to the required paid Costco membership, the card has fees for balance transfers, cash advances, late payments and returned payments.

Recommended Credit Score

Although Citi does not disclose specific credit score requirements, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card is intended for applicants with good to excellent credit, with a recommended credit score of 670 to 850. 

Higher credit scores increase the likelihood of approval and may result in better terms, but other factors such as income, employment history, and debt-to-income ratio are also considered when making decisions. Keep in mind that even a score within the expected range does not guarantee approval because issuers consider a variety of factors when evaluating applications.

How the Costco Anywhere Visa Card Compares

With competitive cash back rates on popular gas, restaurant and travel categories, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card is among the best cash-back cards. After factoring in additional bonus rewards for regular Costco shoppers and no annual fee, this card is a clear winner. But here is how it stacks up to similar no-annual-fee cards.

Even if it isn’t your primary card, adding the Costco Visa to your wallet can help you earn higher rewards in certain purchase categories where you may have earned less with another card.

Costco Anywhere Visa Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great cash-back credit card for everyday purchases. If you aren't a regular Costco shopper and don't want to keep up with a Costco membership, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can provide more value as an everyday cash-back card.

There's no annual fee and you earn a solid 3% back on dining at restaurants and drugstore purchases, which are practical spending categories. You'll also earn a solid 1.5% back on all other purchases, which is higher than Costco's 1% cash back on purchases outside the rewards categories.

But if you are a Costco member and spend a lot of money on gas/EV charging, dining at restaurants, travel, and Costco store or Costco.com purchases, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card may be a better option for you.

Costco Anywhere Visa Card vs. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

If you're keen on the Costco Anywhere Visa Card, you might also be interested in the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card. It gives you 3% cash back in the eligible category of your choice, which you can change monthly depending on your spending habits. You'll also earn 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and an unlimited 1% on everything else. 

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the few cash-back credit cards with a rewards program that regularly includes wholesale clubs. It also includes a sign-up bonus for new cardholders who meet the offer's terms and conditions. However, the card's cash-back rewards are subject to lower spending limits that are capped at $2,500 each quarter. As a result, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card may be a better choice for households that spend a lot of money at Costco.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• $0 Annual Fee
• $300 Editor's
  Bonus Estimate More Info

  Learn more about how we evaluate points and miles in our monthly evaluation guide.

• Bonus Offer 1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info

  Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

• 19.99% - 28.74% (Variable) APR

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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

• $0 Annual Fee
• $200 Editor's
  Bonus Estimate More Info

  Learn more about how we evaluate points and miles in our monthly evaluation guide.

• Bonus Offer $200Cash Bonus More Info

  $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

• XX.XX% - XX.XX% Variable APR on purchases APR

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Who Should Get the Costco Anywhere Visa Card?

Overall, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is an excellent card that is highly recommended for Costco members who are looking to earn cash back rewards on everyday purchases, including fuel, restaurants, travel and their usual Costco haul. With no annual fee, you can use this card for free as long as you pay it off in full every month by the due date and avoid certain fee-bearing activities.

A good cash back rewards card should put cash back in your pocket where you spend most, and for many Costco members, this card does exactly that. If you shop a lot at Costco, you'll be able to earn enough in rewards to offset the annual fee, and then some. If you prefer another wholesale club, Sam's Club also offers a credit card with decent rewards for its members.

Best for Costco Shoppers

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Rates & Fees

FAQs

• What are the benefits of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card?

  The Costco Anywhere Visa Card has a number of benefits, including competitive cash back rewards, no annual fee, extended warranty coverage, purchase protection, and travel benefits such as worldwide car rental insurance, travel accident insurance, and 24/7 global assistance, making it an appealing option for Costco members and those who spend in the highlighted categories.

• Is the Costco Anywhere Visa Card worth getting?

  Yes, in general, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card is worthwhile for Costco members or those planning to join, as well as those who frequently spend money on gas, dining, and travel. If you don't shop at Costco or your spending habits don't align with the card's rewards structure, other rewards credit cards may be a better fit for you.

• Does the Costco Anywhere Visa Card give cash back?

  Yes, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card gives cash back in a variety of spending categories. Cardholders receive 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases (up to $7,000 per year, then 1%), 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, 2% cash back on all Costco and Costco.com purchases, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The cash back is provided in the form of an annual reward certificate that can be redeemed for cash or merchandise at Costco warehouses, making it a valuable option for those who shop at Costco frequently and spend in the highlighted categories on the card.

• Can anyone qualify for get a Costco Anywhere Visa Card?

  If you have good to excellent credit and keep a paid Costco membership, which starts at around $60 per year, you have a higher likelihood of being approved for the Costco Anywhere Visa Card. Other factors that impact approval odds are income, employment history, and debt-to-income ratio.

• Can you earn rewards on international purchases with the Costco Anywhere Visa Card?

  Yes, you can earn rewards on purchases abroad when you use the Costco Anywhere Visa card. There are no foreign transaction fees, so you'll be able to earn rewards without paying extra in fees.

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