What the Costco Anywhere Visa Card offers

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi is a cash-back card issued through Citi that requires a Costco membership to use. You earn 2% cash back on Costco purchases and gas, 1% on all other spending, and the card has no annual fee beyond the membership cost itself. The card is designed for people who shop at Costco regularly and want rewards tied directly to their spending there.

Unlike many cash-back cards, this one does not offer rotating categories or bonus categories outside Costco. The rewards structure is flat: 2% at Costco and gas stations, 1% everywhere else. There is no sign-up bonus. The card is a Visa, so it works at any merchant that accepts Visa, but the highest rewards tier only applies inside Costco.

You can use the card to pay for your Costco membership itself, which means you earn 2% cash back on that renewal fee. The card comes with purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and travel accident insurance — standard benefits for mid-tier Visa cards.

Key Takeaways

  • You must have an active Costco membership to open this card; the card itself has no annual fee, but membership costs $60 to $130 per year depending on tier.
  • The 2% cash back at Costco and gas stations is the main draw, since most competing cards offer 1.5% to 2% on groceries but not gas.
  • Cash back is issued as an annual statement credit in December, not monthly, so you cannot redeem rewards until the end of the year.
  • The card does not offer a sign-up bonus, rotating categories, or bonus rewards outside Costco, making it less flexible than some general-purpose cash-back cards.
  • Citi handles the card, so disputes and account management go through Citi's systems, not Costco's.

When the 2% cash back at Costco makes sense

The card's value depends entirely on how much you spend at Costco. If you shop there weekly and spend $100 or more per trip, the 2% cash back adds up quickly. A household that spends $5,000 per year at Costco earns $100 in cash back. At $10,000 per year, you earn $200.

The gas station rewards are a secondary benefit. The card pays 2% on gas at any station, not just Costco gas. If you fill up weekly and spend $50 per fill-up, that is $2,600 per year in gas spending, earning $52 in cash back. Combined with Costco purchases, a regular shopper and driver can earn $250 to $400 per year in rewards.

The card makes less sense if you shop at Costco only a few times per year or spend under $1,000 annually there. In that case, the membership cost ($60 to $130) may exceed your rewards, and a flat 2% cash-back card with no annual fee would serve you better. You would also need to factor in whether you use the other Costco member benefits — discounted gas, pharmacy services, optical — which may justify the membership independent of the card.

How cash back works and when you receive it

Cash back on the Costco Anywhere card is not issued monthly or on demand. Instead, Citi calculates your total rewards once per year and issues a statement credit in December. This means you cannot redeem rewards until the calendar year ends, and you cannot choose to take the cash back as a check or transfer it elsewhere.

The statement credit appears on your December billing statement and reduces your balance due. If you have a $200 cash-back reward and a $500 December balance, your statement will show a $300 amount due. If you have no balance, the credit sits as a negative balance (a credit in your favor) that you can use toward future purchases.

This annual-only structure is different from most competing cards, which issue rewards monthly or let you redeem on demand. If you prefer to see rewards accumulate and redeem them throughout the year, this card's structure may feel restrictive.

Comparing the Costco card to other cash-back options

The main competitor is the Costco Anywhere Visa Card for American Express members, which is a different card issued by American Express. That card also requires Costco membership and offers 3% cash back on Costco purchases, 2% on gas and travel, and 1% elsewhere. However, it is only available to American Express members, and American Express has stricter acceptance at smaller merchants.

Outside Costco, the Costco Citi card competes with flat-rate cards like the Citi Double Cash (2% on all purchases, no annual fee) and the Capital One Quicksilver (1.5% on all purchases, $39 annual fee). If you spend equally at Costco and elsewhere, the Citi Double Cash earns the same 2% everywhere, making it simpler. If you spend more outside Costco than inside, the Double Cash is likely better.

For groceries specifically, cards like the Chase Freedom Flex (5% on groceries up to $12,500 per year, then 1%) and the Amex Blue Cash Preferred (3% on groceries) offer higher rewards in that category. But the Costco card's 2% on gas is harder to match — most grocery-focused cards offer only 1% on gas.

Credit requirements and how to open the card

Citi does not publish a minimum credit score for this card, but approval typically requires good to excellent credit (670 or higher). You can check your credit score through your bank, a free service like Credit Karma, or by requesting a free annual report at AnnualCreditReport.com.

To open the card, you must first have an active Costco membership. You can explore online through Citi's website or in person at a Costco warehouse. The online process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, income, employment, and Social Security number. Citi will pull a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points.

You will receive a decision when ready or within a few days. If approved, the card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can use it at Costco once it arrives, and you can also request a digital card number through the Citi app to use online or at other merchants before the physical card comes.

Fees, interest rates, and other costs

The Costco Anywhere card has no annual fee. The only cost is your Costco membership, which is $60 per year for Gold Star (basic), $120 for Executive (includes 2% cash back on Costco purchases, separate from the card), or $130 for Gold Star Plus (warehouse plus online). The card itself does not charge foreign transaction fees, which is useful if you travel internationally.

The purchase APR (interest rate on purchases) varies by creditworthiness and is not published in advance. Citi typically offers rates between 14% and 24% for this card. If you carry a balance, you will pay interest on that balance at your assigned rate. The card has no 0% introductory period, so interest accrues from day one if you do not pay in full.

There is no penalty APR disclosed, but Citi's standard practice is to charge a higher rate if you miss a payment. Late fees are typically $25 to $35 depending on how late the payment is. To avoid these costs, set up automatic payments or pay your balance in full each month.

Rewards limits and restrictions

The Costco card does not cap cash-back rewards, so there is no maximum you can earn per year. However, the 2% rate only applies to Costco and gas purchases. Warehouse club purchases at other stores (Sam's Club, BJ's Wholesale) earn only 1%, the same as all other non-Costco, non-gas spending.

Costco gift cards purchased at the warehouse count as Costco purchases and earn 2% cash back. However, if you buy a Costco gift card at another retailer (like a grocery store), it may not earn the 2% rate — it depends on how the merchant codes the transaction.

Cash back does not roll over if you do not use it. If you close the card or your Costco membership lapses, any unused cash-back rewards are forfeited. This is another reason the annual-only payout structure matters: if you plan to leave Costco, you should time your card closure after your December statement credit posts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this card outside Costco?

Yes, the card is a Visa and works anywhere Visa is accepted. However, you only earn 2% cash back at Costco and gas stations. All other purchases earn 1%. If you use the card primarily outside Costco, a flat 2% cash-back card with no annual fee would earn you more.

What happens to my rewards if I cancel my Costco membership?

If your membership lapses, you can no longer use the card at Costco, but any cash-back rewards that have already posted to your account remain yours. Rewards that have not yet posted (from purchases made before your December statement) may be forfeited. Check your December statement before your membership expires.

Do I earn cash back on Costco gas purchases?

Yes, Costco gas purchases earn 2% cash back, the same as warehouse purchases. This includes both Costco-branded gas stations and any other gas station where you use the card. The 2% rate applies to the full purchase amount, including taxes.

Can I get a sign-up bonus with this card?

No, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card does not offer a sign-up bonus. Your rewards come only from ongoing purchases at the 2% and 1% rates. If a sign-up bonus is important to you, other cash-back cards offer $100 to $200 bonuses for meeting spending thresholds.

How do I check my cash-back balance?

You can view your rewards balance through the Citi mobile app or by logging into your account on Citi's website. Your balance updates as purchases post to your account. The final cash-back amount appears on your December statement, and the credit is applied automatically.