What the Costco Citi Visa Card does

The Costco Citi Visa Card is a rewards card issued by Citi that you can use at Costco warehouses and online at Costco.com, as well as everywhere else Visa is accepted. The card earns cash back on purchases in specific categories—the rates and categories differ depending on where you shop. You get the rewards as an annual statement credit that posts to your account once a year, usually in December.

You do not need to be a Costco member to open the card, but you do need a Costco membership to use it at the warehouse. The card itself has no annual fee.

Citi handles the account—billing, payments, customer service, and dispute resolution all go through Citi, not Costco. When you call the number on the back of the card, you reach Citi.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns 4% cash back at Costco warehouses and Costco.com, 1% at gas stations and on travel, and 1% on all other purchases.
  • Your cash back reward posts once a year as a statement credit, not as a separate payment or points balance.
  • You can open the card without a Costco membership, but you cannot use it at the warehouse unless you have one.
  • The card has no annual fee, but Citi may deny your process based on credit history and income.
  • You can use the card anywhere Visa is accepted, not just at Costco.

How the cash back rewards work

The card earns rewards at four different rates. At Costco warehouses and Costco.com, you earn 4% cash back. At gas stations (including Costco gas), you earn 2% cash back. On travel purchases—airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and some travel booking sites—you earn 2% cash back. On everything else, you earn 1% cash back.

Your rewards do not accumulate as points or miles. Instead, Citi calculates your total cash back for the year and posts it as a statement credit once a year, usually in December. The credit reduces your balance due on your next bill. You cannot transfer rewards to another account, redeem them for merchandise, or convert them to travel miles.

If you close the card before your annual rewards post, you forfeit any cash back you have earned that year. Rewards do not roll over to the next year—you either use the statement credit or lose it.

Costco warehouse vs. online vs. everywhere else

The 4% rate applies only to purchases at Costco warehouses and Costco.com. If you buy from a third-party seller on Costco.com, you still earn 4% because the transaction posts as a Costco.com purchase. Purchases at Costco gas stations earn 2%, not 4%, even though they are at a Costco location.

Outside Costco, the card earns 2% at gas stations (including non-Costco pumps) and on travel, and 1% everywhere else. "Travel" includes airline tickets booked directly with the airline or through a travel agent, hotel stays, rental cars, and some travel booking platforms like Expedia and Kayak. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft count as 1%, not 2%.

The card works at any merchant that accepts Visa, so you can use it for groceries at other stores, restaurants, online shopping, utilities, and any other purchase. You just earn 1% cash back on those transactions.

How to open the card

You can open the card online at the Citi website or at Costco.com. The online process takes about 10 minutes. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, address, and employment information. Citi will check your credit report and may ask for additional information like recent tax returns or bank statements.

Citi will tell you when ready whether you are approved, denied, or pending a decision. If you are approved, your card ships within 7 to 10 business days. If you are pending, Citi will call you within a few days to ask follow-up questions. If you are denied, you can reapply after 30 days, though Citi will not tell you the specific reason for the denial.

You do not need a Costco membership to open the card. However, you cannot use the card at a Costco warehouse without a valid membership. If you do not have a membership, you can still use the card online at Costco.com and everywhere else Visa is accepted.

Activating and using your card

When your card arrives, you must set up it before you can use it. You can set up it online through your Citi account, by calling the number on the back of the card, or by making a purchase (which automatically activates it). set up is when ready and takes less than a minute.

Once activated, you can use the card at any Costco warehouse, at Costco.com, at gas pumps, at hotels and airlines, and at any other merchant that accepts Visa. You can also set up automatic payments, view your balance, and manage your account through the Citi website or mobile app.

The card has a PIN for ATM withdrawals and in-person purchases. You can set your PIN online or by calling Citi. Some merchants may ask for your signature instead of a PIN.

Paying your bill and managing your account

Your bill is due on the same date each month, usually 21 to 25 days after your statement closes. You can pay online through Citi's website, by phone, by mail, or through automatic payments. Citi charges no fee for any of these payment methods.

If you pay less than the full balance, Citi charges interest on the remaining amount. The interest rate (APR) varies based on your credit score and is disclosed in your card agreement. Late payments are reported to credit bureaus and may damage your credit score.

You can view your balance, recent transactions, and rewards total anytime through the Citi website or mobile app. You can also set up alerts for large purchases, due dates, or when your statement closes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Costco membership to open the card?

No. You can open the card without a membership. However, you cannot use it at a Costco warehouse without one. You can still use the card online at Costco.com and everywhere else Visa is accepted.

When do I get my cash back rewards?

Your rewards post once a year, usually in December, as a statement credit on your account. The credit reduces your next bill. You cannot receive the rewards as cash or transfer them elsewhere.

What happens to my rewards if I close the card?

If you close the card before your annual rewards post, you lose any cash back you earned that year. If you close it after the rewards post, you keep the statement credit. Rewards do not roll over to a new card if you upgrade or switch.

Can I use this card outside the United States?

Yes, you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted internationally. Citi charges a foreign transaction fee of 1% on purchases made outside the U.S., which is added to your bill. Some travel purchases booked in foreign currency may have additional fees.

What if I dispute a charge?

Contact Citi by phone or through your online account to report a fraudulent or incorrect charge. Citi will investigate and typically issue a temporary credit while they review the claim. The process usually takes 30 to 60 days. You are not responsible for unauthorized charges if you report them promptly.