The Costco Anywhere Visa Card gives you cash back on Costco purchases and gas, plus travel protections

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi returns 2% cash back on Costco and Costco Gas purchases, 1% on all other purchases, and includes roadside information, travel accident insurance, and extended warranty coverage. There is an annual fee of $65 for the standard card and $130 for the Executive version, which adds an extra 1% cash back on Costco purchases (for 3% total) and comes with an annual 2% reward certificate.

The card is issued by Citi and works only at Costco locations and Costco.com — you cannot use it at other retailers. You must be a Costco member to open the card, and the card itself serves as your membership card.

Key Takeaways

  • The standard card costs $65 per year and returns 2% on Costco purchases and gas, 1% on everything else; the Executive version costs $130 and returns 3% on Costco purchases plus an annual 2% reward certificate.
  • Cash back posts to your Costco Cash account as a certificate you can spend only at Costco, not as a statement credit or direct deposit.
  • The card includes roadside information, travel accident insurance, and extended warranty protection, but these are secondary benefits that do not replace a dedicated travel card.
  • You must hold an active Costco membership to carry the card, and the card replaces your physical membership card.
  • The card earns no points or miles that transfer to airline or hotel programs, and there are no category bonuses outside Costco and gas.

How cash back works and when you can use it

Cash back from the Costco card appears as a Costco Cash certificate in your account, not as a credit to your bill or a deposit to your bank. Costco Cash certificates arrive by mail or can be printed from your online account, and you redeem them at the register like a gift card. The certificate is valid for one year from the issue date.

You earn 2% cash back on all Costco warehouse purchases and Costco Gas purchases (including the fuel station at the warehouse). You earn 1% on all other Visa purchases — groceries at other stores, restaurants, utilities, anything outside Costco. The Executive card bumps the Costco and gas rate to 3%, and you receive an annual 2% reward certificate (worth roughly 2% of your annual Costco spending, capped at $1,000 in rewards) in addition to the cash back you earn month to month.

Costco Cash cannot be used online at Costco.com — only in the warehouse. If you shop primarily online, the cash back benefit is limited to in-person visits.

Annual fees and when the Executive card makes sense

The standard card charges $65 per year with no waiver period. The Executive card charges $130 per year. To break even on the Executive upgrade, you need to earn at least $65 more in rewards annually, which means spending roughly $2,167 extra on Costco purchases (the difference between 2% and 3% cash back). If you spend $7,000 or more per year at Costco, the Executive card typically pays for itself.

The Executive card's annual 2% reward certificate is separate from your monthly cash back. If you spend $5,000 per year at Costco, you earn $150 in monthly cash back (3% of $5,000) plus a $100 reward certificate (2% of $5,000), totaling $250 in rewards against a $130 fee — a net gain of $120. At lower spending levels, the standard card is cheaper.

Both cards waive the annual fee for the first year if you open the card through a Costco warehouse or Costco.com promotion, though this varies by location and timing.

Travel and purchase protections included with the card

The Costco card includes roadside information at no extra cost — you can call for towing, lockout service, fuel delivery, and jump starts. This is a secondary benefit; it does not replace AAA or a dedicated roadside plan if you already carry one.

The card also covers travel accident insurance, which pays a benefit if you die or are permanently disabled in a travel accident while the ticket was purchased with the card. This is a narrow benefit that applies only to commercial airline, train, or bus travel, and only if the ticket was charged to the Costco card. It does not cover rental cars, hotels, or trip cancellation.

Extended warranty protection doubles the manufacturer's warranty on may be able to access items purchased with the card, up to one additional year. You must register the item and submit a claim with proof of purchase. This applies to most electronics and appliances but excludes items like jewelry, art, and vehicles.

Comparing the Costco card to other premium cards

The Costco card earns no points or miles that transfer to airline or hotel programs. If you travel frequently and want to accumulate rewards toward flights or hotel stays, a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum will give you more flexibility. Those cards also offer higher cash back rates on travel and dining, though they charge higher annual fees ($550 and up).

If you shop at multiple warehouse clubs or retailers, the American Express Blue Business Plus card returns 1% cash back on all purchases (no annual fee) and 3% on U.S. online purchases, with no warehouse restriction. However, it requires a business account and does not offer the Costco-specific 2% rate.

For pure Costco spending, the Costco card has no real competitor — it is the only card that earns cash back at Costco at all. The trade-off is that your rewards are locked into Costco Cash, which you can spend only at Costco.

What happens to your membership and card if you close the account

If you close the Costco credit card, your Costco membership does not automatically end. However, the card itself serves as your membership card, so you will need to request a replacement physical membership card from Costco. You can do this at the warehouse or by calling Costco member services.

Any unused Costco Cash certificates remain valid until their one-year expiration date. After that, they cannot be reissued or refunded. If you have a balance on the card when you close it, you still owe the full amount; closing the card does not erase the debt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Costco card outside the United States?

Yes, the card is a Visa and works internationally. However, you earn cash back only on Costco purchases, and Costco locations outside the U.S. are limited to Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Foreign transaction fees may explore depending on your bank's terms.

What if I have a Costco membership but do not want the credit card?

You can keep your membership and pay with a different card or cash. The credit card is optional. You will not earn cash back, but you can still shop at Costco with your membership card or by providing your membership number at checkout.

Does the Costco card offer price protection or purchase protection?

No. The card does not cover price drops after purchase or protect against theft or damage to items you buy. It includes only extended warranty, roadside information, and travel accident insurance.

How do I redeem my Costco Cash certificate?

Costco Cash arrives by mail or can be printed from your online account. Bring it to the register and hand it to the cashier like a gift card. It cannot be split across multiple transactions, and change is not given — if your certificate is for $50 and your purchase is $40, you lose the $10 difference.

Can I transfer my cash back to another card or bank account?

No. Cash back from the Costco card appears only as a Costco Cash certificate. You cannot redirect it to a different card, convert it to points, or deposit it into a bank account. It can be spent only at Costco.