The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi: Benefits, Drawbacks, and Maximizing Rewards
November 13, 2025
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is one of the most popular and rewarding warehouse credit cards available today. Exclusively for Costco members, this card offers substantial cash back rates across a variety of common spending categories, making it a powerful tool for savvy shoppers.
If you're already a loyal Costco shopper, a frequent traveler, or a household with significant gas expenses, this guide will help you determine if this card is an excellent addition to your wallet. Read on to discover all the benefits and understand if it's the right choice for you to apply today.
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At a Glance: Key Features
Top Earning Categories
The card is designed to reward purchases both inside and outside the warehouse:Important Note on Gas Rewards: The merchant category codes determine where you earn 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases. It's crucial to understand these codes to maximize your rewards.
The Pros: Why Apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi?
1. Excellent Rewards on Gas and TravelThe card offers an exceptionally high cash back rate on gas purchases and a strong rate for travel and dining expenses, providing significant savings for commuters and travelers alike.
2. No Annual Fee (With Membership)
While you must be a Costco member to apply, Citi itself charges no additional annual fee for the card. If you are already paying for a membership, this is essentially a free rewards card.
3. No Foreign Transaction Fees
This is a huge benefit for travelers. You can use your card worldwide without incurring the typical foreign transaction fees charged by many other cards.
4. Additional Benefits
The card comes with extra perks like worldwide car rental insurance and access to Citi Entertainment events. We cover these in more detail in our article on Hidden Costco Anywhere Visa® Benefits: Travel and Purchase Protections.
The Cons: Drawbacks to Consider
1. Membership is MandatoryThis card is not for everyone. You cannot apply unless you have an active Costco membership. The membership fee is a prerequisite cost.
2. Annual Lump-Sum Redemption
Unlike some cash back cards that allow you to redeem rewards monthly, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi provides you an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico. You must redeem this certificate for cash or merchandise at a U.S. Costco warehouse. For a complete guide on this process, read our article: How to Redeem Your Costco Credit Card Rewards Certificate: Step-by-Step Guide.
3. High Credit Score Needed
Approval generally requires excellent credit (a FICO score of 750+), so it may not be accessible to individuals who are still building or rebuilding their credit history.
4. No 0% Intro APR Offer
The card does not offer a promotional 0% intro APR on purchases or balance transfers, making it less ideal for financing large purchases over time.
Maximizing Your Rewards: A Pro Strategy
For the ultimate savings, combine your Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi with a Costco Executive Membership (which costs $120 annually).The Executive Membership provides a separate 2% annual reward on most Costco and Costco.com purchases. This reward stacks with the 2% cash back from your credit card, allowing you to earn an effective 4% total back on most purchases within the warehouse! Note that gas and food court purchases are not eligible for the Executive Reward, but still earn the credit card's high rates respectively. Read our detailed guide on how to maximize your savings with an Executive Membership.
Ready to Apply?
If you shop at Costco regularly, drive frequently, and have excellent credit, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers a compelling rewards structure that can put real cash back in your pocket every year.You must be a current Costco member to apply. If you aren't one yet, you can sign up for a membership first on the official Costco website or at any warehouse.
Once your membership is active, you can apply for the credit card in one of three easy ways:
1. Online: Complete the application on the official Citi website.
2. In-person: Visit the membership desk at your nearest Costco warehouse.
3. By phone: Call Citi directly at 1-800-259-3052.
Apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi Today!
Start maximizing your spending and unlock significant cash back rewards on your everyday purchases.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
- Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter.
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel.
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
- Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
Found this guide helpful? Bookmark it for future reference as you continue your financial journey!
Experian Boost: A Comprehensive Guide to Boosting Your Free Credit Score
FICO® Credit Scores
FICO® Score Ranges:
- Exceptional: 800–850
- Very Good: 740–799
- Good: 670–739
- Fair: 580–669
- Poor: 300–579
What is a Credit Score?
A credit score is a three-digit number, typically ranging from 300 to 850, that predicts your creditworthiness—how likely you are to repay borrowed money on time. Lenders use this score to assess the risk of lending to you and to determine the interest rates and terms of any credit you might receive.
Why is a Credit Score Important?
A credit score is important because it acts as your financial reputation. Lenders, landlords, insurers, and employers use this single number to quickly judge how reliable you are with money. A higher score helps you qualify for loans and credit cards, often securing lower interest rates that can save you significant money. Conversely, a poor credit score can lead to application denials or much higher costs for borrowing, making it a key factor in your overall financial opportunities.
FICO® Credit Score Facts
- Three-Digit Number: Like other credit scores, FICO® Scores are a three-digit number that summarizes a consumer's credit risk.
- Range: Most standard FICO® Scores range from 300 to 850. Higher scores indicate lower credit risk.
- Data Source: FICO® Scores are calculated using data from your credit reports maintained by the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Your score may vary slightly depending on which bureau's data is used.
- Industry Standard: Lenders rely on FICO® Scores for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards because they provide a consistent, statistically sound assessment of the likelihood that a borrower will repay their debt.
Note: Credit scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any credit card product.
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