What Is the Most Difficult Citi Card to Get?

The Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi is one of the more difficult Citi cards to qualify for, particularly if you do not have a strong credit history. Citi does not publish an official ranking of its cards by approval difficulty, but the Costco card stands out because Citi considers credit score, credit history, income, credit utilization, credit mix and recent credit applications when reviewing applicants, and you must also have an active Costco membership. Based on my experience working with Citi credit cards over the years, I would expect applicants for this card to have a strong, well-established credit profile.

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Is the Costco Anywhere Visa the Hardest Citi Card to Get?

It is one of the more difficult Citi cards to qualify for, but Citi does not officially identify it as the single hardest card to get. Citi evaluates several factors when reviewing an application, and the issuer specifically says that a higher credit score may improve your chances of approval for the Costco Anywhere Visa.

Citi also considers your income, creditworthiness, payment history, credit utilization, credit mix and recent credit applications. Having an excellent credit score by itself does not guarantee approval, because Citi looks at the overall credit profile.

Why Is the Costco Citi Card Difficult to Get?

There are two separate requirements that make the Costco Anywhere Visa different from many other Citi cards: you need a Costco membership, and you need to meet Citi's credit and income requirements.

The Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi is available exclusively to Costco members. Citi requires an active Costco membership when you apply, so someone who does not belong to Costco cannot simply apply for the credit card on its own.

Membership, however, does not guarantee approval. Citi still evaluates the credit application using factors such as credit history, credit score, income and recent credit activity.

What Credit Score Do You Need for the Costco Citi Card?

Citi does not publish a specific minimum credit score for the Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card. Citi's own guidance says that a higher credit score could improve your chances of approval, but it does not state that applicants must have a particular FICO^® score.

In my experience, I would not market this card as a card for applicants with fair or damaged credit. The Costco card is better viewed as a card for applicants who have established, strong credit and are comfortable meeting Citi's other approval requirements.

That does not mean someone with a particular score is automatically approved or denied. Citi considers the complete application, and two applicants with similar credit scores can receive different decisions based on their overall credit profiles.

Costco Membership Is Required

You must have an active Costco membership to apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi. Citi specifically states that the card is available exclusively to Costco members. If you are not already a member, you must become a Costco member before applying.

This gives the Costco card an additional eligibility requirement that many other Citi credit cards do not have. You need both the appropriate credit profile for Citi's underwriting standards and an active Costco membership.

What Does Citi Look at When Approving the Costco Card?

Citi considers more than your credit score when reviewing an application for the Costco Anywhere Visa. According to Citi, factors that may affect your eligibility include:

• Credit score: A higher score may improve your chances of approval.
• Payment history: Citi may consider whether you have consistently paid your debts on time.
• Credit utilization: The amount of your available revolving credit that you are currently using can affect your creditworthiness.
• Credit history: Your overall experience managing credit can be important when Citi evaluates your application.
• Income: Citi considers your income and may also consider your debt-to-income ratio.
• Recent credit applications: Applying for several credit cards in a short period can affect how an issuer evaluates your application.

How Does the Costco Card Compare With Other Citi Cards?

Many other Citi cards are available across a broader range of credit profiles, while the Costco Anywhere Visa is generally a card I would reserve for applicants with stronger credit. Citi's current lineup includes cards designed around rewards, travel, introductory APRs and other purposes, so approval requirements vary from one card to another.

For example, the Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card is designed around introductory APR and balance transfer features, while the Citi Strata^℠ Card focuses on rewards. Neither card requires a Costco membership.

The Citi Strata Premier^® Card and Citi Strata Elite^℠ Card are also designed for rewards and travel, but they have their own underwriting requirements and do not require Costco membership.

Can You Pre-Qualify for the Costco Citi Card?

Yes. Citi currently offers a pre-qualification process for the Costco Anywhere Visa that uses a soft credit inquiry. Pre-qualification can give you an indication of whether you may qualify before you submit a formal application, but it does not guarantee approval.

Citi says that pre-qualification does not trigger a hard inquiry, while the formal application is still subject to the normal credit approval process.

If you want to check your eligibility before submitting a formal application, you can learn more about Costco credit card pre-approval and prequalification.

Should You Apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa?

If you have strong credit, an established credit history and an active Costco membership, the card may be worth considering. If your credit is currently weak or you have several recent credit applications, it may make sense to review your credit profile before submitting a formal application.

The Costco Anywhere Visa also makes the most sense for someone who actually shops at Costco. The card is specifically designed around Costco purchases and other spending categories, and your Costco membership must remain active to maintain the card's membership-related benefits.

➤ Check for Costco Credit Card Prequalification

Bottom Line: What Is the Most Difficult Citi Card to Get?

Citi does not officially rank its cards by difficulty, but the Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi is one of the more demanding Citi cards to qualify for. Citi says that credit score, credit history, income, utilization and recent applications can all affect approval, and an active Costco membership is required.

Based on my experience with Citi credit cards over the years, I would consider the Costco card a card for applicants with strong credit rather than a card to target if you are still rebuilding your credit. Having excellent credit does not guarantee approval, but a strong overall credit profile gives you a better starting point when Citi evaluates the application.

For a broader look at the Citi application process, see our Citi credit card application guide for information about choosing a card, checking eligibility and applying.