The Costco Anywhere Visa gives you cash back on Costco purchases and everyday spending, plus travel and purchase protections that come with the card itself

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is a rewards card issued by Citi that you use at Costco warehouses and online, plus anywhere Visa is accepted. You earn cash back on purchases — the rate depends on what you buy and where. The card also includes benefits like travel accident insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty coverage that Citi adds to the card as a cardholder benefit, separate from the cash back.

You do not need to be a Costco member to hold the card, but you do need a Costco membership to shop at the warehouse. The card costs nothing to carry — there is no annual fee.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns 2% cash back at Costco warehouses and Costco.com, 1% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% on all other purchases.
  • Cash back is paid as an annual reward certificate that you can use at the warehouse or online, or you can request a check instead.
  • The card includes travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and purchase protection against theft or damage within 90 days of purchase.
  • You can carry the card without a Costco membership, but you cannot use it to shop at the warehouse unless you have one.
  • The card is a Visa Signature card, which means you get concierge services, travel booking information, and other perks beyond the cash back.

How the cash back works and when you receive it

You earn cash back at different rates depending on where you spend. At Costco warehouses and Costco.com, you earn 2% back. At gas stations and restaurants anywhere, you earn 1% back. On everything else — groceries outside Costco, online shopping, utilities — you earn 1% back.

The cash back does not post to your account monthly or when ready. Instead, Citi calculates your total cash back once per year and sends you a Costco Cash reward certificate in the mail, usually in December. You can use this certificate to pay for anything at the warehouse or on Costco.com — it works like a store gift card. If you prefer cash instead of a certificate, you can call Citi and request a check, though this is less common and you should confirm the option is still available when you call.

The 2% rate at Costco applies only to purchases made with the card itself. If you use a different payment method at the warehouse, you earn nothing. The 1% rate at gas stations and restaurants applies anywhere in the world, not just the United States.

Travel and purchase protections included with the card

Beyond cash back, the Costco Anywhere Visa includes several protections that Citi provides to all cardholders. Travel accident insurance covers accidental death or dismemberment if you are injured while traveling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus, ship) that you paid for with the card. The coverage amount varies — you should contact Citi to confirm the current limit, as these amounts change.

Lost luggage reimbursement covers baggage and personal belongings if an airline loses or delays your luggage for more than 12 hours. Purchase protection covers items you buy with the card if they are stolen or damaged within 90 days of purchase. You file a claim with Citi, and they reimburse you up to a limit per item and per claim — again, these limits change, so confirm them with Citi before relying on the coverage.

These protections are secondary, meaning your homeowner's or renter's insurance, or the airline's own coverage, pays first. You use the Visa protection only if those sources do not cover the loss or if you do not have other insurance.

Visa Signature benefits and concierge services

The Costco Anywhere Visa is a Visa Signature card, which means Citi includes additional perks beyond the cash back and insurance. These include concierge services — you can call a phone number on the back of your card to reach a concierge who can help with travel bookings, restaurant reservations, and event tickets. The concierge does not charge you for this service.

Visa Signature also includes extended warranty protection on may be able to access items. If a manufacturer's warranty expires within one year of purchase, Visa extends it by an additional year at no cost. This applies to most electronics and appliances, though some items are excluded — check with Citi for the full list.

You also receive emergency card replacement if your card is lost or stolen while you are traveling. Citi can issue a replacement card to you at your travel location or arrange for emergency cash advances.

How the card compares to other Costco payment options

Costco also accepts other Visa cards, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover at the warehouse. If you use a different card, you do not earn the 2% cash back at Costco — you earn whatever your other card offers, which is often 1% or less. Outside Costco, many cash back cards offer 2% or higher on groceries, gas, or restaurants, so the Costco Anywhere Visa's 1% rate on those categories may not be the best choice if you spend heavily outside Costco.

The Costco Anywhere Visa has no annual fee, which makes it cheaper to carry than some premium travel cards. However, it also offers fewer perks than premium cards — for example, it does not include trip cancellation insurance or primary auto rental coverage. The card is designed for people who shop at Costco regularly and want to maximize rewards there, not for frequent travelers or people who spend most of their money outside the warehouse.

Who should consider this card and who should not

The Costco Anywhere Visa makes sense if you shop at Costco at least a few times per year and spend enough to earn back more than the cost of a Costco membership. Since the card itself is free, the only cost is the membership — which ranges from about $60 to $130 per year depending on the membership tier. If you spend $3,000 or more per year at Costco, the 2% cash back alone will likely cover the membership cost.

The card is less useful if you rarely visit Costco or if you do most of your spending at other retailers. The 1% cash back on non-Costco purchases is competitive with some cards but lower than cards that offer 2% on groceries or gas. If you travel frequently, you might prefer a card with trip cancellation insurance or primary auto rental coverage, which the Costco card does not include.

How to request the card and what to expect

You can request the Costco Anywhere Visa through Citi's website or by calling the number on the back of a Costco membership card. Citi will ask for your Social Security number, income, and other information to check your credit. The decision usually comes within a few minutes, though it can take up to a week if Citi needs to verify information.

Once approved, the card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can set up it online or by phone. Your first cash back certificate will arrive the following December, covering all purchases you made from the month you were approved through the end of that year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Costco membership to get the card?

No, you can hold the card without a membership. However, you cannot use it to shop at a Costco warehouse without one. You can use it anywhere else Visa is accepted, and you can shop on Costco.com with a membership.

Can I use the card at other stores or just Costco?

You can use it anywhere Visa is accepted — grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, online retailers, everywhere. You earn 2% only at Costco and Costco.com, and 1% everywhere else.

What happens if I do not use my cash back certificate?

The certificate does not expire. You can use it anytime at the warehouse or on Costco.com. If you move away or stop shopping at Costco, you can still request a check from Citi instead of a certificate.

Does the card have an annual fee?

No. The Costco Anywhere Visa has no annual fee. You pay only for your Costco membership if you want to shop at the warehouse.

Can I earn cash back on Costco Gas purchases?

No. Purchases at Costco Gas stations earn 1% cash back, not 2%, even though they are technically Costco locations. The 2% rate applies only to warehouse purchases and Costco.com.