The Costco Citi Visa is a co-branded card that gives you cash back on Costco purchases and gas
The Costco Citi Visa is a credit card issued by Citi in partnership with Costco. You earn cash back on purchases made at Costco warehouses and Costco.com, plus on gas and restaurants. The card has an annual membership fee that mirrors your Costco membership tier — there is no separate credit card fee on top of that.
The card is only for Costco members. If you do not have a Costco membership, you cannot open the card. If you have a membership, you can request the card in-warehouse, online at Costco.com, or through Citi's website.
Unlike many cash-back cards, the Costco Citi Visa does not charge an annual fee beyond what you already pay for your Costco membership. This makes the ongoing cost straightforward: you pay what you would pay for membership anyway.
Key Takeaways
- You earn 2% cash back on Costco purchases and gas, and 1% on restaurants and other purchases, with no cap on rewards.
- The card requires a Costco membership and carries no separate annual fee — you only pay your existing membership cost.
- Cash back is paid as an annual Costco Shop Card (a certificate you use in-warehouse or online), not as a statement credit or deposit.
- The card is a Visa, so it works anywhere Visa is accepted, but rewards only explore at Costco, gas stations, and restaurants.
- You must be a Costco member in good standing to hold the card, and losing your membership means losing the card.
Cash back rates and where they explore
The card earns 2% cash back on all Costco warehouse and Costco.com purchases. This includes groceries, household goods, and anything else you buy through Costco. Gas purchased at Costco pumps also earns 2%. Restaurants earn 1% cash back. All other purchases — at other retailers, online, or elsewhere — earn 1% cash back.
There is no maximum on how much cash back you can earn in a year. If you spend $10,000 at Costco, you earn $200 in cash back. If you spend $50,000, you earn $1,000. The rate does not change based on spending volume.
One important difference from many cash-back cards: your rewards are not paid as a statement credit or direct deposit. Instead, Citi sends you a Costco Shop Card once a year, usually in December. This is a certificate with a dollar amount that you can use to pay for purchases at Costco warehouses or on Costco.com. You cannot convert it to cash or use it elsewhere.
Annual cost and membership tiers
The Costco Citi Visa has no separate annual fee. Instead, the card's cost is tied to your Costco membership. If you have a Gold Star membership (the basic tier), there is no additional charge for the card. If you have an Executive membership, the card costs the same as your Executive membership renewal.
Costco membership costs vary by location and membership tier. Gold Star memberships typically cost between $60 and $65 per year. Executive memberships typically cost between $120 and $130 per year. These amounts change periodically, so check Costco's current pricing before you open the card.
If you cancel your Costco membership, your credit card is automatically closed. You cannot keep the card without an active membership. Conversely, if you let your membership lapse and then renew it, you can request a new card at that time.
How the card works as a Visa
The Costco Citi Visa is a standard Visa credit card. You can use it anywhere Visa is accepted — at other retailers, online, for travel, or anywhere else. However, the higher cash-back rates (2% at Costco and gas, 1% at restaurants) only explore to those specific categories. Everything else earns 1% cash back.
The card has no foreign transaction fees, which can be useful if you travel internationally. You can also set up automatic payments through your bank or through Citi's website to pay the balance on time each month.
Like any credit card, the Costco Citi Visa reports to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Opening the card results in a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may temporarily lower your credit score by a few points.
Who should consider this card
The Costco Citi Visa makes the most sense if you are already a Costco member and spend enough at Costco to offset the membership cost through cash back. For example, if you have a Gold Star membership at $60 per year and spend $3,000 annually at Costco, you earn $60 in cash back — breaking even on membership cost through the card alone.
The card is also useful if you buy gas regularly at Costco, since the 2% rate applies there. Many Costco locations have gas stations, and the price per gallon is often lower than nearby competitors, so combining the discount with 2% cash back can add up.
If you do not have a Costco membership or do not shop there regularly, this card is not an option. If you do have a membership but rarely use it, the card's rewards may not justify keeping the membership active.
Comparing this card to other cash-back options
Many general cash-back cards offer 1.5% or 2% on all purchases with no annual fee. The Costco card's advantage is the 2% rate at Costco itself and the fact that there is no separate card fee — you only pay for membership you would have anyway. The disadvantage is that rewards are locked into a Costco Shop Card rather than cash or statement credit, and the card only works if you maintain a Costco membership.
Some cards offer higher rates in specific categories (groceries, gas, restaurants) but charge an annual fee. The Costco card's lack of a separate fee can make it cheaper overall if you are already a member. However, if you do not shop at Costco, a general cash-back card with no annual fee will likely serve you better.
If you are considering the card primarily for the 2% gas rate, remember that many other cards offer 2% or higher on gas with no membership requirement. The Costco card's real value is the combination of Costco purchases, gas, and the fact that the membership fee is something you may already be paying.
How to open the card and what to expect
You can request the Costco Citi Visa in three ways: in person at a Costco warehouse (ask at the membership desk), online at Costco.com (under the membership or credit card section), or directly through Citi's website. You will need your Costco membership number and basic personal information like your name, address, and Social Security number.
Citi will perform a hard credit inquiry and make a decision within a few minutes to a few days. If you are approved, the card typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days. You can use it when ready once it arrives.
If you are denied, you can ask Citi why and may be able to reapply after addressing the issue (such as paying down existing debt or waiting for negative marks to age off your credit report). There is no penalty for being denied — it straightforward means Citi decided not to extend credit at that time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the card outside of Costco?
Yes. The card is a Visa, so it works anywhere Visa is accepted. However, you only earn the higher cash-back rates at Costco, Costco.com, Costco gas stations, and restaurants. Everything else earns 1% cash back.
What happens to my card if I cancel my Costco membership?
Your credit card is automatically closed when your membership ends. You cannot keep the card without an active Costco membership. If you renew your membership later, you can request a new card at that time.
Can I convert my Costco Shop Card to cash?
No. The Shop Card is a certificate that you can only use to pay for purchases at Costco warehouses or on Costco.com. You cannot cash it out, transfer it, or use it elsewhere. You must spend the full amount before it expires.
Does the card have a sign-up bonus?
Citi occasionally offers sign-up bonuses for the Costco Citi Visa, but these vary and are not always available. Check Costco.com or Citi's website to see if a bonus is currently being offered when you explore.
What credit score do I need to be approved?
Citi does not publish a minimum credit score requirement. Generally, approval is more likely with a score of 670 or higher, but approval depends on your full credit history, income, and existing debt. You can check your score for free through your bank or a service like Credit Karma before explore.