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As its name implies, the $0-annual-fee Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. However, it’s best for Costco loyalists who make the majority of their purchases at the popular wholesale club. Along with elevated earning rates on gas, dining and travel, you’ll get 2% back on purchases made online or in store — including the iconic $1.50 hot dog combo.
However, the card is only available to active Costco members, so you’ll have to fork over a $65 annual membership fee to keep it in your wallet. Another big drawback is that you can only redeem your cash back once per year, and your options are limited to cash or Costco merchandise.
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular Purchase APR
19.49% - 27.49% (Variable)
Intro BT APR
N/A
Regular BT APR
19.49% - 27.49% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Cash Advance Fee
5% of each cash advance; $10 minimum
Foreign Transaction Fee
0%
Balance Transfer Fee
Balance transfer fee applies with this offer; 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Generous cash back rewards
With the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, you’ll 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.
The rates on gas and EV charging purchases are exceptionally high, making this one of the best gas credit cards available. If you max out the $7,000 spend cap, you can earn up to $350 cash back for the year. Additionally, the 3% earned at restaurants matches up with some of the best dining credit cards.
No foreign transaction fees
A great card for international travel, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi charges a 0% foreign transaction fee and is accepted in over 200 countries and territories around the world.
Travel and purchase protections
Although not marketed as a travel credit card, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a decent option for road warriors and frequent flyers. Along with a 0% foreign transaction fee and elevated rates on gas/EV charging, dining and travel, it also comes with a handful of travel and purchase protections:
Requires a Costco membership
Although the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi has an annual fee of $0, you’ll need to have an active Costco membership to carry the card. The annual membership fee is $65 for a Gold Star or Business Membership or $130 for an Executive Membership.
Inconvenient redemption process with limited options
The biggest drawback of the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is its inconvenient redemption process and limited options. Most rewards credit cards let you redeem your rewards as soon as they post to your account (as long as you’ve earned the minimum redemption amount). But with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, you’ll receive a “reward certificate” once a year with your February billing statement. The certificate must be redeemed in-store by the end of that same year — otherwise, you’ll lose those rewards. Plus, your only redemption options are cash back or Costco merchandise.
No sign-up bonus
Many cash back credit cards come with a sign-up bonus, which can boost your earnings or offset the cost of an annual fee. The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi lacks this feature, bringing down its first-year value. Check out the table below to see how it compares to some of the best cash back cards:
| Welcome offer value | First-year value* | |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates & fees) | $250 | $672 |
| Discover it® Cash Back | $330* | $660 |
| Citi Custom Cash® Card | $200 | $610 |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | $200 | $600 |
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card | $200 | $496 |
| Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi | $0 | $390 |
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Regular APR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi*
|
N/A | 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 | 19.49% - 27.49% (Variable) | ||
Citi Custom Cash® Card*
|
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. | Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. | 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) | ||
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
 Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site |
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening | 3% cash back in the category of your choice. 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases. 1% cash back on all other purchases. | 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site |
|
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card*
|
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months | Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases | 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR |
The Citi Custom Cash® Card lets you earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Since gas is an eligible category, you could earn $300 per year if you meet the spend cap each month. Just keep in mind that the Citi Custom Cash® Card is a Mastercard®, and Costco only accepts Visa cards for in-store purchases.
The Citi Custom Cash® Card also comes with a $0 annual fee, a sign-up bonus and an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. Rewards are paid out as Citi ThankYou® Points, which are easily redeemed for cash back, statement credits, travel and more.
Looking for a card that offers similar rewards but comes with more features and flexibility? The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card lets you earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice. 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases. 1% cash back on all other purchases.
While the bonus categories are set in stone with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card gives you the option to choose from six categories each month:
You’ll also earn the same 2% cash back rate (up to the quarterly maximum) on Costco purchases. And while the gas rewards rate is a bit lower, you do get a solid welcome offer and an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. Plus, Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members can earn 25% to 75% more cash back on every purchase.
If you’re looking for a simple way to earn cash back rewards on every purchase, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is ideal. You’ll earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. And since it’s a Visa card, you’ll be able to use it at Costco (or any other wholesale club). While the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers a higher rate on gas/EV charging purchases, it also has a spending cap of $7,000. Depending on how much you drive, you could potentially save more with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card‘s unlimited rewards.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card also boasts flexible redemption options, an easy-to-earn sign-up bonus and a 12-month intro APR on purchases and balance transfers — all for a $0 annual fee.
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a solid choice if you’re an existing Costco member and already do most of your shopping there. It offers a high cash back rate on gas and dining, as well as 2% on all Costco purchases. Just know that you can only redeem your rewards once per year, and the options are extremely limited.
If you don’t plan on becoming a Costco member — or you’re simply looking for a more flexible cash back card — there are plenty of other options out there. For example, the Citi Custom Cash® Card lets you earn 5% cash back (on up to $500, then 1%) on your top eligible spending category each month. Plus, it comes with better features and redemption options for a $0 annual fee.
The information related to the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, Discover it® Cash Back, Citi Custom Cash® Card and Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
