Costco Citi Card: Cash Back Rates, Reward Certificate and Benefits
How the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi earns, when the yearly reward certificate arrives, what it doesn't cover, and how it adds to the Executive 2% reward.
Quick answer: The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi pays 5% on gas at Costco, 4% on other gas and EV charging (on the first $7,000 a year combined), 3% on restaurants and travel, 2% at Costco and 1% on everything else. There's no annual fee with a paid Costco membership. The cash back comes once a year as a reward certificate after your February statement, and it expires December 31.
5%
Costco gas
3%
dining & travel
2%
at Costco
$0
annual fee*
Costco Citi card cash back rates
From Citi's card page and rewards terms, checked November 4, 2026.
| Cash back | On | Fine print |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | Gas at Costco | On the first $7,000 a year of gas and EV charging combined, then 1% |
| 4% | Other eligible gas and EV charging | Shares the $7,000 yearly cap with Costco gas |
| 3% | Restaurants and eligible travel, including Costco Travel | Airfare, hotels, car rentals, travel agencies and cruise lines |
| 2% | Everything else at Costco and Costco.com | — |
| 1% | All other purchases | Including the exceptions below |
There's no limit on total cash back. Only the gas and EV categories have a cap: after $7,000 of combined gas and charging in a year, those purchases drop to 1%. Returns are subtracted, so a refund can reduce the reward you've built up.
How you get the cash back: the yearly reward certificate
- The reward year runs on your January through December billing statements.
- The certificate arrives once your February billing statement closes. Only the primary cardholder receives it; authorized users' purchases are included.
- Redeem it in person at any U.S. Costco warehouse, including Puerto Rico, in a single transaction, for merchandise or cash. Anyone you authorize can redeem it if they have a valid membership.
- Use it by December 31 of the year it's issued. After that the rewards are forfeited.
Ways to lose it: closing or converting the card before the certificate is issued, letting your Costco membership lapse (you need one to redeem), or a reward under $1, which isn't issued.
Purchases that only earn 1%
Bonus categories follow the merchant's card code, not what you bought. Citi's terms list these as 1%:
- Gas or EV charging at superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs other than Costco
- Bakeries, and restaurants or cafes inside department stores, grocery stores or warehouse clubs
- Timeshares, campgrounds, bed & breakfasts, and train or commuter travel
- Any purchase whose merchant code Citi doesn’t group into the bonus category
Balance transfers, cash advances, Citi Flex Loans, money orders and other cash-like transactions earn nothing.
Stacking the card with the Executive 2% reward
The card and the membership pay separate rewards. An Executive membership earns 2% on eligible Costco and Costco Travel purchases (up to $1,250 a year), and paying with the card adds the card's 2% on the same Costco purchases. That's about 4% back on most Costco shopping, paid as two certificates at different times of year. Gas doesn't earn the Executive reward, but it earns the card's 5%.
| Costco spend | Card 2% | Executive 2% | Together |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300/mo ($3,600/yr) | $72 | $72 | $144 |
| $500/mo ($6,000/yr) | $120 | $120 | $240 |
| $1,000/mo ($12,000/yr) | $240 | $240 | $480 |
Our arithmetic, assuming all of it is eligible Costco spending. The Executive upgrade costs $65 a year more than Gold Star; the card has no fee with a paid membership. The Costco membership cost guide compares the levels.
Get back more than 4%
When something you bought at Costco drops in price within 30 days, you can claim the difference. CostRefund scans your receipts and alerts you when it happens.
Start freeFees and card benefits
Annual fee
$0 with a paid Costco membership; no authorized user fee.
Interest
18.99% to 27.49% variable APR on purchases, depending on credit. Interest on a carried balance can easily be more than the cash back it earned.
Foreign transactions
No foreign transaction fee.
Purchase protection
Damage & Theft Purchase Protection may cover repair or reimbursement within 120 days of purchase (90 days for New York residents).
Travel
Worldwide car rental insurance when you decline the rental company’s collision coverage, plus 24/7 travel and emergency assistance (you pay for the services you use).
Roadside dispatch
Citi sends help in the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands; you pay for the service.
Business version
The Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card earns on the same idea for business members.
On November 4, 2026, Costco's join page also listed a $65 Digital Costco Shop Card for new Executive members who apply and are approved for the card. Offers change; check the terms on Costco.com.
Frequently asked questions
How much cash back does the Costco Citi card give?+
5% on gas at Costco and 4% on other eligible gas and EV charging (together on the first $7,000 a year, then 1%), 3% on restaurants and eligible travel including Costco Travel, 2% on everything else at Costco and Costco.com, and 1% on all other purchases.
When do you get the Costco credit card reward?+
Once a year. Citi issues a credit card reward certificate after your February billing statement closes, covering purchases on your January through December statements. You redeem it in person at a U.S. Costco warehouse for merchandise or cash.
Does the Costco Citi reward certificate expire?+
Yes, on December 31 of the year it’s issued. Unredeemed rewards are forfeited after that, and you need an active Costco membership to redeem it.
Does the Costco Citi card have an annual fee?+
$0 with a paid Costco membership, and no fee for authorized users. There’s no foreign transaction fee either.
Is the Costco credit card a Visa or Mastercard?+
Visa. Its full name is the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, and there’s a separate Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card for business members.
Can you use the Costco card reward with the Executive 2% reward?+
Yes, they are separate. The Executive membership pays its own 2% reward (up to $1,250 a year) on eligible Costco purchases, and the card pays 2% on the same purchases, so most Costco shopping earns 4% back across two certificates.
Shop Costco every week?
CostRefund checks what you bought against today's prices and tells you when you're owed a refund.
Get CostRefund free*$0 annual fee with a paid Costco membership. Rates, fees and terms from Citi's Costco Anywhere Visa page and its rewards terms, checked November 4, 2026; Citi can change them at any time. The card is subject to credit approval. Example totals are our own arithmetic. This page explains how the card works and isn't financial advice. Card images show Citi's sample card. CostRefund is independent and not affiliated with Costco or Citi.