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Overview of the Citi Costco Visa Card

The Citi Costco Visa Card is a co-branded credit card issued by Citibank in partnership with Costco Wholesale. This card is designed specifically for Costco members who want to consolidate their shopping and earn rewards on their purchases. The card carries the Visa logo, meaning it can be used at millions of merchants worldwide, not just at Costco locations.

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As of 2024, the Citi Costco Visa Card comes with no annual fee, which distinguishes it from many premium reward cards on the market. The card offers tiered cash back rewards based on where you make purchases. At Costco warehouses and Costco.com, cardholders earn 4% cash back on gas purchases (up to $7,000 annually, then 1% after that), 3% cash back on travel purchases, and 2% cash back on all other Costco purchases. Outside of Costco, the card earns 1% cash back on all other purchases.

The card requires an active Costco Gold Star membership or higher to obtain and use. Costco membership costs $60 annually for a Gold Star membership, though this is separate from the credit card itself. When you use the Citi Costco Visa Card at Costco, you must present it along with your membership card to complete transactions.

A guide about this card provides information on how these rewards work, what the terms and conditions cover, and how the card compares to other cash back options. This information helps potential cardholders understand whether the card's reward structure aligns with their spending patterns. The guide does not determine whether someone should get the card or promise specific financial outcomes—it simply explains how the card functions.

Practical Takeaway: Before learning the details of the card, understand that this is a rewards card with no annual fee tied to your Costco membership. The card's value depends on how much you spend at Costco and on eligible categories like gas and travel.

How the Rewards Program Works

The cash back rewards on the Citi Costco Visa Card are structured in tiers based on where and how you spend money. This tiered system is important to understand because your actual rewards will vary depending on your shopping habits. The guide explains each tier in detail so you can calculate whether the card matches your budget.

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At Costco gas stations specifically, you earn 4% cash back, but this rate only applies to the first $7,000 in gas purchases per year. Once you reach $7,000 in annual gas purchases at Costco, additional gas purchases earn 1% cash back. For someone who fills up their vehicle once weekly at approximately $50 per fill-up, $7,000 annually would be reached in about 28 weeks. After that point in the year, the gas rewards drop to 1%.

Costco travel purchases—which include airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and cruises booked through Costco Travel—earn 3% cash back with no spending cap. This category has no annual limit, so high-volume travel shoppers can accumulate rewards throughout the year. All other purchases made at Costco warehouses and on Costco.com earn 2% cash back.

Outside of Costco locations and Costco.com, every other purchase earns 1% cash back. This includes groceries at other stores, restaurants, online shopping at non-Costco retailers, and everyday purchases. While 1% is lower than some competing cash back cards offer, it still provides some return on spending you would do anyway.

Cash back rewards are typically posted to your account as a statement credit. You can use this credit to pay down your card balance, or in some cases, take it as a check or other redemption form. The guide walks through examples of how these rewards accumulate over different spending scenarios so you can see concrete numbers.

Practical Takeaway: Map out your typical yearly spending in each category—gas, Costco purchases, travel, and other—then calculate estimated rewards. For example, someone spending $400 monthly at Costco (mostly non-gas items) plus $200 monthly on gas would earn roughly $96 per year in Costco rewards plus $96 in gas rewards, totaling $192 before additional spending outside Costco.

Card Features and Additional Benefits

Beyond cash back rewards, the Citi Costco Visa Card includes several additional features that the guide describes in detail. These features do not carry the dramatic marketing language sometimes found in credit card promotions, but they represent real protections and conveniences included with the card.

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The card offers purchase protection, which covers items you buy with the card against theft or damage for up to 120 days from the date of purchase. This means if you purchase an item, and it is stolen or accidentally damaged before 120 days pass, you can file a claim for reimbursement. The guide explains the process for filing such claims, including documentation requirements and claim limits.

Extended warranty coverage is another included feature. If a product you purchase normally comes with a manufacturer's warranty of three years or less, the Citi Costco Visa Card may extend that warranty by an additional year. This only applies to warranties of three years or less, so a product with a five-year warranty would not qualify for an extension. The guide clarifies which products typically qualify and how to register purchases for coverage.

The card also includes fraud protection features standard to Visa cards. If fraudulent charges appear on your statement, Visa's zero liability policy protects you from responsibility for unauthorized transactions. You must report fraud to Citibank, and the guide explains the steps for doing so and the timeline for dispute resolution.

Travel-related benefits include travel accident insurance and emergency medical and dental coverage when traveling outside the United States. These benefits provide coverage if unexpected medical situations arise during travel. The guide describes what is covered, coverage limits, and how to file a claim.

The card does not offer travel credits, airport lounge access, concierge services, or other premium benefits often found on higher-fee cards. Understanding what is and is not included helps you assess whether the card meets your expectations.

Practical Takeaway: Review the purchase protection and extended warranty features against items you regularly purchase. If you buy electronics or high-value items frequently, these protections may provide meaningful coverage beyond the basic rewards.

Understanding Terms, Conditions, and Costs

Like all credit cards, the Citi Costco Visa Card comes with terms and conditions that borrowers should understand before using the card. The guide provides a breakdown of key terms without the dense legal language found in official cardholder agreements.

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The annual percentage rate (APR) for purchases varies based on creditworthiness and is disclosed when you receive your card or can be found in account statements. As of 2024, APR ranges typically fall between 15% and 24% for most cardholders, though exact rates depend on credit history and current economic conditions. If you carry a balance on the card, you will owe interest at this APR on the outstanding amount. For example, a $1,000 balance at 18% APR would cost approximately $15 in interest per month if no additional payments are made.

The card charges no annual fee, which is a significant advantage over many competing rewards cards. Some premium cards charge $95, $150, or higher annual fees. For the Citi Costco Visa Card, there is no such fee regardless of card usage or account status.

Late payment fees apply if your payment is not received by the due date listed on your statement. Currently, these fees range up to $40 for the first late payment and up to $41 for subsequent late payments within six months. Over-the-limit fees and returned payment fees also apply if you exceed your credit limit or if a payment bounces.

Balance transfer fees, cash advance fees, and foreign transaction fees all carry specific costs outlined in the card's terms. A balance transfer—moving debt from another card—typically costs 3% of the transferred amount. Cash advances cost 3% or a minimum fee. Foreign transaction fees are 3% of purchases made outside the United States.

The guide includes a comparison of these costs against other cards in the market so you can see where the Citi Costco Visa Card fits in terms of fee structure. Understanding these costs helps you make informed decisions about when and how to use the