I shop at Costco all the time, and I’ve seen how confused people get at checkout about what payment methods actually work there. Lots of members are wondering about Costco’s credit card policy, especially after they switched from American Express to Visa. Through personal experience and research, I’ll clarify exactly which credit cards Costco accepts, their exclusive partnership with Citi Visa, and practical payment alternatives for your shopping trips.
Table of Content
- Here’s the deal with Costco’s current credit card policy
- The Costco Anywhere Visa Card from Citi
- Other ways you can pay at Costco
- How Costco’s credit card policy stacks up against other stores
- Planning your credit card strategy for Costco runs
- Common payment situations and how to handle them
- FAQ About does costco take credit cards
Costco’s Current Credit Card Acceptance Policy
Primary Accepted Credit Cards
Core payment methods: Costco warehouses in the United States exclusively accept Visa credit cards at all locations. This goes back to their partnership with Citi and Visa that started in 2016.
I was just at Costco and saw that any Visa card from big banks works fine, even the Costco Anywhere Visa Card from Citi. This exclusive arrangement means Mastercard, American Express.
and Discover credit cards won’t be accepted at checkout counters, though debit cards from all major networks work without issues.
Payment alternatives: Beyond Visa credit cards, Costco accepts several other payment options to accommodate members. You can use cash, checks, and debit cards – even ones with Mastercard or Discover logos – no problem.
EBT cards and Costco Shop Cards work like cash for things you can buy with them. Their main credit card is the Costco Anywhere Visa, which gives you better rewards at Costco, but any Visa card from other banks works the same for regular shopping.
Understanding the Visa-Only Policy
Policy rationale: Costco’s Visa-only deal comes from special processing fees that help both companies and might mean lower prices for members. A warehouse manager told me that having just one payment system cuts down their costs.
It’s like other store deals, such as Sam’s Club only taking Mastercard. The partnership includes co-branded credit cards through Citi in the U.S. and Capital One in Canada, creating integrated benefits for loyal shoppers.
Geographic variations: While U.S. locations strictly follow the Visa-only policy for credit cards, international Costco warehouses operate under different agreements.
Canadian warehouses accept Mastercard alongside Visa, while Australian locations take both Mastercard and Visa credit cards. During my research, I discovered that Costco’s online store accepts additional credit cards beyond Visa, including Mastercard and Discover, though processing occurs through separate payment gateways.
Let’s talk about the Costco Anywhere Visa Card from Citi.
Here’s what makes this card great.
The rewards are awesome and perfect for Costco shoppers. You get 4% back back on gas, 3% back at restaurants and for travel, 2% back when shopping at Costco, and 1% back everywhere else. I love that every February you get your reward certificate, which you can use for cash or stuff at Costco.
Plus there are other cool benefits like extended warranties, price protection, and travel insurance. Your card links right to your Costco membership, making checkout super easy. If you shop at Costco a lot, these perks can really help cover your membership fee and give you extra protection.
| Where you spend | Cash back you get | Yearly limit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | 4% back | Up to $7,000 yearly | Works at Costco gas and other gas stations |
| Eating out and travel | 3% back | No limit | Covers dining and travel anywhere |
| Shopping at Costco | 2% back | No limit | In stores and online at Costco.com |
| Everything else | 1% back | No limit | Any place that takes Visa cards |
Now about applying for the card
First thing you need is an active Costco membership to apply. When I applied, I had to share my income, housing costs, and Social Security number. Citi checks your credit history, how steady your income is, and any debts you have. You’ll usually need good credit, meaning a FICO score over 690.
There are several easy ways to apply for this Costco credit card. At Costco stores, kiosks let you apply right away and get a temporary pass if approved. You can also apply online through Citi’s website.
The whole thing takes about 10-15 minutes, and you often get an instant decision. If approved, your card arrives in 7-10 days, but your membership links up right away.
Alternative Payment Options at Costco
Debit Cards and Cash
Good news about debit cards at Costco – all their stores take them from major networks like Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. When you check out, you can choose between PIN or signature purchases for your debit card.
I’ve found from my own shopping that debit cards work great as an alternative to credit cards, plus you get around that Visa-only rule. The money comes straight from your checking account, which really helps you stick to your budget on those big Costco runs.
You can still use old-school payment methods like cash and checks at Costco too. Cash works for any amount you’re spending – no special processing needed.
They still take personal checks with ID, though some stores might run your check through a verification system. If you’d rather skip credit cards, these payment choices give you flexibility while you still get all of Costco’s products and member perks.
Digital and Contactless Payments
Costco’s getting better with digital payments – they now support different mobile wallet platforms. You can use Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay at every Costco, as long as they’re connected to a Visa credit card or any debit card.
I’ve used contactless payments myself lately, and they work perfectly at both regular checkouts and self-checkout stations. These payment methods are actually more secure thanks to tokenization, and they still follow Costco’s payment rules.
Here’s something interesting – Costco’s website has different payment rules than their physical stores. The website accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit cards alongside debit cards and Costco Shop Cards.
This difference can be confusing sometimes, but it comes from separate deals they have for online payment processing. For people shopping online, this means you have more payment options than you do in the actual warehouses.
Let’s compare Costco’s credit card policy with other stores.
First, let’s look at other warehouse clubs.
Sam’s Club approach: Compared to Costco’s Visa-only policy, Sam’s Club (owned by Walmart) accepts a broader range of credit cards including Mastercard, Visa, and Discover. But Sam’s Club also has its own deal.
They partner exclusively with Mastercard for their store credit card. From my shopping experience, both stores do this to save money on fees and push their own credit cards. BJ’s Wholesale Club takes the most flexible approach, accepting all major credit cards without exclusivity agreements.
So how does this affect shoppers? These exclusive deals matter most if you have a favorite card or want to earn the best rewards. From my experience managing multiple credit cards.
Costco’s policy requires strategic planning to optimize rewards while complying with their restrictions. Here’s how the credit card policies stack up at different warehouse clubs:
| Store | Accepted Credit Cards | Store credit card | Debit cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costco | Visa only | Costco Anywhere Visa from Citi | All major debit cards |
| Sam’s Club | Visa, Mastercard, Discover | Sam’s Club Mastercard from Synchrony | All major debit cards |
| BJ’s Wholesale | All major credit cards | BJ’s Perks Plus Mastercard | All major debit cards |
Now let’s talk about regular stores.
Industry standards: Most major retailers accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover) to maximize customer convenience. Stores like Target, Walmart, and grocery chains usually accept all cards.
This is very different from Costco’s limited policy. From what I’ve found, stores sometimes get better deals from certain card companies. But mostly, they accept all cards because that’s what customers expect.
Costco’s Visa-only policy is a smart business move. They choose lower costs over giving customers more payment options. This helps them keep their prices low and competitive.
For shoppers, knowing these policies helps you plan your payments and get the best rewards. So it’s smart to always have a Visa card with you, along with other payment methods, no matter where you shop.
Managing Your Credit Strategy for Costco Shopping
Optimizing Rewards and Benefits
Multiple card strategy: Since Costco only accepts Visa credit cards, I maintain at least one Visa card with strong rewards for warehouse shopping. The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is great because it gives you really good returns on Costco purchases.
gas stations, and restaurants. For members who prefer other credit cards for daily use, applying for the Costco Visa or another rewards Visa card ensures you never miss out on credit card benefits during warehouse visits.
Timing your big Costco purchases with your credit card cycles can really help. You’ll maximize your rewards and it’s easier to manage your cash flow this way. What I do is plan my big household purchases for early in the billing cycle.
This gives me more time before I have to pay the bill. For those applying for first credit cards specifically for Costco access, consider application timing relative to planned major purchases to meet potential sign-up bonus requirements while building credit history responsibly.
Credit Management Best Practices
Account maintenance: Responsibly managing credit cards used for Costco shopping involves regular monitoring of spending, timely payments, and credit utilization ratios. From my own experience, I set up automatic payments for at least the minimum due.
This helps me avoid late fees and protects my credit score. It’s smart to check your credit report regularly. This way you can spot any mistakes or problems early on.
For those considering closing accounts, understand that closing accounts effect credit history length and utilization ratios, potentially lowering your score temporarily.
Keeping your Costco Visa cards safe means being proactive about security. I turn on transaction alerts for every purchase. If I see anything I didn’t buy, I report it right away.
Using the Costco app with digital membership cards means you don’t have to carry physical cards, but you still get in just fine. With the Costco Anywhere Visa Card, keep an eye on your reward earnings. This makes sure you’re getting all the benefits you should from your shopping.
Let’s talk about common payment situations and how to handle them
Here’s how to fix payment problems
If your Visa card gets declined at Costco, don’t worry – I’ve found a few tricks that usually fix it First, make sure you’re actually using a Visa card.
not Mastercard or something else Then call your bank – sometimes fraud alerts or spending limits block your purchase If you’re buying big-ticket items.
you might need to tell your bank ahead of time Still having trouble? Costco’s customer service can manually verify your payment or suggest other ways to pay.
About membership and payment linking – the Costco Anywhere Visa connects automatically, but other Visas need separate scanning At checkout, show your membership card first, then your payment Using the app?
Make sure your phone’s charged and connected Executive members get rewards tracked separately, but your 2% executive reward stacks with credit card rewards for even bigger savings.
Now let’s look at special cases
Business and commercial accounts: Costco Business Centers and regular warehouses serving business members maintain the same Visa-only policy for credit cards.
Business owners can use business Visa credit cards or the Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card, which offers enhanced rewards on business-related categories. I’ve checked business locations myself – same payment rules, though they have different products and bigger quantities.
Shopping internationally? Check the local payment rules before you go Canadian Costcos take both Visa and Mastercard, but other countries have different rules If you’re traveling from the US.
bring different payment methods just in case And tell your bank you’re traveling overseas so they don’t block your purchases thinking it’s fraud.
So to sum up – Costco only takes Visa credit cards, but you’ve got other options like debit, cash, and digital payments Their Costco Anywhere Visa gives you special rewards that make shopping there even better Knowing these payment rules helps you shop smarter and avoid surprises at checkout.
Ready to get the most out of Costco? Got your own payment tips? Share them below! Or check out our guide to warehouse club benefits for more ways to save money.
FAQ About does costco take credit cards
Does Costco accept any credit cards besides Visa?
No, Costco warehouses in the United States exclusively accept Visa credit cards at physical locations. That’s because they have this special deal with Visa and Citi.
They do not accept Mastercard, American Express, or Discover credit cards in stores, though all major debit cards work regardless of network.
Can I use my Assent Credit Card at Costco?
Only if your Assent Credit Card is a Visa product. Costco cares about the card network, not which bank issued it, so any Visa credit card works. If your Assent card is a Mastercard or something else, they won’t take it for credit, but you could use it as a debit card if that’s an option.
If you cancel your Costco membership, what happens to your Costco credit card?
When you cancel your membership, Citi will close your Costco Anywhere Visa Card because you need to be a member to have that card. Before you close the account.
think about your credit score – it might affect your credit utilization and how long you’ve had accounts open. Citi will help walk you through everything when you cancel your membership.
Can I get a Costco credit card as my very first credit card?
While possible, first credit cards at Costco typically require established credit history. The Costco Anywhere Visa Card typically needs good or excellent credit to get approved.
If you’re building credit, try a secured Visa card or student card first, then go for the Costco card after you’ve built up some good payment history and better credit.
