Points and miles are currently my preferred currency for credit card rewards, but there was a time when cash back was my go-to.
Of the eight cards in my wallet, three are cash back products; I continue to hold those three because two of them— American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card and the Discover it® Cash Back Credit Card—make up a large portion of my credit history.
I added a third one i.e. Citi Costco Anywhere Visa® Card (see rates and fees), will be deposited into my wallet in 2023 and it has been working ever since.
The information for Discover it is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Costco Anywhere Visa works great in two areas where my household spends a lot of money: Costco and gas purchases. It also offers solid cash back rates in popular bonus categories, making it a great choice for Costco members who want to maximize their cash back earnings.
Let’s discuss why Costco Anywhere Visa Might be a great fit for you.
Earn cash back in key categories
Most of my family lives within a three-hour drive of me, so filling up and driving back and forth to visit them can add up. Luckily, Costco offers a generous 5% cash back on gas, as well as 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicles (EVs) up to $7,000 in combined annual spending (then 1%), giving me the chance to earn rewards on every trip.
Additionally, I have a daily commuter in my family who fills up with gas twice a week and is my authorized user Costco Anywhere Visalet me get more awards in this category.
Plus enjoy unlimited 3% cash back at restaurants and eligible travel categories, including flights and cruises booked through Costco Travel. despite my American Express® Gold Card My go-to for restaurant and grocery shopping, it’s helpful to have a backup option to get healthy rewards rates on dining purchases at places that don’t accept American Express.
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I also get 2% cash back on all my purchases from Costco and Costco.com, which I frequently browse for flash sales and other deals. Plus, the added benefit of earning 1% cash back on all other purchases is on top—even if I don’t get a higher cash back rate in the main categories, I still earn rewards every time I swipe the card.
The main caveat with redeeming cash back rewards with the Costco Anywhere Visa is that you can only redeem them once per year, unlike most cards, which allow rewards to be redeemed at the end of each billing cycle. If you like to redeem rewards more frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
Pay my Costco membership fee
I love Costco, but since the closest one to me is 30 minutes away, I usually shop at the warehouse every five to six weeks. This means my Costco trip is a haul where I buy groceries like bulk produce and meats (much of which is frozen and stored for future meal prep) and sometimes larger items like kitchen utensils, cookware and even indoor and outdoor furniture.
Within the first two months of my business Costco Anywhere Visain addition to the digital store cards I earned, I accumulated more cash back than my $130 annual Costco Premium membership fee. (While there is no annual fee for the Costco Anywhere Visa, you must be a Costco member to get a store card.)
Essentially, this credit card pays for your Costco membership while boosting your cash back earning power across multiple categories, some of which you can even combine (more on that later).
Doubles as a nice travel card
Although most people do not consider Costco Anywhere Visa As a travel card in the traditional sense, it offers great benefits to cardholders, including no foreign transaction fees wherever Visa is accepted and 3% cash back on car rentals, hotel stays and other eligible travel categories.
But one of my favorite perks—and I think it’s one of the best perks that I tell people about all the time—is that cardholders can combine the 3% cash back on eligible travel with the 2% cash back they get as a Costco executive member for a total of 5% cash back on travel rewards.
bottom line
this Costco Anywhere Visa It’s easy to maximize your cash back rewards. I absolutely love its versatility and killer cash back offers in the categories I use most.
In addition to being a great travel card, the Costco Anywhere Visa also doubles as your Costco membership card, so if you forget your physical membership card at home, it’s no big deal. The good news is that you get at least 1% cash back every time you use this card.
Since it’s my go-to for earning cash back rewards, this card is a must-have in my wallet.
To learn more, read our full review of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card.
Apply here: Costco Anywhere Visa
