Understanding Costco's Credit Card Policy
Costco, one of the world's largest wholesale retailers, is known for its membership-based warehouse clubs offering discounted products. When it comes to payment methods, particularly credit cards, Costco has specific policies that vary by location and card type.
Credit Cards Accepted at Costco
As of 2016, Costco exclusively accepts Visa credit cards for in-store purchases in the United States, having switched from their previous American Express partnership. This includes:
- Any Visa credit card
- Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- Visa debit cards
- Visa business cards
Why Only Visa?
The decision to partner exclusively with Visa was primarily driven by lower transaction fees, allowing Costco to maintain its low pricing strategy, which is core to its business model. For more details, visit Costco's switch to Visa.
Other Payment Methods
While Visa is the only credit card network accepted in U.S. stores, Costco offers several other payment options:
- Cash
- Checks
- Debit cards (including those from Mastercard and American Express)
- EBT cards
- Costco Shop Cards
- Mobile Payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay - linked to Visa)
Online Shopping Flexibility
Costco.com offers more payment flexibility, accepting:
- Visa credit cards
- Mastercard
- Discover Card
- Costco Shop Cards
Benefits of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi provides several rewards:
- 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases (up to $7,000 per year)
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
- 2% cash back on all Costco purchases
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
International Locations
Credit card acceptance varies by country:
- Canada: Mastercard is the exclusive credit card partner
- Japan: Various credit cards accepted
- UK: American Express and Mastercard accepted
Tips for Non-Visa Cardholders
If you don't have a Visa credit card, you can still shop at Costco by:
- Purchasing a Costco Shop Card with your preferred credit card online
- Using cash or debit
- Having another member purchase items on your behalf
Remember that while Costco only accepts Visa credit cards in-store, their gas stations accept any credit card, not just Visa.
For the most current information about Costco's payment policies, visit the Costco Customer Service page or contact your local warehouse directly.
For more information on Costco's payment policies, you can visit their official website.