How my Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi is a workhorse when it comes to cash back

23.10.2023 - 16:21 / thepointsguy.com

If you asked me to choose my favorite credit card, I'd be hard-pressed to pick between my current top two: the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi (see rates and fees) and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

When I signed up at Costco, I upgraded to Executive Membership and applied for the Costco Anywhere Visa. Because I signed up during a promotional period, I also received a cumulative $80 bonus in the form of digital shop cards (that never expire) upon credit card approval.

The Costco Anywhere Visa shines in two areas that my household spends a lot of money on: gas and restaurants. Considering the decent cash back this card offers in categories outside of gas and restaurants, opting to become a cardholder was a no-brainer.

Here are three other reasons why the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi is a top-tier card I use daily.

Most of my family lives between 40 minutes and three hours away from me, so fueling up to drive back and forth to visit them can add up. Fortunately, the generous 4% cash back on gas and electric vehicle charging for up to $7,000 spent per year (then 1% thereafter) means a chance to earn rewards for every trip I make. Additionally, my household includes a daily commuter who fills up twice a week and is an authorized user on my Costco Anywhere Visa, earning me even more rewards in this category.

Then there's the unlimited 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel categories — including airfare and cruises booked through Costco Travel — which helps me rack up additional rewards. As a hobby chef, I love trying new recipes and hosting friends and family for dinner parties; however, there are nights that I'm short on time or simply not up for cooking, and that's when that 3% cash back on restaurants comes in clutch. My household also enjoys trying new restaurants, and since I'm close to two major metropolitan areas (New York City and Philadelphia), there's no shortage of spots to check out when I'm in the mood for something new.

I also earn 2% cash back on all purchases from Costco and Costco.com, which I constantly browse for flash sales and other deals. Plus, the added benefit of earning 1% cash back on all other purchases is the cherry on top — even when I'm not earning higher rates of cash back in my main categories, I still earn rewards every time I tap my card.

The major caveat with redeeming your cash-back rewards with the Costco Anywhere Visa is that you can only do so once a year, which differs from most cards that make your rewards redeemable at the end of each billing cycle. If you're a fan of redeeming your rewards on a more frequent rolling basis, this card may not be the best for you.

I love Costco, but because the closest one to me is 30 minutes away,