Is it hard to get a Costco Credit Card?

Yes, you can submit a Costco Credit Card application at any Costco service desk or membership counter. If you’re not a Costco member yet, you can sign up in store or online before completing your application. A regular, Everyday Value Costco membership costs $60 per year.

When you apply for the Costco Credit Card in person at a … read full answerCostco location, you may get approved or denied instantly. However, sometimes it may take up to a few weeks to receive a decision. If you’re approved, you can expect to receive your card in the mail within 7 to 14 business days.

Here’s what you’ll need to provide on your Costco Credit Card application:

• Costco membership number
• Basic personal information (Name, date of birth, address, phone number, email)
• Social Security Number (SSN) and U.S. citizenship status
• Financial info (Annual income, mortgage/rent payment, bank accounts)
• Information about any authorized users you may want to add

Bear in mind that the Costco Credit Card generally requires excellent credit for approval. If you’d like to know where you stand, you can check your credit score for free, right here on WalletHub.

Ultimately, keep in mind that submitting an application online is the fastest and easiest way.

The Costco Credit Card credit score requirement is 750 or higher, which means applicants with excellent credit should have good odds of approval. That’s the case for both the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi and the Costco Business Credit Card.

You should note that while your credit score is an important factor, there are plenty of other things that will impact your chances of being approved for the Costco Credit Card, too. Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, and recent credit inquiries. Still, make sure to … read full answercheck your credit score before applying.

Costco Credit Card Approval Requirements:

• A high personal credit score. Whether you’re interested in the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi or the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi, your personal credit standing will largely dictate your odds of approval. All business credit cards base approval decisions on applicants’ personal credit history because it tends to be longer and more predictive.
• Enough income & assets. Income and assets shows your ability to pay a new credit card’s bills. The more money and valuable items you have to your name, the less risky you’re generally considered to be. But these factors are compared to your existing debt obligations.
• Low existing debt. Lenders want to make sure you’ll be able to make your credit card payment each month. And the more debt you have relative to your income, the less confident they’ll be about that happening.
• Other things to keep in mind. Some online reports mention that people are getting approved for a Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi with a credit score in the low 700’s. But since a lot of other factors are in play, you shouldn’t assume that you will be approved just because they were. Plus, getting turned down for a credit card can lead to temporary credit score damage.

If your credit score is already 750+ and you have a good debt-to income ratio, , you’ll have a better chance of approval. If not, make sure to improve your credit standing first. To do so, make sure to catch up on your current payments, keep your credit utilization below 30%, and build a longer history.

Finally, don’t forget that you have to be a Costco member to apply. That will cost you $60+ per year in membership dues.

The easiest Citi card to get is the Citi® Secured Mastercard® because it is the only one that will accept applicants with limited credit (less than 3 years of credit history). This card requires a $200 refundable security deposit but has a $0 annual fee. It also helps build credit history with monthly reporting to all three major credit bureaus… read full answer (TransUnion, Equifax and Experian).

More info regarding Citi credit cards score requirement

Aside from the Citi Secured, nearly all other Citi credit cards require good credit or better (a credit score of 700+) for good odds of approval. Some of these cards include the Citi Double Cash Card or the Citi Premier® Card.

However, there are a number of store cards that also make it among the easiest Citi cards to get. Citi store cards require at least fair credit (a credit score of 640+) for approval. But purchases are limited to the affiliated merchant or its website. The Best Buy® Store Card and the Shell Gas Card, for instance, are among the many store cards that also have a full-fledged co-branded version on either the Visa or Shell Credit Card network, which can be used anywhere the network is accepted. Those cards aren’t as easy to get as the store versions, as they require at least good credit.

Here are some of the easiest Citi cards to get:

The Citi Secured is open to applicants with limited credit (less than 3 years of credit history). It has a $0 annual fee.

The Best Buy Store Card requires fair credit or better (a credit score of 640+). It has a $0 annual fee. Earns 2.5 points per $1 spent on Best Buy purchases.

To get the Shell Gas Card, you need fair credit or better (a credit score of 640+). It has a $0 annual fee. Offers savings: 30¢ per gallon (up to 35 gallons) on your first 5 Shell fuel purchases made by 6/30/2023, after that 10¢ per gallon (up to 20 gallons) every time you fill up, 10% Shell rebates on your first $1,200 Shell non-fuel purchases (per year).

The Sears Store Card requires fair credit or better (a credit score of 640+). It has a $0 annual fee.

The easiest Citi cards to get come with limitations. They offer low minimum credit limits, high interest rates and few rewards and benefits. And with the Citi store cards, beware of deferred interest promotions. Deferred interest means that there’s 0% interest as long as the balance gets paid in full by the end of the promotion. If it’s not paid in full, Citibank charges interest on the original purchase amount from the date of purchase, at the card’s regular APR.

It may also be beneficial to look outside of Citibank to some of the easiest cards to get from other issuers. Aside from lenient approval requirements, some of these also offer rewards and have annual fees as low as $0. And they report to the three major credit bureaus. So, if you use them responsibly, you'll be able to build or rebuild your credit and have future access to some of the best Citi credit cards, or other excellent options from different issuers.