Does Costco Take American Express in 2023?
American Express is one of the biggest credit card companies. In terms of popularity, it is up there with Visa and MasterCard.
And it is surely more well-known than Discover. Despite its popularity, American Express is not accepted by many retailers.
That brings us to one of the biggest retail chains, Costco. The store accepts several payment options. Does Costco take American Express? Here’s all you need to know!
Does Costco Take American Express?
Unfortunately, Costco does not take American Express as a valid payment method in its stores. We visited several of their warehouses, but it did not work anywhere.
American Express is one of the widely accepted payment options. But Costco does not accept it. That’s because the store has an exclusive partnership with Visa and Citi.
It restricts the warehouse chain from integrating other card payment methods, including American Express, Discover, and MasterCard.
In terms of credit cards, your only option is a Visa card. You can also opt for the Visa Anywhere Card by Citi. Since they are partners with Costco, you can grab exclusive offers with these payment options.
Does Costco Take American Express Online?
No, Costco does not take American Express for online purchases. We only found MasterCard, Discover, and Visa in this category.
You can use all Visa cards for online purchases from Costco. Additionally, the store also accepts some other credit cards. That includes MasterCard and Discover.
Unfortunately, American Express is not an option. You can not use it online or in-store at Costco.
What Payment Methods Are Accepted at Costco?
Costco accepts a wide variety of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, cash, checks, EBT cards, and mobile payments.
Let’s take a look at all the payment methods you can use at Costco. Here are the accepted options for in-store purchases:
- Cash
- Checks (Business, Traveler’s, Personal)
- Costco Shop Cards
- EBT Cards
- Visa Cards
- ATM/Debit Cards
- Mobile/NFC Payments (Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
Now, let’s go through accepted payment methods on Costco online. Here is the detailed list:
- All Visa Cards
- Costco Shop Cards
- Credit Cards (MasterCard and Discover)
- ATM/Debit Cards
- The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
Costco gas stations also accept several payment options. That includes Visa cards, ATM/Debit cards, Costco shop cards, and The Costco Anywhere card.
You can read more about the payment options when shipping outside the US on the store’s website. It will help the customers shop at Costco Canada.
Does Costco Take Visa?
Yes, all Visa cards are widely accepted at Costco. We used them for in-store as well as online purchases.
Costco has an exclusive contract with Visa. Hence, these cards can be used at any warehouse. Additionally, you can use them for online shopping. And the usage is not limited to Visa credit cards.
Costco mentions on its website that you can use all Visa cards. That also includes gift cards by the company. They are accepted in Costco warehouses, online, and at gas stations.
Does Costco Gas Take Mastercard?
Yes, MasterCard can be used at Costco.
But you can only use it for online purchases. It is not a valid payment method for in-store purchases.
Costco only allows MasterCard for online purchases. Due to its contract with Visa and Citi, you can not use this payment method in-store. Similarly, MasterCard is not accepted at Costco gas stations either.
Does Costco Take Checks?
Yes, checks are accepted at all Costco warehouses. But we could not use this option for online shopping.
There are different types of checks. Costco accepts three kinds. That includes Business, Traveler’s, and Personal checks.
It is important to know the limited acceptance of these checks. These can only be used for in-store purchases. You can not use checks online or at Costco gas stations.
Does Costco Take Credit Cards?
Yes, you can use Visa credit cards at Costco. Simply present your card at the checkout to pay with it.
Credit cards are among the most popular payment methods. Although they are accepted at Costco, there is a limit.
You can only use Visa credit cards when shopping at Costco warehouses and gas stations. The store does not allow other companies. However, MasterCard and Discover cards can be used for online shopping.
What Credit Cards Does Costco Take?
Costco only allows Visa and The Anywhere Visa card by Citi. That means you can not use other cards, like Discover, American Express, or MasterCard.
Costco will only accept traditional Visa credit cards. They also allow The Costco Anywhere Visa card by Citi.
That’s because the store has partnerships with these two companies. Their warehouses and gas stations accept only these two credit cards.
But Costco allows more options for online shopping. Here are all the accepted credit cards:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- The Costco Anywhere Visa card
- Discover
Does Costco Take Debit Cards?
Yes, Costco does accept debit cards in all warehouses, gas stations, and online. It is one of the most widely accepted payment methods at the store.
Costco has mentioned on its website that it accepts all ATM/Debit cards. And these cards are accepted at all locations as well as online. It can be easily considered the ideal payment method when shopping at Costco.
Does Costco Take Cash?
Yes, cash is accepted at all Costco warehouses. We went through various locations, and this payment method worked flawlessly.
Note that cash is still a popular payment method. Hence, Costco accepts it in all warehouses. But that’s about it for its availability.
The store does not take this option online. You can not use cash at Costco gas stations, either. Its acceptance is limited to in-store purchases only.
When Did Costco Stop Taking Amex?
Costco stopped taking Amex as a payment method in 2016. Before that, it was a widely accepted option.
Costco had a partnership with Amex. The store was accepting this payment method in all stores and gas stations.
But the 16-year-long contract ended in June 2016. Today, American Express is not accepted at any Costco location or online.
When Did Costco Switch From Amex to Visa?
Although it was announced in February 2015, Costco switched from Amex to Visa on June 20, 2016.
Currently, Costco has a partnership with Visa. Before that, the store was a partner with Amex. That contract lasted for 16 years.
That is why Visa credit cards are widely accepted at all Costco warehouses, gas stations, and online.
Costco is also under a contract with Citi. They accept their Anywhere Costco Visa card at all locations. These are the only 2 credit cards accepted as payment methods.
To Sum Up
The store had a 16-year-long partnership with the popular credit card company.
After it ended, Costco started its contract with Visa. You will find many benefits using this credit card at the popular warehouse chain.
But that contract also comes with disadvantages for customers. For instance, Visa and Citi is the only acceptable option in the Costco credit card category. Some other cards may be accepted for online shopping, but not at warehouses and gas stations.
I'm Annie Rondeau, a writer and content creator for QueryBoomer, where I specialize in providing insightful reviews about brands, stores, products, and retailers. Whether you're searching for information on the latest trends, products, or companies, my articles are the go-to resource for accurate and reliable information. I hope you find my content helpful in your quest for information about brands and products.
