If You're Going to Shop at Costco, This Is 1 Credit Card Worth Applying For

If you're a Costco member, you may be well aware by now that buying groceries and household essentials in bulk has the potential to lead to a lot of savings. But if you want to save even more money in the course of your Costco shopping, then it pays to use the right credit card.

Unlike many other retailers that accept different types of credit cards, the only credit card Costco accepts is Visa. But to be clear, you can shop at your local warehouse club store with any Visa card you have. However, if you're going to be doing your fair amount of shopping at Costco, then it could pay to consider applying for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi.

• Apply now for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi (see rates and fees).

Benefits galore

There are many Visa cards that will give you cash back on the items you buy. But what makes the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi unique is that it offers 2% cash back on all Costco purchases. If you make a lot of those, that cash back could add up.

It's also worth noting that if you upgrade your Costco membership to an executive membership, you'll be eligible for 2% back on all Costco purchases, including those made online. But you're allowed to combine the benefits of an executive membership with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi so that if you use both together, you can effectively walk away with 4% back on the things you buy at Costco.

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi also offers 4% back on gas purchases for your first $7,000 of spending in this category per year. From there, you still get 1% back on gas fill-ups. The card also offers 3% back on restaurant purchases as well as eligible travel purchases. And, it offers 1% back on all purchases that don't fall into a special category.

What's also great about the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is that it doesn't charge an annual fee. And once you get it, it can serve as your Costco membership card so you don't have to flash a separate card to get in the door.

Set yourself up to save more at Costco

If you only shop at Costco on occasion, then you may not feel compelled to apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. But if you anticipate shopping there often, then it pays to add this card to your personal mix and use it for all Costco purchases.

Another nice thing about the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is that it provides you with an annual reward certificate every February. You can then use that certificate to pay for Costco purchases or cash it out at your local Costco.

If you're thinking about applying for a Costco membership but haven't done so yet, you should know that you can't apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi until you officially join Costco. But from there, it pays to add this credit card to your collection and see how your cash back adds up.