VIDEO: Costco Switches From Amex to Visa: How Will it Effect YOU?
The relationship between American Express and Costco has finally come to an end. As of today, June 20, 2016, American Express co-branded Costco cards will no longer work at the wholesale store. In fact, no credit cards but Visa credit cards can be used at Costco.
For the millions of Costco customers that use credit cards to checkout, that’s some huge news! Here’s what you need to know about the new Costco / Visa partnership…
The Amex Costco card will no longer work at all. Not only will it not work in Costco stores or online at Costco.com, but it can’t be used anywhere else either. Cardholders who are using the Amex Costco card for automatic payments will need to change this card on their accounts to avoid billing problems.
Current Amex Costco cardholders will automatically receive new Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi cards. Citi already started mailing the new cards out last month. Current cardholders do not have to reapply, and Visa will not be running credit checks on current cardholders.
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. They’ll even earn rewards on purchase outside of Costco.
Remaining rewards from the Amex Costco card will be transferred to the new Costco Anywhere Visa card. You can then continue to earn cashback with your new Citi Visa card, and these rewards are about 1% higher than the the rewards earned with the old Amex Costco card.
- 4% cashback on eligible gas worldwide, including gas at Costco on the first $7,000 per year, then 1% after that (Increase from Amex Costco card’s 3% cashback on the first $4,000)
- 3% cashback on restaurant and eligible travel purchases worldwide (Increase from Amex Costco card’s 2% cashback)
- 2% cashback on all other Costco and Costco.com purchases (Increase from Amex Costco card’s 1% cashback)
- 1% cashback on all other purchases
Cashback rewards, however, must be redeemed at Costco. Your earned cash back will be provided as an annual reward coupon in February billing statements.
There’s no annual fee for the Costco Anywhere Visa card by Citi. The cost of the card is included in your annual $55 Costco membership.
Visa is now the ONLY credit card accepted at Costco. Starting today, only Visa branded credit cards can be used at Costco. That means you can no longer use any American Express, MasterCard, or Discover credit cards. Even if you don’t have a Costco card, this is important to keep in mind if you use credit cards at Costco. If you won’t be using a credit card, you can also pay by cash, check, debit card, EBT card, and Costco Cash Cards.
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi is only issued to Costco members. You’ll need a $55 Costco membership to apply for the card, which you can do online or in stores.
Click on the image below to view the video.
Bluebird – Your Checking & Debit Alternative! No credit checks!
LINK to Bluebird
Say hello to Bluebird – Your Checking & Debit Alternative®. Loaded with features. Not fees.
Bluebird is brought to you by American Express and Walmart, giving you:
The features you want
You can make Direct Deposits, pay bills online, add checks with the Bluebird Mobile App, and set up Sub-Accounts — a great new way to manage family spending.
The value you expect
We believe your money belongs with you. That’s why there are no annual, monthly, or overdraft fees and no minimum balance required.
The service you deserve
Our World-class American Express Customer Service is there for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And it’s super easy to open a Bluebird Account since there are no credit reviews.
Bluebird from AMEX- Your Checking & Debit Alternative! No credit checks!
LINK to Bluebird
Say hello to Bluebird – Your Checking & Debit Alternative®. Loaded with features. Not fees.
Bluebird is brought to you by American Express and Walmart, giving you:
The features you want
You can make Direct Deposits, pay bills online, add checks with the Bluebird Mobile App, and set up Sub-Accounts — a great new way to manage family spending.
The value you expect
We believe your money belongs with you. That’s why there are no annual, monthly, or overdraft fees and no minimum balance required.
The service you deserve
Our World-class American Express Customer Service is there for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And it’s super easy to open a Bluebird Account since there are no credit reviews.
AMEX Bluebird: Truly FREE Checking and Debit Alternative
Have you tried the AMEX Bluebird card yet? I have, and I have to admit that I’m somewhat impressed!
I first got it to use for online shopping. Financial security and safety and all that, you know. I was a little skeptical about the “no fees” claim, but I was quickly proven wrong. There really are no fees, if you don’t want them!
You can load cash for free at most Walmarts, or you can upload checks via the AMEX Bluebird app. There aren’t even any monthly fees, like most prepaid cards have and like some checking accounts have. You can even withdraw cash at MoneyPass®ATMs for FREE, including MoneyCenter Express machines in Walmart, if you have received a Direct Deposit into your Bluebird Account within the past 30 days. You can also get free checks, have your paycheck or government funds direct deposited, make regular purchases, and pay bills with your AMEX Bluebird.
The AMEX Bluebird sub-accounts and SetAside accounts also make it easy to manage family spending and set aside emergency funds. You can create sub-accounts for anyone 13 years of age or older, making it a great way to dole out allowances and spending money to kids. With the SetAside account, you can also easily transfer money into a special savings account.
So, who might want to consider getting an AMEX Bluebird card? Well, you might want to consider getting one of these if you…
- need a FREE checking or debit alternative
- make purchases online
- want to easily give family members spending money
- need a credit/debit card but don’t want a credit check
AMEX Bluebird starter kits typically sell for $5 at Walmart, but you can register for a card for FREE online! That’s kind of a no-brainer there…