topic Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate in Credit Cards

Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

Turbobuick — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:10:18 GMT

Doctor of Credit newsletter... convenient to those that already own Costco Citi card.

Citi is planning to make changes on the Citi Costco card that will go into effect on January 19, 2025.

Costco gas will start earning 5% cash back, EV and other gas stations will remain at 4%
Card will change design from grey to black

Relatively minor changes and don’t think it makes the card worth applying for but the 5% at Costco gas is useful if you already have the card and get gas there.

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

Wavester64 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 20:16:45 GMT

@Turbobuick wrote:
Doctor of Credit newsletter... convenient to those that already own Costco Citi card.

Citi is planning to make changes on the Citi Costco card that will go into effect on January 19, 2025.
Costco gas will start earning 5% cash back, EV and other gas stations will remain at 4%
Card will change design from grey to black
Relatively minor changes and don’t think it makes the card worth applying for but the 5% at Costco gas is useful if you already have the card and get gas there.

*JUST* Costco Gas or do all GAS purchases get 5% CB?

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

thundr101 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 21:09:20 GMT

With gas prices being so affordable.. lol... any cashback % increase helps, I guess.

Interesting too, is the recent change in terms I got from Citi on my Costco Visa - my 19.49% rate (have had it since opening years ago).. is being increased to 24.74%. Don't carry a balance.. but I guess they can afford a little 1% bump on the gas cashback for revolvers that get to pay a higher APR %

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

PullingMeSoftly — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 23:18:36 GMT

How cute, still only 2% on Costco purchases...Sincerely, Altitude Reserve

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

UncleB — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 04:26:39 GMT

@PullingMeSoftly wrote:
How cute, still only 2% on Costco purchases...Sincerely, Altitude Reserve

Also, since the DoC article was mentioned above here's a direct link: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/citi-making-changes-to-citi-costco-card-new-design-5-at-costco-gas/

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

dfwxjer — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 05:06:29 GMT

That's great news for me. I drive quite a bit, and buy almost all of my fuel at Costco. I don't carry a balance on it anyway and no af so this is a nice benefit to hear about.

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

unsungivy — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:43:13 GMT

@PullingMeSoftly wrote:
How cute, still only 2% on Costco purchases...Sincerely, Altitude Reserve

Truth.

But maybe I'll facepalm the people who get the card slightly less (given the current market what cards are available... if you picked it up years ago, that's a different story.)

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

ElvisCaprice — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 22:32:01 GMT

It's not a bad card by any means. Has no FTF. Good back up card. With the 5% for Costco gas via Citi Costco and a Paypal debit via grocery category for 5% in store. You got Costco covered.

It is crazy that Costco Citi Card doesn't have the best reward card in their own store. Missed opportunity to sell more Executive memberships?

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

CreditAggie — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 06:18:48 GMT

The 5% on Costco gas is going to be a welcome change! I primarily get my gas at Costco and haven't been able to take advantage of 5% gas when they are rotating categories on CFF and Disco since Costco only accepts Visa, therefore settling for 4% with the Costco card.

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

unsungivy — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 13:02:14 GMT

@CreditAggie wrote:
The 5% on Costco gas is going to be a welcome change! I primarily get my gas at Costco and haven't been able to take advantage of 5% gas when they are rotating categories on CFF and Disco since Costco only accepts Visa, therefore settling for 4% with the Costco card.

Can you not use the Costco Cash cards for gas there? I would think you could?

In the past when Disco or CFF have had the Wholesale category, I used the full quarter's amount on Costco Cash online, giving me 5% at Costco for the next pre-paid $1500... which lasted a very long time. So much better than the 2% the Costco Card gives.

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

Realist — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 07:47:12 GMT

If cash back is your thing, it's hard to compete with a 5% CB rebate.

If rewards are your thing, an IHG card offers a week of free vacation upon successful cycle welcome bonus, and offers 5x in points for each and every gas station fill up.

Do you want cash back? Do you want rewards? One is more advantageous than the other, but what matters most to you?

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

UFGuy2006 — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 12:55:52 GMT

Would be great if they allowed Costco Cash to be redeemed in an ongoing basis (likes Sams Cash).

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

ElvisCaprice — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 19:13:55 GMT

@Realist wrote:
If cash back is your thing, it's hard to compete with a 5% CB rebate.

If rewards are your thing, an IHG card offers a week of free vacation upon successful cycle welcome bonus, and offers 5x in points for each and every gas station fill up.

Do you want cash back? Do you want rewards? One is more advantageous than the other, but what matters most to you?

Apples to Oranges, can always take a lucrative SUB with another cash back card instead. SUB has nothing to do with it.

But 5X points non cash rewards vs 5% cash back? Usually, cash back wins.

Also that IHG card gives 3X points in gas.

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

Realist — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 06:48:26 GMT

I do agree somewhat with the apples to oranges comparison, but I think it would be disingenuous not to factor in SUB opportunity, or welcome offers into the mix, as these can be utilized by most anyone to amplify earnings. You cycle monthly money valuation anyways, so that becomes your apples to apples baseline comparison towards value. I'd argue that you should be utilizing both opportunities in unison. I'd also argue that if you aren't taking advantage of opportunity, you may be leaving much on the table voluntarily. I personally find cash back rewards, and including most SUBs (not all, but most), to be the least desireable within my inventory.

My brother-in-law loves to share with me, how his cash back rewards card that range from 2% cash back, to upwards of 5% depending upon category, yielded to him last we spoke on the topic, about $700 at that point in the year. The year wasn't quite done, but it's a nice estimate. That means to earn that $700, he cycled as little as $14,000 at a full 5% cash back, or as much as $35,000 at a low 2%. Of course that number and percent is everything in between, and the amount cycled is somewhere in between. I'm very happy that he is happy, but I continually ask him, if you could earn more, wouldn't you want to earn more? It's free to you should you want to try, and I'm here for you if you want to learn. The difference in results may actually surprise you.

Now I understand that this part is going to be credit score and hard inquiry specific, but in theory, he could cycle enough in welcome bonuses to amount over $7000 in value within the same period, and with cycling less than the estimates above. He also has the opportunity to actually earn cash back on his card, perhaps not $700 in value, but to a lessor amount, all while earning all of the rewards in addition. Rewards, aren't solely hotel only. They aren't only airline. Some transfer, or exchange out for actual cash equivalents, or cash like equivlants such as everyday use gift cards.

So I say to him, try this as an example.

Citi Strata Premeir card. Cycle $4000 to earn the $750, and go back to earning on your cash back card, to magically produce $1475 on the year. Want to amplify it, transfer those points into other opportunities that isn't cash, but you "can" earn upwards of $4000 in vacation value equivalent - and keep your $600-$700 in cash back rewards on top of it. Or maybe, apply for a Wyndham rewards card, (when the offer prior wasn't what it is today), and if you don't want to use the points to vacation, cash them out for $300 in gift cards. That's over a 40% increase in opportunity, if you had only cycled a measly 1-2k. Then use the rest on your cash back reward card. This is the lower end of opportunity, if you barely want to do anything at all. When I told him what I do, I earn well over $10k in valuation compared to his $700, cycling the same annual value, within the same timeframe, before I move to my fall back card that is not a cash back card. A mix of hotel and airline rewards, and a healthy mix of cash and cash equivalents. My fraction of cash out values earn more than he has earned annually on his cash back card, yet we cycle the same overall value. A portion of those offers will allow you to cash out, or gift card out, for more than $700 in value. So it's a no brainer in which offers more opportunity. There is zero reason, why you can't have your cake, and eat it too. The only question to ask, is in your pursuit of whatever it is you want, are you leaving opportunity on the table. The money is being spent anyways - somewhere.

Again, I'm happy that he is happy. He has all the support he needs, should he ever want to engage. But make no mistake, many people leave much opportunity on the table either because they don't know how, or they don't care, or they don't want to put in the small amount of work to manipulate the numbers. And this is ok. I'm happy he's happy, but I'm always available to help take it up a notch.

So when I show something like this below, it's not that I'm suggesting to substitute this offer in it's place. I'm saying you can have this for next to nothing, along with almost a half dozen other opportunities within the same timeline, and similar cycled valuation. Some that may offer you cash back greater than you may earn in cash back rewards. In the end, the money is being cycled anyways, so we only need to ask if we are utilizing it in the best way possible. 5% cash back for that same valuation, or many times of amplied value, for the same cycled valuation. I've pushed enough cash back welcome offers through, to know they don't keep up with the valuation of rewards cash back. The Strata card, that's a bit of an exception due to it's hybrid status.

Sometimes to move forward, we willfully give up one step back. This in return, allows us to move many steps forward.

P2 actually works for Costco, but still won't openly promote the Costco visa cash back 2%, to upwards of random 5% cash back in random opportunities. Why? Because they learned first hand how it's not as beneficial as other opportunities available to the people.

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

ElvisCaprice — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 07:02:23 GMT

The IHG AF card? Nope, no need for most to spend 99$ on an AF to get 5% points on gas. And you can't even compare with a cash back card which is best for most folks at 5%, no AF, cash back. In this case, even the Paypal debit card is better than this AF card for most.

As for all the other features of that IHG AF card. It's in a whole different category for those willing/capable to make the spend and desiring the rewards that card offers. Travel cards don't interest this frugal Fico'er.

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

Realist — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 07:01:24 GMT

@ElvisCaprice wrote:
The IHG AF card? Nope, no need for most to spend 99$ on an AF to get 5% points on gas. And you can't even compare with a cash back card which is best for most folks at 5%, no AF, cash back. In this case, even the Paypal debit card is better than this AF card for most.

Missed the point of the post my friend.

While you are targeting one specific element aimed at a random cardline I suggested such as IHG, as I'm showing you above, that IHG is one of five, or one of six opportunities afforded to you for free, for the same exact cycling valuation involved with a single cash back rewards opportunity.

IHG is simply a variable. Would you like me to use a different line in it's place instead? If your focus is that tight, it leads me to believe you aren't looking at the overall macro picture. Respectfully. My brother-in-law wasn't either.

I can understand.

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

ElvisCaprice — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 07:33:01 GMT

@Realist wrote:
@ElvisCaprice wrote:
The IHG AF card? Nope, no need for most to spend 99$ on an AF to get 5% points on gas. And you can't even compare with a cash back card which is best for most folks at 5%, no AF, cash back. In this case, even the Paypal debit card is better than this AF card for most.

Missed the point of the post my friend.

While you are targeting one specific element aimed at a random cardline I suggested such as IHG, as I'm showing you above, that IHG is one of five, or one of six opportunities afforded to you for free, for the same exact cycling valuation involved with a single cash back rewards opportunity.

IHG is simply a variable. Would you like me to use a different line in it's place instead? If your focus is that tight, it leads me to believe you aren't looking at the overall macro picture. Respectfully. My brother-in-law wasn't either.

I can understand.

You don't understand my friend. I like some others here are far more frugal and we are not seeking to create the kind of additional spend required to make that or any other travel card work. In fact, we don't have any use for it's reward structure. Let alone an AF card.

If a CC doesn't fit my lifestyle then it's a big NO can do. There are others here who are into travel cards and their benefits. But that is a separate topic that doesn't interest me at this point in my life.

And again if your going to talk about SUBS only, another subject matter, which I'm all about. I've tapped that Citi Premier for it's sub a couple times, getting another checking SUB to boot.

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

Realist — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:23:28 GMT

@ElvisCaprice wrote:
@Realist wrote:
@ElvisCaprice wrote:
The IHG AF card? Nope, no need for most to spend 99$ on an AF to get 5% points on gas. And you can't even compare with a cash back card which is best for most folks at 5%, no AF, cash back. In this case, even the Paypal debit card is better than this AF card for most.
Missed the point of the post my friend.

While you are targeting one specific element aimed at a random cardline I suggested such as IHG, as I'm showing you above, that IHG is one of five, or one of six opportunities afforded to you for free, for the same exact cycling valuation involved with a single cash back rewards opportunity.

IHG is simply a variable. Would you like me to use a different line in it's place instead? If your focus is that tight, it leads me to believe you aren't looking at the overall macro picture. Respectfully. My brother-in-law wasn't either.

I can understand.

You don't understand my friend. I like some others here are far more frugal and we are not seeking to create the kind of additional spend required to make that or any other travel card work. In fact, we don't have any use for it's reward structure. Let alone an AF card.
If a CC doesn't fit my lifestyle then it's a big NO can do. There are others here who are into travel cards and their benefits. But that is a speparate topic that doesn't interest me at this point in my life.

I think I understand now, thank you for sharing your story. We are uniquely different in our approach to both acquiring and maintaining credit. Some people choose to opt in, others go full on in for maximum leverage. This is the part that I enjoy, hearing how people have arrived, no two stories are ever the same. I'm happy to hear your story and sharing.

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

CreditAggie — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 02:20:45 GMT

Looks like the 5% on Costco gas is now active!

Re: Citi Costco bumping Costco gas rebate

Nocredometer69 — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 21:27:08 GMT

Thank you as I have the card but did not know about the 5%. I like it and use the card often but I'm Costco shopper so anyway thanks for the heads up!