Costco members were shocked some months ago to learn that Costco and American Express were getting a divorce. Starting June 20, Costco will discontinue its Amex TrueEarnings card and begin accepting the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi. Customers will also be able to use any Visa credit card at the register, but Amex cards will no longer be accepted.
The good news: Costco's new Visa card (0% APR for seven months, then 15.49%; membership fee starts at $55 and includes the credit card's annual fee) offers better cash-back rewards than the Amex card. It will pay 4% on up to $7,000 in annual gas purchases at Costco and other gas stations, 3% on dining and travel, 2% at Costco and 1% on everything else. (For more information, go to www.costco.com/credit-card.html.)
Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club also offer credit cards that charge no separate annual fee. The Sam's Club MasterCard (14.9% or 22.9% APR; membership fee starts at $45) pays an impressive 5% on up to $6,000 in gas purchases a year. You also get 3% back on dining and travel, and 1% on all other purchases. The My BJ's Perks MasterCard (14.99% or 24.99% APR) has two levels. The Elite card, with a $100 annual membership fee, offers 5% back on BJ's purchases; the Plus card, with a $50 annual membership fee, pays 3% in-store. Both cards provide a 10-cent-per-gallon discount at BJ's gas stations, 2% cash back on other gas purchases and dining, and 1% on everything else.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Which card rewards you most depends on your spending patterns. But especially if you buy a lot of gas, the Sam’s Club card gets the nod.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Advance on Light Volume Thanks to Big TechEquities rose in a mostly sleepy session as Mag 7 names led the way.
-
Where Starbucks Workers are Striking and What It Means For YouStarbucks Workers United organized a nationwide strike through Christmas Eve, impacting locations in nine states and growing until Starbucks meets demands.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2024 and 2025Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up. Here's what you need to know.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute VacationTravel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
-
How to Figure Out How Much Life Insurance You Needinsurance Instead of relying on rules of thumb, you’re better off taking a systematic approach to figuring your life insurance needs.
-
Amazon Big Deal Days Is Coming! We’ve Got All the DetailsAmazon Prime To kick off the holiday season with a bang, Amazon Big Deal Days runs Tuesday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 9.
-
How to Shop for Life Insurance in 3 Easy Stepsinsurance Shopping for life insurance? You may be able to estimate how much you need online, but that's just the start of your search.
-
Five Ways to Shop for a Low Mortgage RateBecoming a Homeowner Mortgage rates are high this year, but you can still find an affordable loan with these tips.
-
Retirees, It's Not Too Late to Buy Life Insurancelife insurance Improvements in underwriting have made it easier to qualify for life insurance, which can be a useful estate-planning tool.
