Paying your credit card bill on time every month is crucial for maintaining a good credit score. For American Express cardholders who also happen to be Costco members, it’s natural to wonder if you can pay your Amex bill at Costco for convenience. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Costco does not accept American Express card payments in-warehouse or online.
However, there are still plenty of easy ways to pay your Amex bill other than at Costco. In this article, we’ll explain why you can’t pay American Express at Costco and outline the payment options you do have instead.
Why You Can’t Pay American Express at Costco
Up until 2016, Costco had an exclusive partnership with American Express. This meant only AmEx cards were accepted for purchases at Costco warehouses and online. However, when that deal ended, Costco switched to Visa as its exclusive credit card processor.
So while you can use Visa and cash to shop at Costco, American Express cards are no longer accepted. And since AmEx is not Costco’s credit card partner anymore, Costco does not allow American Express bill payments in-store or online.
Costco does have its own co-branded credit card – the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. But this is a separate credit card unrelated to American Express Payments on the Costco Citi Visa must be made directly to Citi as the issuer, not at Costco
- Costco’s credit card partnership switched from Amex to Visa in 2016
- Only Visa cards are accepted for purchases at Costco now
- Costco co-branded Visa card payments must go directly to the issuer, Citi
- American Express is no longer affiliated with Costco at all
So while shopping at Costco with your Amex card isn’t possible anymore, you still have various easy options to pay your AmEx bill.
Convenient Ways to Pay Your Amex Bill
Just because you can’t pay American Express at Costco doesn’t mean you’re short on payment choices American Express offers cardholders multiple quick and convenient ways to pay monthly bills
Pay Online
The easiest way to pay your Amex bill is online through your online account dashboard. Log into your account and select “Pay Bill.” You can pay your total balance or a partial amount. Online payments are usually credited to your account immediately.
Pay with the Amex Mobile App
Download the American Express app on your smartphone or tablet. You can securely view statements and pay your bill in a few taps any time, anywhere. Payments made through the app before 8 pm ET on a business day are normally credited that same day.
Pay by Phone
Call the number on the back of your AmEx card to access the automated payment system. Follow the prompts to enter your card information and pay all or part of your bill. You can also opt to speak to a customer service agent to process your payment over the phone.
Pay by Mail
If you prefer, you can mail a paper check or money order to American Express. Make sure it arrives by the due date. You’ll need to include your account number and the payment coupon from your bill statement. Send your mailed payment to the address listed on your statement to avoid processing delays.
Set Up AutoPay
For ultimate convenience, enroll in American Express autopay. Your bill will be paid automatically each month by the due date from your chosen bank account or Amex card. You can cancel or adjust autopay anytime. Enrolling in autopay can help you avoid missed payments and late fees.
Pay at Select Retail Locations
American Express has partnered with some retail chains to allow card payments in-store. For example, you may be able to pay your Amex bill at:
- Walgreens – Make bill payments at the register when checking out
- Western Union – Visit a location to pay with cash, debit, etc.
- CheckFreePay – Pay your bill at participating CVS, Walmart, 7-Eleven, and other retailers
Call ahead to verify your nearest location offers Amex bill pay before visiting. There may be a convenience fee.
When to Pay Your Amex Bill
To avoid late fees and credit score damage, it’s essential to pay your Amex bill by the due date each month. The specific due date is printed on your statement and visible in your online account.
American Express bills close on the same day each month, depending on when you opened your account. Your payment due date is typically 25 days after the closing date.
For example, if your statement period runs from the 1st to the 30th of the month, your payment for that statement will be due on the 25th of the following month.
If your due date falls on a weekend or holiday, your payment is due the next business day. Account holders are typically given a grace period of 1-5 days if needed.
Sign up for email or push notifications through your online Amex account. This way, you’ll receive payment reminders leading up to your bill due date each month. Setting a monthly calendar reminder can also help you remember when to pay.
Costco Payment Options
Just because American Express bill payment isn’t accepted at Costco doesn’t mean you’re completely out of payment choices there. Costco does accept various other payment methods:
- Visa credit and debit cards
- Cash
- Checks from members
- Costco Shop cards
- Mobile wallet payments like Apple Pay
- EBT cards
You can also use debit cards, checks, cash, and mobile wallets to pay your Costco Citi Visa bill at the membership counter. Costco Shop cards function as prepaid debit cards and can be reloaded with funds at Costco warehouses.
So even without American Express, you still have plenty of options to pay for your Costco purchases and services. The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is a top choice to maximize rewards.
Avoid Late Payments
It’s important to pay your American Express bill on time every month, whether at Costco or through another method. Paying late, even by one day, can incur costly penalty fees and steep interest charges.
Late payments also appear on your credit reports with the major bureaus. This can cause your credit scores to plummet by up to 100 points or more. A single late Amex payment can hurt your credit for years.
Set payment reminders, enroll in autopay, or link your Amex account to your checking account to pull payments automatically each month. These tools make it virtually foolproof to avoid ever paying late, even if you can’t pay at Costco.
Monitor your account closely to be sure payments are credited by each due date. Reach out immediately if you see any errors or discrepancies that could prevent on-time payment. Staying on top of your account and due dates will help protect your credit standing.
The Bottom Line
Unfortunately, Costco no longer has any relationship with American Express. That’s why you can’t pay your Amex credit card bill at Costco warehouses or online. However, American Express offers plenty of other fast, easy payment options like online, mobile, phone, mail, auto-pay, and more.
The key is remembering your monthly due date and making payments on time each billing cycle. Enroll in autopay, set calendar reminders, or use other tools to avoid ever missing a payment deadline – even without the ability to pay at Costco. Managing your account diligently will help build your credit over time.
Why Doesn’t My American Express Card Work at Costco?
Beginning in 1999, American Express became the sole credit card partner for Costco. For many years, it was the only credit card accepted by the retailer. Customers looking to earn Costco-specific rewards had to obtain a co-branded American Express/Costco card.
However, this arrangement changed when Costco and American Express decided to part ways in 2016. Following this, Costco partnered with Citi as its exclusive credit card issuer, with Visa becoming the exclusive credit card network for Costco stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Since then, American Express has been replaced by Citi and Visa, which has caused frustration with shoppers who dont have a Visa credit card.
Beyond Visa credit cards, Costco continues to accept payments via cash, checks, electronic benefit transfer (EBT), Costco Shop Cards, and most importantly and most pin-based debit and ATM cards.
Solution:Â Create a digital Debit Card funded by your Credit Card
Kasheesh is a payment service that offers a unique solution for consumers who want flexibility in how they pay for purchases. One of its standout features is the ability to generate a digital Mastercard that can be funded by any underlying credit or debit card in your wallet, including your American Express credit card.
This means you can effectively use your AMEX when shopping at Costcoâs online store by first generating a Kasheesh digital Mastercard debit card which is linked to your AMEX, and then using that debit card to make your purchase.
- Sign Up and Link Your Cards: Start by signing up for a Kasheesh account and linking your American Express card along with any other credit, debit, or prepaid gift cards you might want to use. â
- Create a Kasheesh Card: Once your cards are linked, you can generate a digital Mastercard within the Kasheesh platform. Select your AMEX as the funding source, and Kasheesh will create a virtual Mastercard that can be used just like any other credit card. â
- Shop at Costco: Use the generated digital debit card for your Costco online purchases, Â without worrying about the Visa and Mastercard exclusivity. The transaction will be instantly charged to your AMEX card through the Kasheesh platform.
How do I use American Express at Costco?
FAQ
Can you pay Amex at Costco?
Why won’t Costco take American Express?
What happened with American Express and Costco?
Can I pay my Costco credit card at Costco?
No, you cannot pay your Costco Credit Card at Costco. The card’s payments must be made directly to the issuer. But there are several other ways to make Costco Credit Card payments, including online and by phone. Online: Sign in to your account and click the “Payments” tab.
Does Costco accept online payments?
Costco does accept different payment methods online compared to its warehouse locations. As a result, you’ll need at least one of the following payment options to shop at Costco.com: The biggest difference you’ll notice is that Costco.com allows you to pay with MasterCard, while Costco locations do not. How to pay with a Costco Shop Card
What payment types can I use at Costco?
Here are all the payment types you can use at Costco: Additionally, you can use FSA/HSA Visa and MasterCard debit cards at Costco Pharmacies as well as in the Optical and Hearing Aid Departments. You’ll notice American Express is not on this list of accepted payment options Payment options do differ for Canadian Costco shoppers.
Can I pay my American Express bill online?
You can only pay an American Express card’s bill in person if the card is on the American Express network, but issued by another bank or credit union. That’s because Amex does not have any physical locations. If your Amex card was issued by American Express, your only options are to pay online, with the app, over the phone, or by mailing a check.
Can I use Amex at Costco via Apple Pay?
FYI you can use your real Amex at Costco via Apple Pay for online purchases Just did this for a delivery and it worked! Delivery is through Instacart, isn’t it? (With a corresponding markup and fee?) Online delivery selection for products is a lot less than in person :/
Does Costco accept MasterCard?
Aside from being an accepted payment method at Costco, Costco’s MasterCard comes with many benefits for cardholders. Here are some of them: Pay anywhere that Visa is accepted and earn cash back rewards, including 3% back on restaurants and 2% on Costco and Costco.com purchases. Use the Costco MasterCard as your Costco membership card.