COSTCO* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

When Costco processes transactions through their point-of-sale systems, the descriptor is automatically truncated to "COSTCO*" because payment networks like Visa and Mastercard impose strict character limits on merchant descriptors, typically capping them at around 22 characters. The asterisk following COSTCO acts as a separator that Costco's payment processor appends to distinguish the base merchant name from any additional transaction detail, such as a warehouse location or membership renewal code, that may follow in the full descriptor string. If you see "COSTCO*" on your bank statement, it almost certainly reflects either an in-warehouse purchase or an annual membership fee billed directly by Costco's membership billing system.

No, this is a legitimate charge from Costco. However, if you did not authorize this charge or cancelled your subscription, you may be eligible for a refund.

Frequently Asked Questions