Discover card is accepted by 99% of U.S. merchants that take credit cards, including major retailers like Walmart and grocery stores like Kroger and Safeway, along with gas stations, restaurants, and online (via Amazon Pay), though international acceptance varies; major exceptions in the U.S. include Costco. Its broad U.S. acceptance comes from partnerships with other networks, and it works in over 200 countries/territories through these alliances and Diners Club.
While Discover acceptance is higher in the United States than you might think, with 99% of U.S. merchants accepting it, it's still not as prevalent in other countries. One notable U.S. merchant that doesn't accept Discover is Costco, who only accepts Visa branded cards.
Discover.com Mobile: Discover Mobile. Where is my Discover card accepted outside the U.S.? Cards are currently accepted in Canada, Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean and China. You can use your card everywhere Discover cards are accepted.
No, Costco warehouses do not accept Discover cards for in-store purchases; they exclusively take Visa, along with debit, cash, checks, and mobile payments, but Costco.com used to take Discover online until late 2023, so you must use a Visa or other accepted method. Your Discover card won't work at the warehouse checkout, so have a Visa or debit card ready, as their payment system is built around Visa for lower processing fees.
You can't use your Discover card because of issues like suspicious activity (fraud alert), over-limit balance, missed payments (suspension), an expired/damaged card, or if you didn't notify them of travel, but also, Discover merged with Capital One in May 2025, so you should check your Discover online account for official updates or call their support for specific reasons.
You can use it everywhere Discover® is accepted and earn rewards regardless of brand of gas station.
MasterCard, Visa, Amex and Discover credit cards are accepted online.
The “no Visa” policy will be limited to Canadian locations and it's not yet known how long the entire process will take. Walmart stores will continue to accept MasterCard, Discover, American Express, debit and cash.
Some reasons credit card companies may decline transactions are that your purchase exceeds your credit limit, or the purchase is in a location where you don't normally shop. If the credit card issuer declines your transaction, it's a good idea to call the number on the back of your card and find out why.
It is better to get a Visa card than a Discover card in most cases because Visa cards are accepted by more merchants and offer more supplemental benefits. In addition, there are a lot more Visa cards to choose from, since Visa lets many banks and credit unions issue cards on its network.
The main controversy surrounding Discover (Discover Financial Services) involves its widespread, 17-year practice (2007-2023) of misclassifying millions of consumer credit cards as commercial cards, leading to over $1 billion in inflated interchange fees for merchants, prompting major FDIC/Federal Reserve penalties, restitution orders, and a significant class-action settlement. Other issues include regulatory scrutiny over consumer compliance, a lawsuit by a former executive alleging discrimination, and ongoing debates about higher merchant fees in general.
The 2/3/4 rule is a guideline, primarily used by Bank of America, that limits how many new credit cards you can get: no more than 2 in 30 days, 3 in 12 months, and 4 in 24 months, helping to prevent over-application and manage hard inquiries on your credit report. While not universal, it's a useful benchmark for responsible card application, though other banks have different rules (like Chase's 5/24 rule).
It depends on your needs. If you have bills you need to pay in the U.S. you may want to consider having a U.S. -based card. Both cards will let you shop in U.S. dollars but most of the BMO U.S. credit cards let you earn rewards as well.
No, Costco warehouses do not accept Discover cards for in-store purchases; they exclusively take Visa, along with debit, cash, checks, and mobile payments, but Costco.com used to take Discover online until late 2023, so you must use a Visa or other accepted method. Your Discover card won't work at the warehouse checkout, so have a Visa or debit card ready, as their payment system is built around Visa for lower processing fees.
Are Discover credit cards accepted at grocery stores? Yes, many national chains accept Discover Card. If you want to boost your grocery budget, then you might want a credit card that offers bonus cash back for grocery purchases.
At Costco warehouses and gas stations, you cannot use American Express, Discover, or Mastercard credit cards; only Visa credit/debit cards are accepted in-store, though you can use Mastercard credit/debit online at Costco.com. Cash, checks (with ID), EBT, and Costco Shop Cards are also accepted in-store, while Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay work if linked to a Visa card.