Best Credit Cards for Military Personnel

The best credit cards for veterans of the military are cards issued by military-related financial institutions such as PenFed, USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union because they offer some of the lowest APRs and fees, as well as competitive rewards. Some cards will even make a contribution to veteran charities when you spend.

Best Credit Cards for Veterans of the Military

As you can see, there are lots of credit cards available to help veterans save. And that's only fitting. Thank you for your service!

Yes, The Platinum Card® from American Express is free for military servicemembers to own. The American Express Platinum card credit card will waive fees for active-duty military personnel who qualify for military benefits under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and the Military Lending Act (MLA). Keep in mind that reservists and National Guard personnel do not qualify for annual fee waivers unless they're actively deployed.

The American Express Platinum card fee waiver covers the card's annual fee and most other fees, including late fees and returned payment fees. That's a savings of $695 on the annual fee alone. But the card itself isn't completely free if you carry a balance, because the interest rates – although reduced – will still apply.

Many credit cards waive the annual fee for military members, including certain cards from American Express, Chase, and Capital One. The most notable credit cards that waive annual fees for military personnel are Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Both cards normally have a high annual fee, but active military personnel do not have to pay it. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Capital One Venture X cards are therefore great offers for military members, since the luxury perks on these cards can be enjoyed at no cost. 

However, it is worth noting that Capital One will only waive the annual fee for Capital One Venture X if the account was open before active-duty service started. 

Credit Cards that Waive Annual Fees for Military Members

Card issuers are required to give some benefits to military members with SCRA-eligible accounts. Yet many credit card companies go above and beyond these requirements by waiving annual fees. In particular, American Express, Capital One, and Chase are among the best credit card issuers for active military members because they offer some high-end cards that military personnel can take advantage of without the price tag.

The easiest Navy Federal credit card to get is the Navy Federal Credit Union nRewards® Secured Credit Card because you can get approved with Bad credit. The Navy Federal nRewards Secured Card requires a refundable deposit (minimum of $200), and the deposit becomes your credit limit. It's a real credit card, so information about your account will be reported to credit bureaus.

And you'll be charged an APR of 18% (V) on your purchases if you don't pay your balance in full every month. This secured card gives you a path toward unsecured credit, too. NFCU reviews secured credit accounts starting at 6 months for a chance at “graduating” from a secured card to an unsecured credit line.

Navy Federal Credit Cards Minimum Credit Score Requirements

If you're not looking for a secured card, NFCU mainly has unsecured credit cards for good credit or better.

• Navy Federal Credit Union nRewards® Secured Credit Card: Bad credit (300)
• Navy Federal Credit Union More Rewards American Express® Credit Card: Good credit (700+)
• Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card: Good credit (700+)
• Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Credit Card: Good credit (700+)
• Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card: Good credit (700+)
• Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Credit Card: Excellent credit (750+)

Keep in mind that, no matter how creditworthy you may be, you won't get approved for a Navy Federal credit card if you don't qualify for NFCU membership. Navy Federal Credit Union membership is open to members of the military, Department of Defense employees, veterans, and their families. You can see if you can become a member at the Navy Federal Credit Union website. But that restriction alone makes NFCU cards harder to get than comparable cards open to the general public.

The U.S. Pride Credit Card is no longer available to new applicants, unfortunately. In the past, applicants were eligible for the U.S. Pride Credit Card if they were at least 18 years old (or 21 if they were permanent residents of Puerto Rico) and met the following criteria:

• No military requirements – you didn't need to be connected to the military in any way to apply 
• Had a valid Social Security Number
• Had a valid U.S. residential address
• Had a steady income
• Had excellent credit (a credit score of 750+)

Even if you met all these requirements, getting approved for the U.S. Pride Credit Card wasn't guaranteed. The issuer would also look at other factors such as your payment history and amount of debts to decide if you're eligible for a new account.

While the U.S. Pride Credit Card is no longer available to new applicants, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card has the same rewards structure and approval requirements. It has an online offer of $200 for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. Plus, you earn 3% cash back in a category of your choice and 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 spent quarterly), plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card also requires excellent credit (a credit score of 750+) for good odds of approval.

You can get several unsecured credit cards from USAA, the best of which is the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card. With this card, you can earn 2,500 points after your first purchase, plus 3 points / $1 spent on dining. 

Another good USAA unsecured credit card is the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card. This card earns 5% cash back on your first $3,000 spent on military base purchases and at gas stations. USAA unsecured credit cards do not charge annual fees or foreign transaction fees.

Here are some of the best USAA unsecured credit cards:

The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card offers 2,500 points after your first purchase. You can earn 3 points per $1 spent on dining, 2 points per $1 spent on gas and groceries, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

This card requires excellent credit for approval.

With the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card you can earn 5% cash back on gas and military base purchases (up to $3,000 spent per year), 2% cash back at supermarkets (up to $3,000 spent per year), and 1% back on all other purchases.

This card requires excellent credit for approval.

The USAA Rewards Visa offers 2,500 points after your first purchase. You can earn 2 points per $1 spent on gas and dining, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. It has a balance transfers Intro APR of 0% for until December 2024. The regular APR is 14.65% - 30.65% (V). The card has a 3% balance transfer fee.

This card requires good credit or better for approval.

With the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card you can earn . This card requires excellent credit for approval.

The USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card has a 11.65% - 28.65% (V) regular APR, based on creditworthiness. It offers . This card requires excellent credit for approval.

It is worth noting that USAA credit cards are designed specifically for active and retired military servicemembers and their families. You're also eligible to apply for a USAA unsecured credit card if you're a former spouse (who hasn't remarried), widow, or widower of a USAA member.

In addition, USAA unsecured credit cards offer a 4% APR for qualified active duty servicemembers. This is instead of the 6% rate required by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The 4% APR includes charges made on a USAA credit card prior to active duty. You must be on active duty for 30 days before you request the 4% APR, and submit your request within one year of completing active duty.

Yes, there are several Chase Sapphire Reserve military benefits, the most attractive one being a waiver of most of its fees. That includes the hefty $550 annual fee.

Like all credit cards, Chase cards comply to the Military Lending Act (MLA), which sets limits to interest rates and other fees for active-duty members and their eligible dependents. However, the limits set by the MLA are relatively high, so they can hardly be considered a benefit.

Here's how to get the Chase Sapphire Reserve military perks:

• You must be an active duty servicemember (including active-duty military personnel, reserves or National Guard) or an eligible dependent of theirs. Active duty means you serve full-time. Unfortunately, veterans don't qualify.
• There is no way to flag your military status on your application, but approved military accountholders are automatically selected as the credit bureau compares Social Security numbers to DOD databases. You can also call Chase customer service at (877) 469-0110 and inform them of your status.
• Chase will confirm your military status. If everything checks out, they will automatically waive all fees on your card, with the exception of late and insufficient funds fees.
• The Military Lending Act (MLA) limits interest rates and certain fees to 36% for new cardholders. While the Chase Sapphire Reserve features lower interest rates, you can be sure that any future increases will be capped.
• Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), interest rates are capped at 6% during the time of active duty for existing cardholders. Chase goes further and lowers interest to 4% for eligible existing cardholders on active duty. Just call (877) 469-0110 to inform Chase of your status.  

The Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee is $550, so not having to worry about that while you're on active duty is a great added benefit. The 4% interest rate cap for existing cardholders on active duty is also an attractive perk considering the card's 21.74% - 28.74% (V) regular APR. Plus, the Chase Sapphire Reserve regular benefits reinforce it as a solid choice for active-duty military. Thank you for your service!

No, you can't board early on JetBlue flights if you're a military veteran. Early boarding on JetBlue flights is reserved for people with disabilities, frequent flyers with a high status level, active military members, and people with small kids.

However, if you're enrolled in the "Veterans Advantage" program, you are eligible for two different perks when flying with JetBlue:

• 5% discount on the base fare for all JetBlue flights.
• 2 free checked bags per flight.

There are no military credit cards that have guaranteed approval. In fact, guaranteed approval is a myth. The credit cards that fall under this category are usually the ones with lenient approval requirements. 

Alternatives to military credit cards with guaranteed approval:

The closest thing to a guaranteed approval credit card is a secured card with a refundable deposit. The security deposit acts as your spending limit and prevents you from spending more money than you can afford to repay.

The Navy Federal Credit Union nRewards® Secured Credit Card is a good choice, considering its $0 annual fee. This card also offers 1 point per $1 spent on purchases. Plus, it comes with 0% foreign transaction fees. Alternatively, you should check our editors' latest picks for the best military credit cards and the best secured credit cards on the market.

One of the best American Airlines credit card for military families is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® because it offers SCRA benefits as well as a 0% foreign transaction fee and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit worth up to $100. All American Airlines credit cards waive annual fees and interest upon request for active duty military servicemembers, though, as part of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) benefits.

Servicemembers must open an AA credit card account prior to entering active duty in order to be eligible for SCRA benefits. Enrollment is also required. For instructions on how to sign up for SCRA benefits, call (877) 804-1082 (Citibank) or (866) 918-5212 (Barclays), depending on which company issues your American Airlines credit card.

American Airlines cards aren't all equal for the military community, however. Other reasons the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is an especially good choice for military families include the fact that it gives priority boarding on American Airlines flights, one free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 8 traveling companions, and a discount on inflight food and beverages. Plus, Citi AAdvantage Executive Card provides a free Admirals Club airport lounge membership, valued at up to $650 per year. Those benefits can go a long way in easing the travel burdens common among military families.