Best Military Credit Cards — Quick Comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | Active Duty Fee | Best Military Perk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $550 | $0 (SCRA/MLA) | $550 in benefits for free + $300 travel credit |
| Amex Platinum | $695 | $0 (MLA) | $695+ in benefits for free + $1,000+ in credits |
| Capital One Venture X | $395 | $0 (MLA) | $395 waived + lounge access + $300 credit |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $95 | $0 (SCRA/MLA) | Best value starter card free for military |
| USAA Cashback Rewards Plus | $0 | $0 | 5% at military bases, 2.5% gas |
| Navy Federal Platinum Visa | $0 | $0 | 8.99-18% APR, best rate for military |
| Navy Federal Flagship Rewards | $49 | $49 | 3x travel, 2x everything else |
| Amex Gold | $325 | $0 (MLA) | 4x dining/grocery free for active duty |
How SCRA and MLA Work for Credit Cards
SCRA (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act)
- Who it covers: Active duty military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard on federal orders)
- Key benefit: Caps interest on pre-service balances at 6% APR
- Issuer enhancements: Many major issuers (Chase, Amex, Capital One, Discover, Citi) go beyond SCRA requirements and waive annual fees during active duty
- How to apply: Submit a copy of your orders to the card issuer’s SCRA department (can typically be done online or by mail)
MLA (Military Lending Act)
- Who it covers: Active duty military + covered dependents
- Key benefit: Caps Military APR (MAPR) at 36% for covered products. Annual fees count toward the MAPR calculation, so many issuers waive them entirely since a large annual fee could exceed the 36% MAPR cap on a small balance.
- Applies to: Credit cards opened on or after October 3, 2017
In practice: Both SCRA and MLA result in annual fee waivers at Chase, American Express, Capital One, Discover, Citi, and Bank of America for active duty service members.
Best Active Duty Card: Chase Sapphire Reserve (Free Under MLA/SCRA)
Civilian annual fee: $550 | Military annual fee: $0 | Value with waived fee: $550 saved + all perks
For active duty service members, the Sapphire Reserve’s $550 fee is waived, making it effectively the best card for military members who travel:
Perks you receive at no cost:
| Benefit | Value |
|---|---|
| $300 annual travel credit | $300 |
| Priority Pass Select (unlimited + 2 guests) | $400 standalone value |
| $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck | $100 every 4 years |
| 3x on all travel and dining worldwide | Varies by spend |
| Trip cancellation/delay insurance | Priceless when needed |
Net value for active duty: $800+ per year in benefits, $0 in fees.
How to apply: Apply normally, then submit a copy of orders to Chase’s SCRA team. Fee reversal typically applied within 2-3 billing cycles.
Best for Luxury Perks on Active Duty: Amex Platinum (Fee Waived)
Civilian annual fee: $695 | Military annual fee: $0 | Annual credits: $1,000+
Amex consistently honors MLA fee waivers on the Platinum card for active duty members. At $0 out of pocket, all $1,000+ in annual credits become pure profit:
Credits active duty members keep for free:
- $200 airline fee credit
- $200 Uber Cash
- $200 Fine Hotels + Resorts credit
- $240 digital entertainment credit
- $189 CLEAR Plus credit
- $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit
- Centurion Lounge + Delta Sky Club + Priority Pass lounge access
Action step: Apply for the card, then submit documentation to Amex’s MLA/SCRA department. The $695 annual fee is credited back within 1-2 billing cycles.
Best Military-Specific Card: USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express
Annual fee: $0 | Availability: USAA members (active duty, veterans, family) | Key earning:
- 5% cash back at military commissaries and exchanges (Army/Air Force Exchange Service, Navy Exchange, Marine Corps Exchange) — up to $3,000/year
- 2.5% back on gas (worldwide) — up to $3,000/year
- 1% on all other purchases
Military-specific value: Shopping at the commissary and BX/PX is already cheaper than civilian retail. Adding 5% cash back on top of those savings compounds significantly for frequent base shoppers.
Best for: Active duty and veterans who shop regularly on base and drive significantly for work or commuting.
Best Credit Union Card: Navy Federal Platinum Visa
Annual fee: $0 | APR: 8.99%-18% variable | Balance transfer fee: 0%
Available to: Active duty, veterans, retired military, DoD employees, and immediate family.
The Navy Federal Platinum offers potentially the lowest ongoing APR available to military members — starting as low as 8.99% for excellent-credit members. For those who occasionally carry a balance, the interest savings on even a $2,000 balance (220+ saved/year vs. 22% card) can be substantial.
At 9% vs. 22% on a $5,000 balance:
- 9% card: $450/year in interest
- 22% card: $1,100/year in interest
- Annual savings: $650
Navy Federal Flagship Rewards Visa Signature
Annual fee: $49 | Earning: 3x on travel, 2x everywhere else | Available to: Navy Federal members
For Navy Federal members who travel and want to maximize rewards, the Flagship earns 3x on air, hotels, and rental cars — with 2x as a floor on everything else. Per-point value within Navy Federal’s redemption system is approximately 1 cent, making the 2x base a solid 2% effective rate.
Combining Military Benefits: The Optimal Strategy
For active duty with good credit (720+):
- Apply for Chase Sapphire Reserve → submit orders → get $550 waived → $300 travel credit + Priority Pass for free
- Apply for Amex Platinum → submit MLA docs → get $695 waived → $1,000+ in credits for free
- Keep USAA Cashback Rewards Plus for 5% at BX/commissary and 2.5% on gas
This three-card setup gives you comprehensive coverage:
- All travel and dining: 3x on CSR
- Base shopping: 5% on USAA
- Gas: 2.5% on USAA
- Net annual fee: $0 across all three cards
- Annual benefits value: $1,500+
When Active Duty Ends: Transition Planning
90-180 days before separating:
- Notify issuers to stop SCRA/MLA benefit waivers (or they will charge fees at the next renewal)
- Evaluate which cards are worth keeping at full fee
- CSR at $550: Keep if you travel 3+ times/year and use Priority Pass
- Amex Platinum at $695: Keep only if you’ll use all the credits
- If not worth the fee, downgrade (not cancel) to a no-fee version to preserve credit history
Related: Best Low Interest Credit Cards | Best Travel Credit Cards | Best No Annual Fee Cards | Best Premium Credit Cards
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