The 5 Best Military Credit Cards for Active-Duty Members in April 2026 [Waived Annual Fees]

Serving in our country’s military brings added responsibility and commitment — but it can also bring financial challenges.

Years ago, some of the financial challenges that military families face were recognized and addressed with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003 (SCRA) and the subsequent Military Lending Act (MLA). If you’re an active-duty military member, chances are you’re familiar with these laws and their revisions.

These federal laws limit the interest rates and fees lending institutions can legally charge active military members, their spouses, and domestic partners.

While the laws include special consideration for vehicle leases, payday loans, mortgages, and housing rights, they are particularly important as they apply to credit cards. Specifically, opportunities have been created for military members to take advantage of some of the more elite benefits of rewards-earning credit cards without incurring high annual fees.

The SCRA applies to credit card accounts opened prior to active military service, but many credit card issuers extend the benefits to credit cards acquired during active duty as well. The MLA governs credit cards acquired during active military service.

Both laws have positively affected how credit card issuers administer their credit card terms for active military. Today, we’ll focus on which credit card issuers go above and beyond the minimum requirements of these laws and how their actions benefit the active military.

“Learning that credit cards offered unique perks to me while on active duty was fantastic,” says veteran Ryan Smith. “Learning that the cards offered rewards I could use to travel or visit family back in the U.S. while stationed in Germany really changed my situation. And I loved that some banks would waive fees while I was on active duty, letting me enjoy the earning rates and benefits without out-of-pocket costs.”

Let’s review our recommendations for the best military credit cards for active members (including spouses) and the associated card benefits.

Card Summary

American Express (Annual Fee Reductions, Best Card Benefits & Perks)

American Express offers benefits to active-duty military that go beyond the letter of the law.

It does not limit benefits to credit cards opened prior to active military service. Instead, Amex offers reduced annual fees and interest rates on all of its credit cards — even newly acquired ones.

Benefits Provided

• Reduction in annual membership fees and other fees such as late payments, returned payments, and over-limit fees
• A cap of 6% on interest rates for cards acquired prior to active duty or 36% (Military Annual Percentage Rate) for cards acquired during active duty
  • Newly acquired cards are not capped

How To Request Benefits (Do This After You’re Approved)

• Online: Log in to your credit card account online and click on “account services.” Under the account services tab you will find “credit management.” You will see SCRA Benefits under that tab and be able to request the benefits there.
• Phone: Call 800-253-1720 from the U.S., or outside of the U.S. call collect at 336-393-1111.
• Fax: Fax active duty documents with American Express account numbers to 623-444-3000.
• Mail: Mail documents with account numbers to American Express, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, PO Box 981535, El Paso, Tx 79998-1535

Hot Tip: If you are currently active-duty military with an American Express card but you haven’t applied for benefits, you should strongly considering doing so. You could save hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest and annual fees. 

Best American Express Credit Cards for Active Military

Platinum Card^® from American Express (No Annual Fee, Best Card for Worldwide Lounge Access, Premium Benefits & Perks)

Why We Like the Card for Military Members

If you travel a lot, having lounge access can add economy and comfort to your trip. You can grab a free drink, a bite to eat, and relax during your journey. Cardmembers will have access to upscale Centurion lounges, considered to be some of the best airport lounges available.

In addition, you’ll enjoy Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment, which allows you and 2 guests complimentary access to Priority Pass lounges worldwide. Priority Pass is the world’s largest lounge network with nearly 1,400 lounges.

If you travel on Delta Air Lines, you’ll also enjoy 10 visits to Delta Sky Clubs with the ability to unlock unlimited visits.

The Global Entry credit is also a nice perk that reimburses you when you pay for your application or renewal with your card.

For a lot more information, see our post on the benefits of the Amex Platinum card for Active U.S. Military members. Remember that the $895 annual fee is reduced to $0 if you’re active military (including spouses and domestic partners), make this an incredible time to apply for a card with a huge welcome bonus and packed with benefits (rates & fees).

American Express^® Gold Card (Earn Lots of Bonus Points on Dining & U.S. Supermarkets)

Why We Like the Card for Military Members

Because the Membership Rewards points you earn on everyday spending can be redeemed easily for travel, the Gold Card strikes a balance of being an everyday earning card and a travel rewards card.

For those who travel occasionally but spend regularly on dining and at U.S supermarkets, this card is an excellent match. You can read our post for more on the benefits of the Amex Gold Card for active-military members.

Bottom Line: American Express offers over 60 different cards, and it reduces annual fees on all of them for active military.  

Chase (Waived Annual Fees, Excellent Card Benefits)

Benefits Provided

Chase offers benefits for active military members in accordance with the MLA law for those under active duty who applied for cards after September 20, 2017. Benefits apply only to personal credit cards, not to Chase business credit cards.

• Waived annual fees and other fees (except late fees and insufficient fund fees)
• Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) won’t exceed 36% (includes any fees)
• Any introductory promotional interest rates (0% APR, etc.) will be honored.

How To Request Benefits (Do This After You’re Approved)

After applying for the credit card of your choice, you can request SCRA/MLA benefits:

• Access your Chase.com online banking profile
• Select “secure messages” in the upper left of the page
• Select “compose message”
• Under “inquires,” select Military SCRA benefits
• Include your account number
• Attach supporting documents

You can call 1-877-469-0110 to ask about credit card fee waivers for Chase credit cards (8 am-10 pm Monday through Friday, and 9 am-6 pm Saturdays). Internationally, call collect at 318-340-3348.

All Chase personal credit cards are included for Military benefits; here are some of the most popular that we recommend.

Best Chase Credit Cards for Active Military

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card ($95 Annual Fee Waived, Excellent First Time Card)

A great first time rewards credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a nice balance of practical travel benefits and earning valuable Ultimate Rewards points.

• 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 5x points on Lyft (through September 30, 2027)
• 5x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 (through December 31, 2027)
• 3x points on dining
• 3x points on online grocery store purchases
• 3x points on select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel purchases
• Travel protections and benefits, including trip interruption/cancellation and primary rental car insurance
• Redeem for up to 50%-75% more value on certain Chase Travel bookings

Why We Like the Card for Military Members

Earning valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards is a real benefit and being able to redeem them for travel on the Chase travel portal for a potentially higher value is an added bonus.

Ultimate Rewards points can also be transferred to travel partners for even more value.

If you’re a Military Member renting a vehicle, know that you’ll be protected with primary car rental insurance.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^® ($795 Annual Fee Waived, Priority Pass Lounge Access)

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a premium travel rewards credit card with a long list of benefits for active-duty military.

• Priority Pass Select Membership with access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide after enrollment.
• $300 travel credit each card anniversary year
• 8x total points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
• 5x points on eligible Lyft rides and up to $120 a year of in-app credits (through September 30, 2027)
• 3x points on dining
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 and up to $120 back in statement credits each year toward Peloton Membership purchases (activation required; through December 31, 2027)
• Transfer Ultimate Rewards to travel partners for potential added value
• Redeem Ultimate Rewards points for more value on travel purchased through the Chase Travel portal
• Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status upon activation
• Up to $500 in credits a year for prepaid The Edit stays
• Up to $250 in statement credits for prepaid hotel stays booked via Chase Travel at IHG Hotels & Resorts, Montage Hotels & Resorts, Pendry Hotels & Resorts, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Virgin Hotels, Minor Hotels, and Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts properties (2-night minimum stay required; through December 31, 2026)
• Global Entry, Nexus, or TSA PreCheck credit up to $120 every 4 years

Why We Like the Card for Military Members

If you’re traveling frequently, the worldwide lounge access benefit will make your journey more comfortable and economical. The $300 travel credit each card anniversary year is easy to use and adds immediate value.

With elevated earnings on travel and dining purchases and more value when redeeming through the Chase travel portal, any military member who travels will utilize this card’s benefits.

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

If you want a great point earning card and like the idea of having a choice between cash-back and Ultimate Rewards points, the Freedom Unlimited will make sure every purchase is earning rewards you can use.

• 5% cash-back on travel through Chase Travel
• 3% cash-back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1.5% cash-back on all other purchase
• 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; regular APR applies thereafter
• $0 annual fee for all cardholders, including military

Why We Like the Card for Military Members

If you have a major purchase to make, you can save a lot on interest charges with the 0% APR rate for the first 15 months you have the card.

Hot Tip: Chase credit cards are subject to its 5/24 rule, which limits the number of credit cards for which you can be approved. Review the 5/24 rule carefully before applying. 

Discover

Discover provides benefits for active military members regardless of when they apply for a credit card, and does not limit benefits to only those credit cards acquired prior to the law.

In fact, Discover does not charge an annual fee on any of its cards to anyone, including military.

One of the best features of most Discover cards is that all the cash back you earn in your first year is matched at the end of your first card anniversary.

Benefits Provided

• Interest rate not exceeding 5.9%
• No late fees or fees for being over limit
• Any introductory purchase or balance transfer rates are calculated at the promotional rate (if less than 5.9%)

Requesting Benefits (Do This After You’re Approved)

There are several options for requesting benefits.

• Online: Sign in to your Discover card online account and click on the “manage” tab. You will see the link for SCRA benefits. Then click on “request benefits now.”
• Phone: Call 1-844-337-4645, or from overseas call 1-801-451-3730.
• Mail: Send a request via mail to Discover, SCRA Department, P.O. Box 30907, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0907
• Fax: Fax your request to 1-224-813-5767, attention SCRA Department

Discover will attempt to verify your service through the Defense Manpower Data Center. You do not need to submit verification documents unless requested to do so.

Benefits With Other Credit Card Issuers

The following credit card issuers cap credit card interest rates and/or waive annual fees for credit cards opened prior to active military service only.

• Capital One: Waives all fees, including annual fees, and caps interest rates at 4%
• Citi: Waives all fees, including annual fees, and lowers interest rates to 0%
• Bank of America: Caps interest rates at 6%
• Barclays: Caps interest rates at 6%
• U.S. Bank: Waives all fees and caps interest rates at 6%

Bottom Line: While all credit card issuers adhere openly to the SCRA and MLA laws, American Express, Chase, and Discover deliver benefits beyond the law’s minimum requirements. 

Best Credit Cards for Veterans

Most of the benefits of the SCRA and MLA laws expire within a specific period of time once you’ve left active duty, usually 12 to 15 months.

During your service, you may have become familiar with these financial institutions that provide continuing services to retired military. Note that you must be a member of these organizations prior to applying for their credit cards.

Navy Federal Credit Union

Navy Federal More Rewards American Express^® Card

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Navy Federal More Rewards American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Navy Federal More Rewards card is a great everyday spending earning card: 3x points at supermarkets, on gas and transit, at restaurants, plus 1x points on everything else.

Apply Now(at NFCU's secure site)

Navy Federal More Rewards American Express^® Card

The Navy Federal More Rewards card is a great everyday spending earning card: 3x points at supermarkets, on gas and transit, at restaurants, plus 1x points on everything else.

Welcome Offer

You can earn 20k bonus points (a $200 value) when you spend $2,000 within 90 days of account opening. Offer valid for accounts applied for between 1/2/26 - 6/30/26.

20,000 bonus points

Annual Fee

$0

APR

14.15% - 18.00% Variable

Why We Like This Card

We like the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express^® Card because it offers 3x points on groceries, gas, transit, and restaurants (plus food delivery), with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees. Additionally, it is available to Navy Federal Credit Union members, making it an excellent option for veterans to maximize rewards on everyday spending.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No annual fee
• 3x points at restaurants (and food delivery)
• 3x points at supermarkets

Cons

• You must be a Navy Federal Credit Union member to be eligible
• No 0% intro APR available on purchases

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You can earn 20k bonus points (a $200 value) when you spend $2,000 within 90 days of account opening. Offer valid for accounts applied for between 1/2/26 – 6/30/26.
  
• Earn 3 points for every $1 of net purchases made for gas, transit, restaurants, food delivery, and at supermarkets
• Earn 1 point for every $1 of other net purchases.
• Rewards are earned on eligible net purchases.
• No limit on rewards.
• Points can be redeemed for cash, travel, gift cards, and merchandise.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 14.15% - 18.00% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Best for: Everyday spending

• 3x points at supermarkets, restaurants, gas, and transit
• No foreign transaction fees
• Requires average to excellent credit

Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature^® Flagship Rewards Card

• 1 free year of Amazon Prime from card approval date
• 3x points for travel purchases
• 2x points for all other purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit up to $120
• Visa Signature benefits such as cell phone protection and extended warranty

cashRewards Credit Card

• Up to 1.5% cash back on all purchases
• No rewards limit
• No rewards expiration while account is open

USAA

USAA Eagle Navigator^® Visa Signature^® Credit Card

• 3x on travel purchases, such as tolls, rideshares, hotels, vacation rentals, flights, and more
• 2x points on everyday purchases like groceries, gas, and dining
• Up to $120 application fee credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every 4 years
• No foreign transaction fees

USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature^® Credit Card

• Unlimited 1.5% cash-back on purchases without category restriction or caps on cash-back
• No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
• Automobile Insurance Deductible Reimbursement: Receive up to $200 of your auto policy deductible for a covered loss. You must make at least 8 purchases on your USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card in the month before the loss to be eligible, and the vehicle must be insured and registered to you or a family member on the auto policy. Only 1 claim per 12-month period is covered.

USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card

• 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post within 90 days of account opening. Then, the variable regular APR of 10.40% to 24.40% will apply (rates & fees)
• $0 annual fee (rates & fees)
• No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

USAA Rewards™ American Express^® Card

Best for: Everyday spending

• Maximum 4% APR for 12 months during deployment or after active military service
• 3x points for dining
• 2x points for gas stations and supermarket purchases
• 1x points for all other purchases

Pentagon Federal Credit Union

PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature^® Card

Best for: Everyday spending

• Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, or merchandise at less than 1 cent each
• $100 welcome bonus after minimum spending requirement
• 5x points on gas station purchases
• 3x points at grocery stores

Hot Tip: For a lot more information on this topic, see our guide on the best credit cards for military veterans.

Final Thoughts

Those about to embark on active duty or who have already done so can benefit greatly from having the annual fees waived on some advantageous credit cards.

Premium travel credit cards can have fees exceeding $500 per year, plus additional fees for authorized users. Having these fees eliminated while qualifying for the valuable benefits offered can result in significant savings.

Remember that balances still need to be paid off each statement period to avoid interest charges (even reduced ones), and payments must be made on time to preserve your good credit score.