Navy Federal Credit Union Credit Card Reviews, Rules & Opinions
Updated: July 29, 2024
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With 10 credit cards on offer, Navy Federal Credit Union provides alternatives for individuals and businesses alike. These include no-annual-fee cards and rewards cards, as well as a secured card option for people with poor credit. When it comes to its unsecured cards, you may find options even if you have average credit. Navy Federal Credit Union does not currently offer any student credit cards.
The 10 different Navy Federal Credit Union cards you can choose from include eight for individuals and two for businesses. Depending on the card you get, you might stand to earn cash back or rewards points. Some of these cards come with spend-based welcome bonuses. All Navy Federal Credit Union cards for individuals and businesses come with no foreign transaction fees.
| Credit Card | MoneyGeek Rating | About | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | Recommended Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A great no-annual-fee balance transfer card for Navy Federal members | N/A | $0 | 670-850 (Good to Excellent) | ||
| A good no-annual-fee rewards card with bonus categories | Earn 1X – 3X points | $0 | 670-850 (Good to Excellent) | ||
4.5/ of 5 | A good no-annual fee cash back card for those with average credit | Earn 1.5%–1.75% cash back | $0 | 580–740 (Fair to Good) | |
| A good no annual fee rewards card for people with average credit | Earn 1X – 3X points | $0 | 740 – 850 (Excellent) | ||
| A good no-annual-fee business credit card for earning rewards | Earn 1X points | $0 | 740-850 (Excellent) | ||
| A good secured card for building credit and earning rewards | N/A | $0 | (No Credit History) | ||
| A good travel rewards card with nominal annual fees | Earn 2X – 3X points | $49 | 670-850 (Good to Excellent) |
MoneyGeek experts revisit our list of the best Navy Federal Credit Union credit cards each month. They look for changes to the existing cards on offer and check if any new cards have entered the picture. Then, they compare all available cards based on parameters such as rewards, welcome bonuses, fees, APRs and added benefits.
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
The Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum card stands out as a wallet-friendly choice because it lacks annual, balance transfer and foreign transaction fees. This card prioritizes user security with 24/7 stateside member support and robust fraud protections. Travelers and online shoppers will find value in the Collision Damage Waiver and enticing online Member Deals. While it doesn't offer traditional rewards or a bonus for new cardholders, the unique benefits and holistic support make it a reliable financial companion for many. However, be mindful that membership is a must to access its features.
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
We recommend the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature cashRewards Card to people who don’t have perfect credit and want to earn cash back without paying annual fees. If you’ve set up a direct deposit with Navy Federal, you get 1.75% cash back on all purchases. Otherwise, you earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
As part of the card’s welcome offer, you stand to earn $300 bonus cash back by spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days. This card is ideal to use outside of the U.S. as it comes with no foreign transaction fees. This card does not charge balance transfer fees or cash advance fees. It offers complimentary collision damage waiver.
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
The Navy Federal More Rewards American Express card is ideal for people who wish to high reward rates on bonus categories without needing to pay any annual fees. You might qualify for this card even if you have average credit.
This card offers 3x points per dollar at restaurants and on food delivery, at supermarkets and on gas and transit. All other purchases earn 1x points. There is no limit to the number of points you may earn. You may redeem your points for cash, gift cards, travel or merchandise.
This card is well-suited for use outside of the U.S. because it does not charge foreign transaction fees. It does away with balance transfer fees and cash advance fees as well.
Additional benefits come in the form of up to 25% off on car rental, car rental loss & damage insurance and roadside assistance.
You might benefit by looking at required credit scores, limitations on how many cards you may get and other related factors before applying for a Navy Federal Credit Union credit card.
Navy Federal Credit Union credit cards come with different creditworthiness requirements. For example, you need very good or excellent credit to qualify for the Visa Signature Flagship Rewards Credit Card.
Navy Federal makes the More Rewards American Express Credit Card available to people who have average to excellent credit. This is also the case with the Platinum Card, the Go Rewards Credit Card and the cashRewards Credit Card. People who are building or rebuilding their credit might consider applying for the Navy Federal Credit Union® nRewards® Secured Credit Card.
Navy Federal Credit Union does not offer any documented guidance on the maximum number of credit cards you may get.
As with getting credit cards from other issuers, it's best that you space out your Navy Federal Credit Union credit card applications by at least six months. This is because each new credit card application results in your credit score dropping by a few points. If you have excellent credit and think you might be able to fix the dent quickly, you may consider applying sooner.
As long as you qualify for a Navy Federal Credit Union credit card, you may expect to get approved.
Navy Federal Credit Union does not have any published guidelines surrounding how many times you may claim welcome bonuses through its different cards. However, it states that there’s a limit of one promotional offer at account opening for each card. In addition, its welcome offers usually last for specific time periods.
While checking Navy Federal Credit Union card benefits is the way to go before making a selection, you might also benefit by looking at how this card issuer rates overall across different parameters.
Feature | Description |
|---|---|
Customer Service & Satisfaction | Although it is not officially ranked, according to the J.D. Power 2021 Credit Card Satisfaction Study, Navy Federal Credit Union topped the customer satisfaction index rating for mid-size issuers, scoring 866 out of 1,000. It ranked the highest in customer service among multichannel banks/credit unions and among credit card issuers in the 2021 Forrester Award. With more than 8,000 customer reviews, Navy Federal Credit Union scores 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot. Most members have positive things to say about the level of customer service they’ve received. You may contact a Navy Federal Credit Union representative over the phone, by visiting a branch, by using its website to send an online message, through regular mail or through its social media accounts. |
Mobile Apps & Online Services | Navy Federal gives you the ability to manage your credit card account through its online banking platform as well as its apps for iOS and Android. Its app on the Google Play store scores 3.8 out of 5. It scores 4.9 out of 5 on the Apple App Store. These apps let you apply for new credit cards, activate cards, view account statements, make payments toward your credit card and more. |
Security & Credit Monitoring Services | All Navy Federal Credit Union credit cards come with fraud monitoring, fraud notifications and a zero liability policy for unauthorized transactions. You also get the ability to freeze and unfreeze your cards with ease. All Navy Federal Credit Union credit cards allow you to access your credit score for free. |
Loyalty Programs & Other Issuer Perks | If you get a Navy Federal Credit Union card that comes with reward points, you get to redeem your points through Navy Federal’s online banking platform. You may redeem your points for cash, travel rewards, gift cards or merchandise. |
Authorized Users | You may add up to four authorized users to your Navy Federal credit card account. This can be done online or over the phone. There is no minimum age requirement for authorized users. |
Purchase Protection | Depending on the Navy Federal credit card you use, you may get purchase security. Examples of cards that offer this feature include the Visa Signature Flagship Rewards Card and the Visa Signature Go Rewards Card. |
Co-Branding & Partnerships | Navy Federal Credit Union does not provide any co-branded credit cards. It provides exclusive deals for its members through popular brands such as Macy's, Apple, Staples, Sephora, the Home Depot, Nike and Under Armour. |
Other Products Offered | In addition to the different Navy Federal Credit Union cards on offer, you can also choose from a variety of other banking services. These include savings accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposits, retirement savings accounts, education savings accounts, prepaid cards, gift cards, student loans, auto loans, personal loans, mortgages and home equity loans. |
The different types of Navy Federal Credit Union cards are designed to meet specific needs, and you might benefit by getting one or more based on various factors.
You need a low APR card.
If you plan to maintain revolving balances in your account from one month to the next, you may benefit by getting the Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Card, especially if you qualify for its lowest APR.
You want to earn rewards/cash back without paying annual fees.
You may come across different Navy Federal Credit Union cards that let you earn cash back/reward points without having to pay any annual fees. Examples include the cashRewards Card, the Go Rewards Card, the More Rewards American Express Card and the nRewards Secured Card.
You wish to earn higher rewards on bonus categories.
You might benefit by getting a Navy Federal Credit Union rewards card that offers higher reward rates on category-based spending if they match the categories in which you spend considerable amounts of money. For example, the Go Rewards Card offers 3x points per dollar at restaurants, 2x points on gas and 1x points on all other purchases. The Visa Signature Flagship Rewards Card, on the other hand, offers 3x points per dollar on travel purchases and 2x points on all other purchases.
You want to build/rebuild your credit.
If you have poor creditworthiness and wish to build or rebuild your credit, or if you’re a new credit card user, you may consider applying for the Navy Federal Credit Union® nRewards® Secured Credit Card. It requires a security deposit of at least $200 and comes with no annual fees.
"While Navy Federal Credit Union offers many attractive credit cards, bank accounts and other products, it limits who can apply. You must be an active or retired member of the armed forces, a Department of Defense employee, or a family or household member. Navy Federal seeks to reward its members for their sacrifices by offering benefits that are not available to the general public."
- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com
If you’re unsure about applying for a Navy Federal Credit Union credit card, consider taking a look at what options other leading card issuers have to offer. Alternatively, you may base your search on different types of cards such as cash back cards, 0% APR cards, student cards and secured cards.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
