MoneyGeek's Take

Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card Review

The Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card is a good option if you have a military background and want a flat-rate rewards card with no annual fees. This card earns an unlimited 1.75% cash back on all eligible purchases and comes with a low APR that can be useful for carrying balances.

Last Updated: 4/25/2022
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The Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card benefits include a straightforward rewards structure with no earning caps or minimums when redeeming your rewards. The 1.75% rewards rate on all purchases can help you rack up reward points easily without having to pay any annual fees. This card also has no foreign transaction fees and a relatively low APR compared to competing cards. Plus, with no annual fee, this can be a great card for military members.

Card Details to Know Up Front
  • Bonus, Fee or Feature
    Has or Not
  • Has Annual Fee
  • Has Balance Transfer Offer
  • Has APR Offer
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Travel Rewards
Click to see this card’s rates, fees and how they compare to other cards in our dataset.
OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card at a Glance

The Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card is ideal if you don’t like complicated rewards programs since it allows you to earn cash back at 1.75% across all categories. The low annual fees, no foreign transaction fees and low APR will also appeal to anyone who wants a cash back card.


  • Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Visa Signature

    A great no annual fee cash back card for average to excellent credit

    • 9.65% - 18.00%APR
    • $0Annual Fee
    • 1.5%-1.75% Cash BackRewards Rate
    • 0%Balance Transfer Fee
    • Fair-ExcellentCredit Needed

    Terms, rates and fees apply

    Compare this credit card with other top-rated credit cards at CardRatings.com.

Pros & Cons Explained

The Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card offers solid value depending on what you are looking for in a cash back card. Here are the main pros and cons you need to be aware of before you apply for this card.

Pros

  • Benefits
    Description
  • No annual fees
    This card does not charge any annual fees, meaning you do not have to worry about costs eating into your rewards.
  • Relatively low standard APR
    One of the Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card benefits is that it is comparatively low on fees compared to other cards. With a standard APR of 9.65% - 18% variable, this cash back card has a lower standard APR compared to other cards in the same category.
  • Unlimited rewards earning potential
    The Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card has no spending categories and no limits on the rewards that you can earn. This card also does not require a minimum when redeeming your points. This means earning and redeeming your points is quite simple.

Cons

  • Drawbacks
    Description
  • Relatively low cashback reward rate
    The 1.75% cash back rate you get with the Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card is comparatively low since there are cards in this category offering rewards rate of 2% or higher. This rate could even be lower at just 1.5% if you do not have a Navy Federal bank account.
  • High spending requirement for the welcome bonus
    The $2,000 spending limit required in the first 90 days to qualify for the welcome bonus is relatively high compared to most cash back cards where the spending threshold for the welcome bonus is typically $500 to $1,000.
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LOOKING FOR THE BEST CREDIT CARDS OF 2022?

The Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card is not one of MoneyGeek’s top recommendations for cash back cards. You can review our list of the best cash back credit cards to find the best option.

Bonuses & Rewards Explained

The Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card does not have much in the way of bonus perks, but the straightforward rewards programs and low fees make it a competitive option.

1

Welcome Bonus

If you spend $2,000 on your Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card within 90 days of account opening, you will get a welcome bonus of $200 cash back.

2

Reward Program

The Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card has a simple rewards program with a flat rate of 1.75% cash back for all eligible purchases if you have a direct deposit account at a Navy Federal bank. If you don’t have a direct deposit account, you will earn rewards at a flat rate of 1.5% on all eligible purchases.

3

Redeeming rewards

There is no minimum limit to redeem your rewards, which can be redeemed into your Navy Federal bank account. Alternatively, you can redeem your rewards as a statement credit. Rewards on the Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card do not expire provided your account remains active.

Other Features Explained

Beyond its easy-to-follow rewards structure, the Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card offers other features that you might find beneficial.

  • Card Feature
    Description
  • Rental car coverage
    If you use this card to pay for a rental car, you can get secondary rental coverage if you decline the collision damage waiver at the front desk.
  • Zero liability policy for unauthorized transactions
    Cardholders are not held liable for any fraudulent transactions. Other security features on this card include the option to freeze or unfreeze your account and set up fraud alerts to get notifications if there is suspicious activity on your account.
  • Customer experience
    The Navy Federal Credit Union has the highest customer satisfaction score in the J.D. Power U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study. Cardholders get exemplary customer service including access to 24/7 customer service and free access to their FICO score.
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MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP

If you travel internationally on a regular basis, the Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card is a good card to use since it charges no foreign transaction fees.

Understanding the Fine Print

Compared to other cash back cards in the same category, the Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card has relatively low fees and is a good option if you want a low-cost cash back card.

  • Card Feature
    Amount or Rate
  • APR
    9.65% - 18.00%
  • Annual Fee
    $0
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Rewards Rate
    1.5%-1.75% Cash Back
  • Airline Benefits
  • This is an icon

    Regular APR

    The standard APR on the Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card is 9.65% - 18% variable. This card could be useful for holding balances if you want to save on interest charges since the regular APR is lower than the rate offered by most competitor cards.

  • This is an icon

    Annual Fees and Other Fees

    This card has no annual fees and also does not charge any foreign transaction fees. You will also not be charged any cash advance fees when you get cash advances from a Navy Federal branch or ATM.

  • This is an icon

    Penalty Fees

    For late or returned payments, cardholders will incur a fee of up to $20 for late payments and $20 for returned payments.

  • This is an icon

    Cash Back Rewards Rate

    The Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card benefits include a cash back rewards rate of 1.75% for all purchases if you have a direct deposit account at a Navy Federal Bank. If you don’t have a direct deposit account, you will earn rewards at a flat rate of 1.5%.

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WHERE TO FIND THIS INFORMATION?

It is important to understand all the features and fees before you decide whether this card is the best option for you. You can find out more about the Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card from the issuer’s website. If you would like to compare this card with other cards in your wallet, you can find the latest information on fees and other features in your account statement or your card issuer’s website.

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card?

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Other Considerations for Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card

Depending on how you plan to use your Navy Federal Visa cashRewards card, keep the following considerations in mind before you apply for it.

Things to Consider if This Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card

If this is your first card, you might have trouble qualifying for it. This is because the Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card credit score requirement ranges from 670 to 850, so you need a good to excellent credit score to apply.

Also, this card is only available to people with a military background. Plus, you will need to have a Navy Federal bank account that has a monthly direct deposit set up to earn 1.75% cash back.

Without a direct deposit account, you will only earn cash back at a flat rate of 1.5%.

Things to Consider if This Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet

The Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card can make a good secondary card to supplement your other rewards cards. You can make the most of it by taking advantage of its low standard APR if you plan on carrying a balance.

Plus, if you travel internationally frequently, this is the ideal card to use when compared to your other cards. You can use this card abroad without paying foreign transaction fees.

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WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS

MoneyGeek uses a comprehensive methodology and review process when rating credit cards. We collect credit card information and evaluate potential cardholder’s spend profiles. Our process also factors in the card’s value and ranks for different categories. MoneyGeek even obtains data from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s database, standardizes data points for easy comparison, determines the long-term value and carries out regular re-ranking.

How Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card Compares to Other Cards

The Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card stands out for having low fees compared to other cards in the same category. However, in terms of rewards, there are cash back cards that offer more generous rewards and a wider range of perks, such as the Citi Custom Cash card.

Quick Comparison of Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card
creditCard

Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card

  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Standard APR: 9.65% - 18.00%
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
  • Rewards Rate: 1.5%-1.75% cash back for all eligible purchases
  • Welcome Bonus: Earn $200 bonus cash back when you spend $2,000 within 90 days of account opening.
  • Mini Verdict: Best if you are in the military and want a flat rate rewards card with low fees
creditCard1

City Custom Cash Card

  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Standard APR: 13.99% - 23.99%
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
  • Rewards Rate: 5% cash back per dollar spent in your top spending category up to $500 and 1% on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome Bonus: Earn $200 bonus cash back if you spend $750 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Mini Verdict: Best if you want a flexible rewards card with generous cash back rates for specific categories such as dining or travel

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

You can learn more about the Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card application process and features using the answers to commonly asked questions below.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

If you prefer a simple rewards card without complicated spending categories, the Navy Federal Visa cashRewards Card is a solid choice. However, if you’re looking for more generous rewards or do not have the military background necessary to qualify for this cash back card, you can check out our recommendations for cash back cards, rewards cards, gas cards and travel cards.

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