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The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
PenFed Credit Union currently has four credit cards on offer. All these cards are for individuals and not businesses. When it comes to rewards cards, you get to choose between cash back and points. PenFed Credit Union has a low APR card on offer, too. However, it does not have secured credit cards or cards for students.
If you plan to apply for a PenFed Credit Union credit card, bear in mind that you need good or excellent creditworthiness to qualify.
>>MORE: PENFED MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS: HOW TO BECOME A PENFED MEMBER
Featured Credit Cards Offered by PenFed Credit Union
The different PenFed Credit Union cards on offer include a cash back card, two rewards cards with points and a low-APR card. One of its cards qualifies as a travel rewards card. Depending on the card you get, you may stand to earn a spend-based welcome bonus. PenFed does not provide cards for businesses or students. It does not have any co-branded cards.
Qualifying for a PenFed Credit Union credit card requires that you have good or excellent credit. What this basically means is you need a FICO score of 670 or higher.
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The Best PenFed Credit Union Credit Cards in 2023
Our experts arrive at a revised list of the best PenFed Credit Union credit cards each month after checking for changes in the list of existing cards and looking for any new cards that PenFed might have launched. When they compare PenFed Credit Union cards, they consider factors such as rewards, welcome bonuses, annual fees, APRs and added perks.
- Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
A great no annual fee gas rewards card
- 1–5 pointsRewards Rate
- 17.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- Gold Visa® Card
A good low-APR balance transfer card with no annual fees
- NoneRewards Rate
- 17.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
A good no annual fee balance transfer card with cash back
- 1.5% – 2% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 17.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Rules for Applying, Acceptance & Welcome Bonuses
If you wish to apply for a PenFed Credit Union credit card, start by determining if you might qualify based on your existing credit score. You might also benefit by knowing how many cards you can get and how its welcome bonuses work.
Other Considerations About PenFed Credit Union
Looking beyond PenFed Credit Union card benefits and checking how PenFed rates as a credit card issuer might help you arrive at a more well-informed decision
Feature | Description |
|---|---|
Customer Service & Satisfaction | PenFed Credit Union scores 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot after having received over 650 reviews. Most credit cardholders have favorable things to say about the application process, interest rates and customer service. Its Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating stands at A+. You may contact a PenFed Credit Union representative over the phone, via email and through its social media accounts. It also provides international toll-free numbers for the UK, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany and Japan. |
Mobile Apps & Online Services | If you have a PenFed credit card, you may manage your account via its online banking system or app. PenFed provides apps for devices that run on iOS and Android. The PenFed app on the Apple App Store scores 4.2 out of 5. It scores 4.5 out of 5 on the Google Play store. |
Security & Credit Monitoring Services | All PenFed credit cards come with 24/7 fraud monitoring, a zero liability policy, emergency card replacement and lost/stolen card reporting. |
Loyalty Programs & Other Issuer Perks | The PenFed Honors Advantage program lets members earn points faster. For instance, PenFed Honors Advantage members who use the Pathfinder Rewards Visa Signature Card get to earn 4x points on all travel categories, as opposed to 3x points for non-members. In addition, members don’t have to pay the $95 annual fee. To become a PenFed Honors Advantage member, you must be on active military duty, on reserve, honorably discharged or retired. Alternatively, you might also qualify if you have an active PenFed checking account. PenFed members may also look forward to discounts on a variety of personal, retail, home, auto, and financial products/services through its partner merchants. |
Authorized Users | PenFed lets you add authorized users to your credit card account. It does not have any documented requirements surrounding the minimum age of authorized users. |
Purchase Protection | The Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card, the PedFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card and the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card come with purchase security. |
Co-Branding & Partnerships | PenFed does not have any co-branded credit cards on offer. Some of its existing partner merchants through which it offers member discounts include National Car Rentals, Alamo Car Rentals, CFS, H&R Block, Travelers, Tracfone, Math Mastery, Crutchfield Electronics and Alpha Industries. |
Other Products Offered | Besides the different PenFed Credit Union cards on offer, PenFed also offers checking accounts, savings accounts, a money market account, money market certificates, IRA savings accounts and certificates, auto loans, home loans, student loans, personal loans and personal lines of credit. |
Overall Opinion of PenFed Credit Union & Their Credit Card Offerings
Even though PenFed Credit Union does not have many credit cards on offer, there is a possibility of finding one that works well for you. This is because PenFed’s credit cards are designed to suit different needs. In some cases, you might benefit by having more than one type of PenFed Credit Union card.
You wish to pay a low APR on purchases.
If you plan to carry a balance and are looking for a low APR on purchases, the PenFed Credit Union Gold Visa Card might work well for you, especially if you qualify for its lowest published APR. This card also comes with an introductory 0% APR offer on balance transfers for 12 months.
You want a travel card.
While the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card comes with a $95 annual fee, this fee is waived for existing Honors Advantage members. This card comes with a sizable welcome bonus, high reward rates on travel purchases, $100 domestic air ancillary travel statement credit each year, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit, Priority Pass airport lounge membership and no foreign transaction fees.
You wish to transfer high-interest credit card debt.
If you’re looking to transfer debt from a high-interest credit card to a new card, you might benefit by getting any PenFed Credit Union card. All four cards come with an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 12 months. If approved for a balance transfer, you’ll need to pay a 3% fee
You want to earn high cash back or reward points.
The Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card offers 2% cash back on all purchases for PenFed Honors Advantage members and 1.5% cash back for all other cardholders. This is fairly good for a no-annual-fee card. The Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Card comes with 5x points per dollar on gas purchases paid at pumps and EV charging stations; 3x points at supermarkets (including most Walmart and Target locations), at restaurants and for TV, cable, streaming and radio services; and 1x points on all other purchases. This card does not charge any annual fees either.
EXPERT OPINION
"Many people assume that they are not eligible to join a credit union. Unlike some other credit unions, membership in PenFed is open to everyone and you can become a member starting with just $5. Credit unions like PenFed tend to offer better benefits and lower fees than traditional banks, so you may benefit from expanding your relationship beyond applying for a credit card."
- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com
Still not sure about this issuer? Consider these options.
If you’re unsure about selecting a PenFed Credit Union card, you may consider looking at what other top card issuers have to offer. You might also benefit by narrowing your search based on specific features/benefits such as welcome bonuses, 0% APR offers, no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees.
Learn More About Credit Cards in General
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sources
- PenFed. "10 Essential Strategies to Help You Qualify for a Credit Card." Accessed February 28, 2022.
- PenFed. "Contact Us - General Contacts." Accessed February 28, 2022.
- Trustpilot. "PenFed Credit Union." Accessed February 28, 2022.
- Better Business Bureau. "Business Profile - PenFed Credit Union." Accessed February 28, 2022.
- Google Play. "PenFed Credit Union." Accessed February 28, 2022.
- App Store. "PenFed Credit Union." Accessed February 28, 2022.
- PenFed. "PenFed Honors Advantage." Accessed February 28, 2022.
- PenFed. "Member Discounts." Accessed February 28, 2022.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.