What is the best credit card for military members?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum are the best credit cards for active duty military — both waive their full annual fees (up to $695) under the Military Lending Act (MLA) or Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This means active duty service members can hold cards with $500+ in annual credits for free. The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus ($0 fee) is the best dedicated military card for domestic base spending.

What is the SCRA benefit for credit cards?

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) caps interest rates at 6% on credit card balances incurred before active duty began. Some card issuers (Chase, Amex, Capital One, Discover, Citi) go further and waive annual fees entirely for active duty service members. SCRA benefits apply during active duty and typically for 180 days after active duty ends.

What is the MLA benefit for credit cards?

The Military Lending Act (MLA) caps the Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) at 36% for consumer credit products — including credit cards — opened after October 3, 2017 for active duty service members and their dependents. Many issuers interpret MLA compliance to include waiving annual fees since they count toward the MAPR cap. This allows military members to hold premium cards like the Amex Platinum with $695 annual fees waived.

Does SCRA or MLA apply to veterans?

Generally no. SCRA benefits apply during active duty. MLA protections apply during active duty status. Veterans who have transitioned out of active duty are not covered by either, though they may remain eligible for USAA and Navy Federal products if they established membership while on active duty.

Best Credit Cards for Military Members of 2026: SCRA, MLA, and Top Cards

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+

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