Active duty servicemembers can benefit greatly by applying for Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protections and provisions with the following financial companies. Possible benefits include reduction of interest rates, protection from repossession and foreclosure, no late fees, and no annual credit card fees. Often times credit card companies and lenders will go above and beyond SCRA requirements to deliver additional benefits to servicemembers such as reduced interest rates lower than 6% while on active duty.
Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone. See our disclosures for more info.
Navy Federal Credit Union
Navy Federal cashRewards Card
Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Plus, earn $150 bonus cash back when you spend $2,000 within 90 days of account opening. Plus, get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months. After that, a variable APR between 9.65% and 18% applies.
NFCU cashRewards Card Benefits
Pay no annual, balance transfer, foreign transaction or cash advance fees
Start redeeming rewards as soon as you earn them without limit or expiration
24/7 access to stateside member reps
Zero Liability policy for unauthorized transactions
Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card
Earn 3X points on food delivery, supermarkets, gas and transit and 1X points on everything else. Plus, earn 25,000 bonus points (a $250 value) when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of account opening.
NFCU More Rewards American Express® Card Benefits
Pay no annual, balance transfer or foreign transaction fees
Start redeeming rewards as soon as you earn them without limit or expiration
24/7 access to stateside member reps
Zero Liability policy for unauthorized transactions
PenFed Credit Union
PenFed Gold Visa Card
$100 statement bonus after spending $1,500 in purchase transactions within the first 90 days of account opening.
Gold Visa Card Benefits
No annual fee No foreign transaction fee
No cash advance fee
Chip and Contactless ‘Tap to Pay’ enabled for added security, ease and convenience at the point of sale
Click and Pay eligible, via Secure Remote Commerce, so you can enjoy easy and secure online buying checkout
Purchase variable Rate As Low As 7.49% APR and capped at 17.99%
American Express
American Express has demonstrated their support of the U.S. military by offering to waive all their annual credit card membership fees for active duty servicemembers. American Express will also apply the standard SCRA provisions.
American Express – SCRA Benefits
Active duty military personnel can request SCRA benefits and have the annual membership fee waived on their American Express credit card accounts. This valuable offer includes The Platinum Card, which has a $695 annual fee. Please be aware that the active duty military service member must be a cardholder in order for the account to qualify for SCRA benefits with American Express.
Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the following account fees will also be waived by American Express, for the duration of the military members’ active duty service:
To qualify for SCRA benefits with American Express, you must meet one of the following criteria:
A member of the U.S. Armed Forces (any military branch) serving on active duty.
A member of a reserve component called to active duty.
National Guard member under a call or order to active duty for more than 30 consecutive days.
Commissioned Officer for the Public Health Service or NOAA.
U.S. citizen serving with the forces of a nation with which U.S. is allied in war or military action.
Spouse of active duty, where credit is extended to a Service member and spouse jointly.
American Express Platinum Card Benefits
100,000 point welcome offer after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply.
5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
$200 credit for Uber rides yearly
$200 airline fee credit yearly
$300 Equinox credit (enrollment required)
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month at the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
Free access to over 1,000 Airport Lounges including the Centurion Lounge
Bank of America has promised to help protect their active duty military customers by offering SCRA benefits and protections on lines of credit, credit cards, installment loans, mortgage and home equity secured loans, and student loans. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act benefits extend to both consumer and business loan accounts with Bank of America.
Bank of America also extends certain benefits to the spouse or dependent of a covered active duty servicemember, even if the servicemember is not specifically named on the account.
Bank of America – SCRA Eligibility
To qualify for SCRA benefits with Bank of America, the military member must self identify as:
Active duty Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force or Coast Guard.
Reservist serving on active duty.
National Guard serving on active duty for more than 30 consecutive days under federal orders issued by the President or Secretary of Defense.
Commissioned officer of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Commissioned officer of the Public Health Service.
Bank of America – SCRA Benefits
Reduction or limits on interest rates to 6% in effect for your entire active duty service. Eligible accounts include credit cards, installment contracts, mortgages, and student loans. If your interest rate is higher than 6% your payments will be reduced to reflect the lower interest rate.
Protection from repossession and foreclosure.
Bank of America encourages active duty to know their rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
Discover
Credit: Petty Officer 2nd Class LaTunya Howard
Discover has made the commitment to support active duty servicemembers by offering 6% or less annual percentage rate (APR) on Discover card purchases and cash advances, and no late fees. These SCRA benefits are even applied retroactively to the service member’s active duty start date.
Discover – SCRA Eligibility
To qualify for SCRA benefits with Discover, the servicemember must have been or currently be on active duty status in one of these U.S. military branches:
Army
Navy
Air Force
Marine Corps
Coast Guard
Space Force
Reservist or member of the National Guard (on active duty)
Commissioned Officer of the Public Health Service or the NOAA
Active duty servicemembers and their spouses/domestic partners are eligible for SCRA benefits on joint accounts. Discover extends this benefit to separate accounts on which the servicemember is not obligated.
Discover – SCRA Benefits
6% or less APR on all Discover card purchases and cash advances.
Coverage may extend to personal loans, home equity, home loans, and student loans.
No late fees.
You can also apply for retroactive SCRA coverage with Discover, for up to 180 days after the end of your active duty service.
Capital One
Capital One is committed to both the letter and spirit of the SCRA, including provision of benefits and protections above and beyond what is required under the SCRA in certain situations.
Capital One – SCRA Eligibility
Capital One offers SCRA benefits to those serving on active duty with one of the following branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force and Coast Guard reserves
Army or Air National Guard
U.S. citizens who are members of an allied nation’s military service
Commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Commissioned officers of the Public Health Service
Spouses and dependents of active duty Servicemembers listed above
Capital One – SCRA Benefits
Maximum interest rate of just 4% on accounts owned and serviced by Capital One.
No fees assessed on accounts, except bona-fide insurance.
Chase
Chase is dedicated to offering servicemembers convenience, savings, service and security. Active duty servicemembers can apply for SCRA benefits and receive interest rates 2% lower than what the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act even requires.
Chase – SCRA Eligibility
To qualify for SCRA benefits with Chase, the applicable military member must currently be on active duty in one of the following:
Army
Navy
Air Force
Marine Corps
Coast Guard
Space Force
Reservist or member of the National Guard
Commissioned Officer of the Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Foundation
Chase – SCRA Benefits
Interest rates 2% lower than SCRA requires— You could lower your interest rate to 4%!
Foreclosure protection: Chase will not foreclose on your home if you’re deployed on active duty or SCRA-protected–even if you’re behind on your mortgage payments. This protection applies regardless of when your mortgage began. And Chase will honor this protection for one year following active duty or until your SCRA-protected status ends.
To see the rates and fees for the American Express cards featured, please visit the following: Rates and Fees.
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