5 Best Credit Cards for Active Duty Military: This is a list of the best credit cards for military personnel, specifically active-duty military personnel. These aren’t necessarily the most optimal for your situation, but they are the best and will provide you with the most value when used correctly.
Now, what you’re not going to see on this list are Navy Federal credit cards or anything like that. Not saying that they’re not good credit cards—I plan to do some Navy Federal credit card reviews on the channel. It’s just that those cards aren’t going to give you nearly the amount of value that the cards I’m about to list off are going to give you.
The best credit cards for military are usually going to be credit cards with high annual fees. But because you are military, because you are an active duty service member under the Military Lending Act, certain banks waive the annual fee for those cards. So, you have a card that people pay $650 or $550 to have, and you get it for free.
Military credit cards guaranteed approval
Benefits for Active Duty Members
That’s going to be valuable to you in the realest sense—you literally have to pay no money for these cards. Just don’t pay interest on them, and you get the benefits of a $650 annual fee card. I think that’s pretty crazy.
The reason why I’m making this Article is because, on this channel, I would like to help everybody with credit cards, specifically active duty service members. Because I am an active duty service member, I want to help you guys because you have a benefit that the rest of the public just doesn’t have. You get to have high annual fee credit cards as if they didn’t have any annual fees, which means you are just extracting value.
Now remember, this is going to be a list of the best credit cards for military. This isn’t necessarily the most optimal. If you want an optimal strategy Article, I can make that. Just put it in the comment section below along with where you are serving from. If you’re serving from overseas, please let me know in the comment section below. And don’t forget to give me that HBO special—that’s the “Help a Brother Out” special.
Best credit cards for military personnel: complate guide
Top Credit Cards for Active Duty Military
1. Chase Sapphire Reserve
- This is a $550 annual fee card.
- Benefits:
- $300 travel credit with this card. It’s a very liquid travel credit, unlike some of the other cards on this list and in general.
- As an active duty service member, you pay $0 in annual fees for a card that’s giving you $300. This is basically a $300 grant to you.
- You can redeem points earned on this card through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal at 1.5 cents per point.
- Transfer points to partners like Hyatt, where you can easily get two cents per point in value.
- Includes travel and car rental insurances.
- Downgrade paths available, such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Chase Freedom Flex.
2. United CLUB Visa Infinite Credit Card
- Choose your own adventure with United credit cards:
- United CLUB Visa Infinite gives you United Club access.
- United Quest Credit Card offers a $125 United travel credit.
3. U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Credit Card
- Benefits:
- $325 liquid travel credit, usable for almost any travel-related expense.
- Earns 3x points on mobile wallet purchases.
- Great as a mobile wallet or gas card.
4. American Express Platinum Card
- Benefits:
- $200 airline fee credit.
- Multiple lifestyle credits like Saks Fifth Avenue and Uber.
- Complimentary access to premium airport lounges.
- Unlimited value with waived annual fees under the Military Lending Act.
5. Hilton Aspire Credit Card
- Benefits:
- $250 Hilton Resort credit.
- $250 airline fee credit.
- Hilton Diamond status for upgrades and perks.
Bonus Card: Chase Ritz-Carlton Credit Card
This card is no longer available for direct applications but can be accessed by upgrading from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card. It offers a $300 travel credit and luxurious hotel stays at discounted rates.
These cards provide exceptional value if you’re an active-duty military service member. Make sure to prioritise Chase cards first, as they have downgrade paths that are valuable if you leave the military. Let me know in the comments if you’d like an Article on optimal credit card setups for active duty military.