Veterans have access to military credit unions, which issue some of the best credit cards. Aside from earning rewards on categories that match or sometimes exceed bank-issued credit cards, military credit union cards often come with fewer fees, including no balance transfer and no cash advance fees.
We compared all credit cards and chose the ones that offer the best combination of rewards, fees, intro APR period and additional perks.
Quick look at credit cards for military veterans…
Best credit card for military veterans who travel often
PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
670
Min. credit score
$95
Annual fee
Up to
4x
Points
50,000
Points welcome offer
Best credit card for military veterans who want to rebuild their credit
nRewards® Secured Credit Card
300
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to
1x
Points
n/a
Welcome offer
Best credit card for military veterans who are often on the road
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
670
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to
5x
Points
$100
Welcome offer
Best credit card for military veterans who often dine out
Navy Federal Go Rewards Card
580
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to
3x
Points
n/a
Welcome offer
Finding the right card may seem daunting, but to choose the best card for your situation, consider the following:
- Do you need to rebuild your credit?
Fighting through financial difficulties is made easy with a military secured credit card. These are often better options than the standard, bank-issued cards, because of the lower interest rates and fewer fees.
- Where do you spend most of your money?
PenFed offers arguably the best no-annual-fee travel credit card if that’s what you need. Otherwise, check out their other cards if you’re looking for rewards on gas, groceries or flat rewards on all purchases. Other unions, such as the USAA and NFCU, offer similar cards.
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all option. But as a veteran, you have access to military credit unions whose cards often have lower interest rates than bank-issued credit cards.
If this is something you value, then a military credit card is definitely an option. But if you always pay your balance before it’s due, you can safely go for any credit card you want, regardless of which institution issues the card.
Veterans get to access most military credit union credit cards, which are often a better choice over their bank-issued cards. Their non-profit nature means credit union cards come with lower interest rates and fewer fees, while maintaining a similar — or even better — rewards structure than their bank-issued counterparts.
But if you don’t think any of these cards are right for you, you can always compare other credit cards until you find the one that fits your wallet best.