Navy Federal cashRewards Card Review: Great Rewards & Low Rates
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In the competitive world of rewards credit cards, it takes a lot to stand out. The Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Card is a great option, with a wide range of features and benefits. While Navy Federal Credit Union membership is restricted to those with ties to the military or Department of Defense, the credit union actually casts a fairly wide net as to who can join. Those who are eligible will enjoy a dependable card that offers generous rewards on everyday purchases. For service members, veterans and their families, the specific benefits of this card may top other cash-back cards.
Navy Federal cashRewards at a glance:
- For members of Navy Federal Credit Union
- You’ll earn 1.75% cash back on purchases for cardholders with direct deposit; otherwise 1.5% cash back
- No annual fees, balance transfer fee or foreign transaction fees*
- Variable APR of .
- $250 bonus cash back when you spend $2,500 in the first 90 days of account opening* Offer ends 1/1/24.
- One-time $98 statement credit when you pay $49 or more for a Walmart+ annual membership using cashRewards card.
*For cashRewards cost and fee information and for details about the rewards offer, click here.
Navy Federal cashRewards Card Overview
The Navy Federal cashRewards Card offers generous cash-back rewards with no annual fee*. The card also provides a number of additional no-fee perks*, making it a good option for those seeking a low-cost, high-benefit rewards card. Although the card is limited to members of Navy Federal Credit Union, which is federally insured by NCUA, membership is open to anyone affiliated with the military–including service members, veterans and those with family or household ties to the armed forces, Department of Defense and National Guard.
*For cost and fee information about the cashRewards Card, click here.
Benefits
The Navy Federal cashRewards Card is chock-full of benefits. The primary benefit, as the name of the card implies, is the generous cash-back rate of 1.50% on purchases. For credit union members who are also signed up for a qualifying direct deposit, this cash-back rate jumps to a whopping 1.75% on purchases, making it an even more valuable card for everyday spending.
Equally important for many cardholders will be the lack of an annual fee*. Those who use the card overseas will like that Navy Federal charges no foreign transaction fees* when using this card, while those looking to shift money around will appreciate the $0 balance transfer fee*. In terms of access to rewards, cash-back redemption is easy and quick through the Navy Federal Credit Union app.1 And, unlike many cash-back cards, there’s no waiting period or minimums to redeem rewards.
On top of all of these impressive benefits, the Navy Federal cashRewards Card offers a number of additional no-cost features, including:
- No cash advance fees*
- No rewards limits
- No rewards expiration while the account remains open
- Collision damage waiver
- Ability to freeze and unfreeze your cards
- No liability for reported unauthorized transactions
- Fraud notifications
- Access to your credit score
- 24/7 access to stateside customer service representatives
The Navy Federal cashRewards Credit Card comes with a significant sign-up bonus for new cardholders. If you spend $2,500 within 90 days of account opening, you’ll earn a cash-back bonus of $250*. This offer ends Jan. 1, 2024.
*For cost and fee information and for details about the rewards offer, click here.
Potential Drawbacks
One minor drawback of the card is that it charges a fee for cash advance ATM withdrawals that aren’t performed at a Navy Federal branch or ATM. Navy Federal partners with the CO-OP ATM network, providing fee-free access to thousands of ATMs across the country. However, if you use a non-network ATM, you’ll be charged $0.50 for domestic withdrawals and $1.00 for foreign transactions. If you need to withdraw cash at a non-network ATM, you’d be better off using your debit card, as multiple Navy Federal checking accounts include ATM fee rebates, such as up to $20 per statement period with Free Active Duty Checking (up to $240 a year) or $10 per statement period with Free Easy Checking (up to $120 a year).
Another thing to note is that this card comes in a variety of types, and you might not know exactly which card you’ll receive until you actually apply. For example, if you’re approved for a credit line of below $5,000, you’ll receive a straight Visa. If you’re approved for a credit line of $5,000 or more, you’ll receive a Visa Signature. Each of these cards has its own perks and benefits, but you may not know which one you’ll receive until you physically apply. On the plus side, you can be approved for this card with average credit and still access all its valuable benefits.
About Navy Federal Credit Union and Membership Eligibility
Navy Federal Credit Union has been serving members of the military and their families since 1933. With over 12 million members, they prioritize the financial health and wellbeing of their member-owners through a commitment to exceptional customer service tailored to the unique needs of the military community. That adds up to additional savings: Navy Federal Credit Union reports members could earn and save $4732 a year from banking with the credit union.
To qualify for membership in the credit union, you must be affiliated with the military. However, Navy Federal Credit Union’s definition of “military affiliated” is broad. For example, in addition to those who have current or former ties to the armed forces (including the National Guard), Department of Defense employees are also eligible. You can also qualify if you have an immediate family member who has a membership with Navy Federal, or even if you live with someone who is a Navy Federal member.
How To Apply
You can easily apply for the Navy Federal cashRewards Card at a branch, via the credit union’s mobile app or on their website. As previously stated, you’ll need to be a member of Navy Federal Credit Union to apply. If you’re already a member, you can see if you’re prequalified for this card before you apply on the Navy Federal website without undergoing the standard credit check. That means you can learn if you prequalify without affecting your credit score. If you aren’t yet a member, you’ll be able to verify that you qualify for membership during the application process and then join the credit union. From there, the application process is simple. As with most credit cards, you’ll need to provide personal information, such as your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number, along with certain financial information, such as your occupation and income.
Who This Card Might Be Best For
The Navy Federal cashRewards Card provides enough benefits to make it attractive to a wide range of potential members. Its high cash back rate — 1.75% with direct deposit and 1.5% without — and $0 annual, balance transfer and foreign transaction fees* make it a valuable card great for everyday spending. As a credit union dedicated to a select audience of service members and their families, as well as DoD employees, Navy Federal has an understanding of the specific needs of their members, unlike many other institutions. The Navy Federal cashRewards Card exemplifies this, providing a solution for those seeking an everyday rewards card that charges minimal fees but provides a generous level of cash back and other features and benefits.
*For cashRewards cost and fee information, click here.
Navy Federal Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA
Rates are accurate as of September 20,2023
1Message and data rates may apply. Terms and Conditions are available.
2Dollar value shown represents the results of the 2022 Navy Federal Member Giveback Study. The Member Giveback Study takes into consideration internal market analyses comparing Navy Federal products with industry national averages, as well as discounts, incentives, and other savings.
