Introduction to the Navy Federal Credit Union Cash Rewards Credit Cards
The Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card is a rare rewards credit card with no annual fees, no foreign transaction fees, no cash advance fees, and no balance transfer fees. You can even earn up to 2% cash back on all purchases, depending on which version of the card you get.
But you'll need to have ties to the military and join Navy Federal Credit Union in order to qualify for any of Navy Federal's financial products. Thus, Business Insider's personal finance experts found this card slightly below average compared to the best no-fee credit cards despite having lower APRs than most, since access is limited to individuals with military experience or family connections.
cashRewards vs. cashRewards Plus
Navy Federal offers two versions of this card: The Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card and the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card. Applicants who are approved for a credit limit of $5,000 or higher will be offered the Plus version of the card, while applicants under that credit limit will receive the standard card.
$0
1.99% intro APR for 12 months on balances transferred from non-Navy Federal credit card within 60 days of account opening (from 4/1/2025 through 6/30/2025)
14.90% - 18.00% Variable
Earn $250 cash back
Average to Good
- 2% flat rate cash back on purchases
- Low APR
- No annual fee
- No fees on balance transfers, foreign transactions, or cash advances
- Limited to applicants with military affiliation
- Requires being approved for a credit limit of $5,000 or higher
- From 4/1/2025 through 6/30/2025, 1.99% intro APR for 12 months on balances transferred from non-Navy Federal credit card within 60 days of account opening & $250 cash back when you spend $2,500 within 90 days of account opening.
$0
1.99% intro APR for 12 months on balances transferred from non-Navy Federal credit card within 60 days of account opening (from 4/1/2025 through 6/30/2025)
14.90% - 18.00% Variable
Earn $250 cash back
Average to Good
- Good flat-rate cash back earning of 1.5% on all purchases
- Cash welcome bonus offer plus a low intro APR
- No annual, foreign transaction, balance transfer, or cash advance fees
- Must be a member of Navy Federal Credit Union to qualify
- From 4/1/2025 through 6/30/2025, 1.99% intro APR for 12 months on balances transferred from non-Navy Federal credit card within 60 days of account opening & $250 cash back when you spend $2,500 within 90 days of account opening.
Navy Federal Credit Union Cash Rewards Credit Card Overview
Both of the cashRewards credit cards have a lot to offer eligible cardholders.
Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card
The Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card is ideal for credit union members seeking a simple and reliable card because it earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card
If you are granted a credit limit of $5,000 or higher during the approval process, you'll be given the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card. This card earns a flat 2% cash back on all purchases — a generous rate of return for a no-annual-fee product that's on par with many of the best 2% cash back credit cards.
Navy Federal Membership and Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card (or any card from Navy Federal), you'll need to be a member of the credit union. Active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Department of Defense (DOD) officers or reservists, retirees, veterans, and their family members are all welcome to join.
No Fees, No Minimums
Navy Federal allows cardholders to redeem rewards with no minimum threshold for redemption.
Neither the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card nor the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card charge annual fees. They also do not incur fees on foreign transactions, balance transfers, or cash advances — nearly unheard-of in the credit card space.
Low APR
The ongoing interest rates on both credit cards are lower than the industry standard. The Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card has an ongoing APR of 14.90% - 18.00% Variable, and the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card has an ongoing APR of 14.90% - 18.00% Variable.
Choose Between Visa and Mastercard
When applying, you can choose between a Visa Signature or a World Mastercard, where you'll enjoy additional perks on top of what's offered by Navy Federal. Both networks are accepted by millions of retailers worldwide, so you can't go wrong with either network.
However, the World Mastercard may be the better option as cardholders enjoy unique benefits such as a free ShopRunner membership for complimentary two-day shipping at various stores, price protection, and more.
Navy Federal Credit Union Cash Rewards Credit Card Alternatives
If you don't qualify for the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card, consider some options from our list of the best cash-back credit cards, since they don't require credit union membership.
You may want to consider the Citi® Double Cash Card for 2x points (2% cash back) on all purchases (1 point when you buy, and 1 point when you pay), or the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for bonus categories and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases – more on this below.
Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card Rewards
Welcome Offer
The Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card has a welcome bonus offer of $250 cash back when you spend $2,500 within 90 days of account opening (from 4/1/2025 through 6/30/2025).
How to Earn Rewards With the Navy Federal Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases — easy peasy.
Redeeming Rewards With the Navy Federal Cash Rewards Credit Card
Redeeming cash-back rewards is easy with the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card, and there are no minimum thresholds for redemption.
When you log into your account online or through the Navy Federal app, you'll see your rewards balance by selecting your card. From there, you can redeem your cash-back rewards for any amount, whether you've accrued $5 or $500.
You can redeem cash back directly into your Navy Federal bank account, or as a statement credit toward your card balance. Your rewards will only expire if you close your account.
Navy Federal Cash Rewards Credit Card Benefits and Key Features
The Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card and Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card offer a decent selection of lifestyle and travel benefits, especially for cash-back credit cards with no annual fee.
Most perks vary depending on whether you get the Mastercard version or the Visa version, so it's worth skimming through the World Mastercard benefits guide here, and the Visa Signature guide here.
Complimentary Car Rental Insurance
When you use this Navy Federal Credit Union credit card to pay for an eligible rental car and decline the rental agency's collision damage waiver, you'll receive complimentary car rental coverage. This coverage is secondary to your personal insurance and will cover the remainder of the charges for physical damage and theft, reasonable towing charges, and more.
Purchase Protection
These cards come with a purchase protection benefit, which reimburses you for damage or theft within the first 90 days of purchase if you pay with the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card or the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card. The coverage maximum will depend on whether you choose Mastercard or Visa.
Travel Assistance Services
If you run into any snafus on your trip, Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card and Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card cardholders have access to travel assistance services for legal, medical, or other referrals.
While it's free to contact this hotline, you're on the hook for any third-party expenses from services they arrange for you.
Navy Federal Cash Rewards Credit Card Fees and Other Costs
The Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card and Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card are relatively unique in the credit card space for not charging fees on common costs.
Fees
- Annual fee: $0 (standard card) and $0 (Plus card)
- Foreign transaction fee: $0
- Balance transfer fee: $0
- Cash advance fees: $0
- Late payment fee: Up to $20
- Returned payment fee: Up to $20
APR
Neither card offers a zero-interest APR for new cardholders.
Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card APR: 14.90% - 18.00% Variable
Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card APR: 14.90% - 18.00% Variable.
- Cash advance APR: 2% above the cardholder's variable APR of 14.90% - 18.00% Variable (standard) or 14.90% - 18.00% Variable (Plus)
- Cash advance APR: 2% above your variable APR of 14.90% - 18.00% Variable (standard) or 14.90% - 18.00% Variable (Plus)
Navy Federal Cash Rewards Credit Card Comparison
Both Navy Federal credit cards would garner higher praise from Business Insider if they were more readily accessible. But since these cards are only available to applicants with military connections, we recommend a few alternatives for interested civilians.
We'll compare options for both cards, starting with the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card.
Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card goes head-to-head against the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card for rewards with a flat rate of 2% back on purchases.
New Wells Fargo Active Cash® Cardholders can take advantage of a generous intro APR offer: 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months, then a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR. There's also an easy welcome bonus: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Most people will find the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card more flexible than the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card because Wells Fargo doesn't require credit union membership and military affiliation. Wells Fargo rewards can also be used to book travel through Wells Fargo Autograph transfer partners for additional value. Most Wells Fargo credit cards including this one also come with an incredible benefit: complimentary cell phone protection.
Read more in our Wells Fargo Active Cash card review.
Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card vs. Citi® Double Cash Card
Many people consider the Citi® Double Cash Card to be one of the best cash back credit cards. The rewards system is simple, albeit slightly less straightforward than some competitors: Cardholders earn 1 point per dollar at the time of purchase, and another point per dollar when they pay off the statement balance for a total of 2% cash back per transaction.
The Citi® Double Cash Card comes with a generous zero-interest period: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (then a 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR), which also makes it one of the best balance transfer credit cards.
You can use the Citi® Double Cash Card as a straightforward 2% cash back card. But if you're ambitious about maximizing benefits and have other Citi credit cards like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card , you can combine rewards through the Citi ThankYou points rewards program to transfer your points to Citi's travel partners or book travel.
In comparison, rewards earned with the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card can only be redeemed for cash back, making them less flexible.
Read more in our Citi Double Cash card review.
Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of the best credit cards you can get, period. It earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on most purchases, with the opportunity to earn even more on common expenses including travel, restaurants, and drugstores.
Cardholders earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and at drugstores, and 1.5% cash back on everything else.
New cardholders can also earn a generous welcome bonus of $250 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. There's also an introductory zero-interest period: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a 18.99% - 28.49% VariableAPR.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® also comes with benefits you don't often see on no-annual-fee cards, including purchase protection, extended warranty, car rental insurance, trip interruption and cancellation insurance, and travel and emergency assistance services.
Read more in our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.
Navy Federal cashRewards Credit Card Customer Feedback
In addition to compiling our own research, our personal finance experts scoured online forums such as Facebook and Reddit to see what everyday cardholders have to say about these Navy Federal credit cards.
AutoPay Only Allowed via NFCU
One Redditor pointed out that these credit cards only allow autopay from an NFCU bank account. Cardholders who don't bank with Navy Federal must manually pay their bills each month, or transfer money from an external checking or savings account to set up autopay through a Navy Federal account.
0.25% Direct Deposit Boost No Longer Available for cashRewards
The Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card previously offered cardholders a 0.25% cash back bonus for setting up direct deposit for a total of 1.75% With the advent of the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card, that benefit has been discontinued — cardholders with the Plus version of the card automatically earn 2% on everything, while those with the standard version of the card will only earn 1.5% even with direct deposit.
Navy Federal cashRewards Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
How do I redeem my cash back rewards for Navy Federal cashRewards?
You can redeem cash back as a direct deposit into a Navy Federal bank account, or as a statement credit against an outstanding balance.
Can I transfer my balance to Navy Federal cashRewards?
Yes, cardholders can transfer a balance from another credit card to the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card or the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card. These cards are unique because they do not charge balance transfer fees, which can save cardholders between 3% to 5% per transaction. Navy Federal Credit Union credit cards also have lower APRs than most credit cards, although we always recommend paying off balances in full to avoid high interest rates.
Is there a minimum credit score requirement for Navy Federal cashRewards?
The Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card requires an average to good credit score. For your best chances of approval, you'll want to maintain a FICO score of at least 580. Navy Federal offers a prequalification tool for its members so you can see if you may be pre-approved for the credit card before submitting an official application.
Who is eligible for the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards card?
You must be a member of the Navy Federal Union to get these credit cards. Current and retired servicemembers from all branches of the armed forces are eligible for membership. Immediate family members and household members can also qualify, as well as Department of Defense Civilians. You can find the full list of eligibility requirements here. Note that a $5 minimum balance for your Navy Federal savings account is required to keep your credit union membership.
How often can you get a credit limit increase on the Navy Federal cashRewards card?
You can typically request a credit limit increase once every six months. You can submit a credit line increase request when logged into your online banking account, and you'll want to prepare relevant information like your employment, income, and housing expenses.
How do I know which Navy Federal credit card I will get?
There two versions of the cashRewards credit card, and the version you get depends on the credit limit you're offered. If you are offered a credit limit of $5,000 or more, you will be given or upgraded to the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card, which earns 2% cash back on everything. If your credit limit is under $5,000, you will get the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card, which earns 1.5% cash back on everything.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Navy Federal Cash Rewards Credit Cards
Business Insider's credit card experts compared the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card and Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus Credit Card against other options on the market by evaluating the following factors:
- Ease of use — Is it easy to get a Navy Federal credit card? Do you need to be in the military to apply?
- Fees — How much does it cost to have and use this credit card? Will you incur fees just for keeping the card open? Do you pay anything if you swipe the card while traveling internationally?
- Reward flexibility — Can you use your rewards to book travel? Does Navy Federal have any airline or hotel transfer partners to offer? How easy is it to use any cash back rewards? Can you redeem them in various ways, or are opportunities limited?
Here's the full breakdown of how we rate credit cards at Business Insider.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
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