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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
The 4 best credit cards for military members on active duty
Rich Dolan is an active duty US Army infantry officer. In his free time he enjoys backpacking around the world and taking full advantage of the credit card and travel perks available to active duty military personnel.
April 23, 2025 • 11 min read
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Active-duty military members and their dependents can access premium credit cards with waived annual fees under specific federal protections.
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and Military Lending Act (MLA) provide financial relief and limit certain charges for eligible individuals.
Several top-tier cards offer valuable travel, hotel and airline benefits, which can be especially advantageous for military families.
Eligibility for these benefits depends on active-duty status and proper enrollment under SCRA or MLA provisions.
What to consider
Dependents are only covered under the MLA, not the SCRA, and eligibility must be confirmed at account opening.
Annual fees are waived only while qualifying under SCRA or MLA; fees resume if eligibility ends.
Understanding the differences between SCRA and MLA is essential to ensure you request the correct protections.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of specific card benefits and step-by-step guidance on maximizing military credit card perks under SCRA and MLA.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
There are plenty of discounts and benefits available to military members while on active duty. Some are highly advertised, while others are hidden in plain sight. In addition to all the travel perks and discounts offered to those in the military, my favorite perk is the ability to hold some of the best credit cards on the market without paying annual fees.
After several years in the military, neither I nor my colleagues had any idea what the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and the Military Lending Act were. I wish I had the knowledge then, during all my years of service, that I have now. Had I known about these programs sooner, I could have leveraged them and other benefits, such as not having to pay annual fees. These were available to me from the day that I entered active duty.
Whether you’re just starting out on active duty, are getting called up on active orders in the National Guard or reserves, or have been on active duty for years, you can benefit from this information. This guide will review the best military credit cards and why they're great choices with the SCRA and MLA benefits for yourself and your family.
Best credit cards for military
Some credit card companies, such as American Express and Chase, have chosen to go above and beyond the requirements of the SCRA and the MLA by not requiring active-duty military members to pay annual fees for cards.
You need to request the right relief — either the MLA or SCRA — based on the account opening date and your entry date into service.
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With this knowledge, let's examine the four best cards for active-duty military members.
American Express Platinum Card®
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Of course, there are more credit cards that are beneficial to U.S. service members than just those I have highlighted in this article. These are just a sample of the premium credit cards you should consider looking into if you’re eligible for these perks.
Below, we'll break down the benefits and built-in perks these cards offer, along with the relevant details for active-duty service members.
American Express Platinum Card
A top rewards card, the Amex Platinum is a great option for travel benefits and extensive lounge access.
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Here are the relevant perks:
No annual fee: Those covered under the SCRA or MLA will not be charged the $895 annual fee and authorized user fee.
Welcome bonus: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Lounge access: Eligible cardmembers can enjoy access to Amex's Global Lounge Collection of more than 1,400 lounges, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Select* lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (limited to 10 annual visits per year) when you're flying on a Delta Air Lines-operated flight and have the Amex Platinum in your wallet.
Airline credit: Receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when you pay for incidental fees with one qualifying airline.*
Digital entertainment credit: Receive up to $300 in annual statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, the Disney Bundle, The New York Times, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal purchases, Paramount+, YouTube Premium and YouTube TV*
Lodging credit: Receive up to $600 back in statement credits each calendar year (up to $300 biannually) for prepaid American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, The Hotel Collection or Airbnb Luxe properties for bookings made through American Express Travel® or the Amex Travel App™ (bookings through the Hotel Collection and Airbnb Luxe require a minimum two-night stay; beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Fine Hotels + Resorts will require stays of two nights or more to be eligible for the lodging statement credit).
Uber Cash: Receive up to $200 annually in Uber Cash for Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. (split into monthly up to $15 credits, plus an up to $20 bonus in December).^
Walmart+ credit: Receive up to $155 in statement credit per calendar year (up to $12.95 monthly, plus applicable taxes) that covers the cost of a monthly Walmart+ membership when paying with the Amex Platinum (on one membership, subject to auto-renewal); Plus Up is excluded.*
*Enrollment is required.
^Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Platinum as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
If you and your family frequent Marriott properties and would benefit from the loyalty program's top-tier card, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex could be the best choice.
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Here are the relevant perks:
No annual fee: Those covered under the SCRA or MLA will not be charged the $650 annual fee.
Welcome bonus: Earn 150,000 bonus points and a $250 statement credit after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Elite night credits: Receive 25 elite nights toward status granted each calendar year.
Dining statement credit: Receive up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide.
Free night award: Receive one free night award, worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, every year after your card renewal month. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Lounge access: Enjoy access to Priority Pass lounges after enrollment in Priority Pass Select.*
*Enrollment is required.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex is the best choice for a Delta enthusiast looking for the top suite of benefits.
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Here are the relevant perks:
No annual fee: Those covered under the SCRA or MLA will not be charged the $650 annual fee.
Welcome bonus: Earn two domestic round-trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates (valid for travel to the U.S. 48, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands) and 50,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. A 21+ day advance purchase is required; up to $80 per person in taxes and fees apply. Other restrictions apply.
Lounge access: Enjoy 15 visits per Medallion year to Delta Sky Clubs when flying with Delta. Unlock an unlimited number of visits after spending $75,000 on purchases in a calendar year. Plus, receive four one-time guest passes each Medallion year. You'll also receive complimentary access to Centurion Lounges when you book your Delta flight with your card.
Annual companion pass: Receive an annual companion certificate for a first class, Delta Comfort or main cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America each year after card renewal.^^
First and second checked bags free: Check your first bag free on Delta flights worldwide and the second bag free on U.S. domestic flights.
Inflight discount: Receive 20% savings in the form of a statement credit when you use your card on eligible inflight food-and-beverage purchases.
MQD boost: Earn 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar toward status for every $10 you spend on the card.
MQD Headstart: Receive 2,500 MQDs each qualification year to apply toward earning status.
Resy credit: Receive up to $20 in statement credits each month (up to $240 annually) after paying with your card at eligible U.S. Resy restaurants or making other eligible Resy purchases.*
Ride-hailing credit: Receive up to $10 back in monthly statement credits (up to $120 annually) each month after using your card for U.S. ride-hailing purchases with select providers.*
*Enrollment required.
^^Must pay government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250. Baggage charges and restrictions apply.
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
Hilton's premium Aspire Amex card is the best option for anyone who frequently stays with the chain and would benefit from the card's perks.
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Here are the relevant perks:
No annual fee: Those covered under the SCRA or MLA will not be charged the $550 annual fee.
Welcome bonus: Earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Airline fee credit: Receive up to $200 in quarterly statement credits applied to flight purchases made directly with an airline, through amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Free night reward: Receive an annual free night reward in your first year of card membership and every year you renew your card.
Hilton resort credit: Receive up to $400 in statement credits (up to $200 biannually) for eligible purchases made with Hilton resorts.
Benefits for military members and dependents through SCRA and MLA
In addition to determining which credit card is right for you, you’ll need to know some SCRA and MLA basics to better understand the financial coverage and benefits for yourself and your family.
The SCRA was designed to provide service members relief from financial burdens while serving on active duty in the U.S. military. Of note, the SCRA caps interest rates charged to service members on debts incurred prior to entering active duty at 6%.
The MLA protects service members as well as their dependents from certain lending practices. The highlight of the MLA is the Military Annual Percentage Rate regulation. This prevents creditors from exceeding 36% annually in total credit-related charges to covered borrowers under the MLA.
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The MLA has been amended multiple times since it was enacted in 2006. The 2006 amendment expanded the list of credit services covered in an attempt to prevent credit agencies from shifting and hiding fees. This expansion of covered services prompted many credit card companies to grant a $0 annual fee on cards to active-duty military members to avoid complications.
So, who is covered by the SCRA and the MLA?
All persons on active duty with uniformed services, including regular and active reserve
Reserve and National Guard personnel who have been activated and are on federal active duty (whether as volunteers or as a result of involuntary activation) and inductees serving with the armed forces
Reserve components who have received orders to report from the date of receipt of orders through the date of reporting for military service and beyond while on active military status
Additionally, any dependent of the above, including:
Spouse
Children under the age of 21
Children under the age of 23 who are enrolled full time at an approved institution of higher learning and dependent (or dependent at the time of the member’s or former member’s death) on a covered member for over half of their support
Children of any age incapable of self-support due to mental or physical incapacity that occurred while a dependent of the covered member and dependent on a covered member (or dependent at the time of the member's or former member's death) for over half of their support
Lastly, for these regulations to apply, you must meet the above conditions when you become obligated on a credit transaction or open an account. Once you no longer meet the above conditions, your accounts will no longer be covered and annual fees will resume.
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It can be confusing to make sure you are eligible for and requesting the right benefits under the right law. Note that dependents only fall under the MLA and will not appear under SCRA searches.
Bottom line
There are generous benefits available to the military community. However, you must be a responsible borrower and have the credit score to support opening new accounts.
Military life can be stressful, and tracking finances while changing addresses every two to three years can be difficult. If you can manage it and keep your credit journey organized, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t take advantage of these rewards while on active duty.
Updated by Augusta Stone.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
