The best credit cards for active-duty military personnel: Free Annual

There are many discounts and benefits available to members of the military while in active service. Some are highly advertised, while others are obscured in plain view. Above all Travel perks and discounts offered for those in the military, the ability to hold some best credit card on the market without having to pay an annual fee is my favorite perk.

After several years in the military, neither me nor my colleagues knew anything about what had happened. Military Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and Military Loan Act (MLA) is. I wish I had the knowledge I have now in all my years of service. That way, I can take advantage of those programs and other benefits available to me since the day I enlisted.

Whether you’re just starting out, being called up for enlistment in the National Guard or the Reserve, or have been serving for many years, you can benefit from this information. This guide will review the best military credit cards and will also explain how to maximize SCRA and MLA benefits for yourself and your family.

• American Express Platinum® Card: Best for travel and lounge access benefits.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best for annual travel credit.
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Best for Marriott stays.
• American Express Reserve Delta SkyMiles® Card: Best for Delta Flights.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Best for Hilton Stays.

Information about the Hilton Aspire Amex card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Basics of 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 financial coverage and benefits for yourself and your family.

SCRA is designed to provide service members with a reduced financial burden while serving in the US military. Notably, SCRA sets a ceiling of 6% on interest rates charged to service members for debts incurred prior to the commencement of obligations. An in-depth look at everything SCRA can find here.

The MLA protects service members as well as their dependents from certain lending practices. The highlight of the MLA is the Annual Military Percentage (MAPR) regulation. This prevents creditors from exceeding 36% annually in total credit-related fees for borrowers insured under the MLA.

The MLA has been revised several times since it was enacted in 2006, expanding covered credit services to prevent credit bureaus from changing and hiding fees. This expansion of covered services has caused many credit card companies to waive annual fees to avoid the hassle. You can find in-depth explanations of MLA here.

So, who is covered by SCRA and MLA?

• Soldiers in service in all branches of the army.
• Army reservist serving in the federal service.
• National Guard soldiers under Title 32 (federal) orders exceed 30 days.
• Coast Guard personnel under Title 14 orders beyond 30 days.

In addition, any of the above dependents include:

• Couple.
• Children under 21 years old.
• Children under the age of 23 who are enrolled full-time at an approved institution of higher education and are dependent (or dependent upon the death of the member or former member) on an insured member to get more than half of their support.

Finally, for these provisions to apply, you must meet the above conditions at the time you are obligated to make a credit transaction or open an account. And once you no longer meet the above conditions, your account will no longer be covered and the annual fee will continue.

Some credit card companies, such as American Express, have chosen to go above the SCRA and MLA requirements by waiving the annual fee for the card. There was a recent change in how American Express handles the annual fee waiver and benefits for military card members. You need to ask for the right support — MLA or SCRA — based on the date your account was opened and the date you started using the service. More information about claiming relief under the SCRA or MLA is available at the end of this article.

Related: How to Maximize Your Credit Card Annual Credits from Home

Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the amazing benefits and built-in perks these cards offer, along with related details for active-duty military personnel. Of course, there are more credit cards that benefit US military personnel than the ones I’ve highlighted in this article. These are just some of the premium credit card samples you should consider to see if you qualify for the annual fee waiver and other perks.

Platinum card from American Express

• Free $695 annual fee and authorized user fee for those covered under SCRA or MLA. (See rates and fees)
• The card is offering a welcome bonus of 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of your card membership — or up to 125,000 points for targeted individuals through the CardMatch Tool (targeted offers, subject to change at any time).
• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit.
• Saks Fifth Avenue Credit up to $100 annually
• Up to $200 annually for Uber Cash on US services.
• Access to Amex Centurion Lounge for cardholders and up to two accompanying guests.
• Unlimited Priority Pass Lounge access.
• Delta Sky Club access (when on same-day flights, operated by Delta).
• Spouses get a free annual fee for their own account.
• Enrollment is required for selection benefits.
• Terms apply.

For more information on the Amex Platinum, read our card review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

*If you opened an account before September 20, 2017, you will have to close your account before reapplying for MLA benefits. You can get more help by calling Chase’s military specialist line at 1-800-235-9978.

Related: The best Chase credit cards

For more information about the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Read our card review.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

• Waiver of $650 annual fee (See rates and fees) with the same provisions as Amex Platinum.
• The card is offering a welcome offer of 150,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of being a member of the card.
• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status.
• Earn up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) on qualifying purchases at restaurants worldwide.
• Unlimited Priority Pass airport lounge access.
• Enrollment is required for selection benefits.
• Terms apply.

For more information on Bonvoy Brilliant, read our card review.

Delta SkyMiles Pre-booked American Express Card

• Free $550 yearly (See rates and fees) with the same provisions as Amex Platinum and Bonvoy Brilliant.
• Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Miles after you spend $5,000 on new card purchases during the first six months of your card membership.
• With most official government travel available on Delta, you can earn Delta elite status faster by holding this card and adding TDY miles to your SkyMiles account.
• Access to Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge (when flying same day, Delta operated flights).
• The annual companion pass is valid on selected flights in economy or first class at each renewal.
• 20% off Delta in-flight purchases.
• Registration is required for some benefits.
• Terms apply.

For more information on the Delta Reserve Card, read our review.

Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express

• Free $450 yearly (See rates and fees) with the same provisions as Amex Platinum and Bonvoy Brilliant.
• The card is offering a generous welcome offer worth 150,000 Hilton points after you use your new card to make $4,000 in purchases within the first three months.
• Automatic Hilton Honors Diamond Elite Status.
• Up to $250 annual airline fee credit.
• Annual resort credit up to $250.
• Priority access to unlimited airport lounges.
• Enrollment is required for selection benefits.
• Terms apply.

For more information, read our card review.

Related: Best credit card rewards

It can be confusing to make sure you qualify and claim the right benefits under the law. If you’re still not sure if you or your dependents are eligible, you can check SCRA and MLA sites to verify eligibility. Note that dependents are MLA-only and will not appear when searching for SCRA.

These services are completely free, so do not pay for an online service to verify eligibility. Here’s what you should watch if you qualify.

Once your dependents are verified on the MLA profile search, you can refer them with a credit card you have and are likely to end up with:

• A referral bonus.
• Minimum spending bonus.
• Two annual fees are waived.
• Save over $1,000, depending on the credit card.

Some service members have stated that they do not need to take any action after they open a new account to get the annual fee waiver. Below is an example of a letter you or your dependents might receive from Chase if you are protected under the MLA. Additionally, there are links and phone numbers listed with the credit cards below that will lead you to your benefits.

If you are not eligible under SCRA and have a Chase account, you may receive a letter that looks like this:

There are generous benefits available to the military community. However, you must be a responsible borrower and have credit score to assist in opening new accounts.

Military life can be stressful and keeping track of 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 bonuses on the go.

Additional reporting by Richard Kerr, Benét J. Wilson, Christina Ly and Matt Moffitt.