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2025 Guide: Credit Cards That Waive Annual Fees for Military
December 12, 2024
Why Some Credit Cards Waive Fees for Military
Active-duty servicemembers enjoy special credit card benefits mandated by law and extended by certain banks. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) caps interest on pre-service debts at 6%, and the Military Lending Act (MLA) forbids lenders from charging a military annual percentage rate over 36%, including fees. To go “above and beyond” these requirements, major issuers like Chase, American Express, Capital One, Citi, U.S. Bank, and Bank of America voluntarily waive annual credit card fees for active-duty military members and their spouses. This means you can hold top-tier rewards cards free of charge while you serve.
Banks waive fees as a courtesy and to comply with the spirit of the law. Chase, Amex, and Capital One, for example, automatically waive annual fees on their consumer cards for active-duty members. These waivers typically apply to personal credit cards (not business cards). The result: you can save hundreds annually in fees and enjoy elite card benefits at $0 cost. There are over 30 credit cards that offer $0 annual fees for military families, unlocking premium rewards without the usual price tag.
Best Cards with Annual Fees Waived for Military
Thanks to these policies, military members can access some of the best credit cards on the market for free. Below are the top categories of cards to consider – and the perks you can enjoy without paying annual fees.
Premium Travel Cards (Luxury Rewards for $0)
Premium travel rewards cards normally come with hefty fees, but for military cardholders those fees drop to $0. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a $795 annual fee (recently increased) that is waived for active duty. Similarly, the The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees) carries a $695 annual fee, which active-duty members and spouses don’t pay. These cards offer rich benefits: airport lounge access, annual travel credits, elite status with hotels or airlines, and big welcome bonuses.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Normally $795/year, it’s free for military. You get a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass lounges, travel protections, and earnings of 3–10x points on purchases. By not paying the fee, you save $795 per year while enjoying all perks.
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- The Platinum Card® from American Express – Normally $695/year, waived to $0 for active duty. Benefits include worldwide lounge access (Centurion, Delta Sky Club, Priority Pass), up to $200 airline fee credit, $240 digital entertainment credit, $200 Uber Cash, and more. It’s a favorite in “military circles” because you get thousands of dollars in value without the fee.
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- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (Rates & Fees) – $395 annual fee, also waived for eligible military. This premium travel card offers unlimited lounge visits (Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges), a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (~$100 value), and up to $300 in annual travel credits. Note: Capital One waives fees under SCRA (for accounts opened before service) but does not waive fees on accounts opened during active duty under the MLA. In practice, many military cardholders still hold Venture X if opened pre-service, as the fee is then refunded.
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Beyond these, other high-end cards like the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite and select Citi® cards also come fee-free for military. Even co-branded cards with annual fees – think airline or hotel cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card – fall under Amex’s or Chase’s military fee waiver if issued by those banks. This means free lounge memberships, free checked bags, or hotel nights that civilians pay for.
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[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "1189", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "High-End Option"} ]]
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Other Reward Cards (Cash Back & Everyday Cards)
It’s not just ultra-premium cards – many mid-tier and cash-back cards also have their fees eliminated for military customers:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® – $95 annual fee normally, waived for active duty. This popular travel card earns 3x on dining/travel and has valuable point transfer options. Military members can use it free, making it an excellent choice if you don’t need the Reserve’s perks.
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- American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees) – $250 annual fee, waived. The Amex Gold earns 4x points on dining worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, plus monthly dining credits. With the fee $0, all those rewards are upside with no cost.
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- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® – $450+ fee, waived. This card gives Admirals Club airport lounge access (worth ~$650/year), which becomes free for service members. It’s a great example of a co-branded card made much more valuable when you don’t pay the fee.
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- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card – $95 fee, waived (SCRA if opened before service). The Savor card earns 4% cash back on dining and entertainment. Military families can enjoy those high cash-back rewards without the annual cost, if they had the account pre-service.
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "3041", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "5% on Hotel and Car Rentals"} ]]
Additionally, many cards that already have no annual fee (Chase Freedom Unlimited®, USAA rewards cards, etc.) are naturally $0 for everyone – but it’s worth noting that some military-friendly credit unions (USAA, Navy Federal) never charged fees on most of their cards. Those can be great options too, though their rewards might be lower than the premium cards you can now get for free.
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Active-duty military? With Kudos, you can easily discover which credit cards waive fees and offer hidden perks for service members—making sure you get all the benefits without the costs.
How to Get Your Annual Fees Waived (SCRA & MLA Tips)
To take advantage of these fee waivers, follow a few simple steps:
1. Apply while on active duty (or soon after starting)
Most major issuers automatically apply MLA benefits when you get a new card during active service. For example, Amex will automatically reduce the fee to $0 on new accounts for active-duty members and dependents. Chase and others do similarly – just be sure your active-duty status is in the Department of Defense’s MLA database (most are, by default).
2. Request SCRA for pre-service accounts
If you had a credit card before joining the military, you’ll need to request SCRA benefits from the issuer. This typically involves submitting your active-duty orders or using an online form. Under SCRA, banks like Capital One and Citi will retroactively waive or refund fees and cap interest on those existing accounts. Make sure to apply within the required timeframe (usually within 180 days of entering active duty or of receiving the orders).
3. Verify spouse eligibility
Military spouses are generally eligible for the same fee waivers on their own credit card accounts. For instance, if your spouse opens a Chase or Amex card in their name, they qualify as a dependent under MLA. Just ensure the bank knows they’re a military dependent (some applications ask, or you may call to add military status).
4. Know which issuers don’t waive fees
Not every bank waives annual fees. Notably, Barclays, USAA, Navy Federal, Wells Fargo, PenFed, and Discover do not waive card fees for accounts opened after you join active duty (though many of these issuers’ cards have no or low fees anyway). Stick to the known friendly issuers for the big annual-fee cards.
5. Monitor your statements
Once you have the card, double-check that you aren’t charged the annual fee. The fee is often automatically credited off your statement (or not charged at all). If you do see a fee posted, contact your card’s customer service and mention your active-duty status to get it waived or refunded.
6. Plan for post-service
These waivers last while you’re on active duty. After you separate or retire, annual fees will resume (usually the next card anniversary after you’re out). At that point, decide if the card’s benefits are worth paying for. You might downgrade to a no-fee version or cancel to avoid the charge, especially if you won’t use the perks. Until then, enjoy the free benefits!
FAQ – Military Credit Card Fee Waivers
Do all credit card issuers waive annual fees for military?
No. Many major issuers (Chase, American Express, Citi, U.S. Bank, Capital One, Bank of America) do waive annual fees for active-duty military and spouses. However, some banks like Barclays, USAA, Navy Federal, PenFed, Discover, and Wells Fargo do not waive fees on accounts opened during active service. Always check the issuer’s military policy – the best practice is to stick with issuers known to waive fees so you don’t get stuck paying a large fee.
Does Chase waive credit card annual fees for military members?
Yes. Chase waives the annual fees on all personal credit cards for active-duty servicemembers and their spouses. This includes popular cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® – both end up with $0 fees for eligible military members.
Will American Express waive my annual fee if I’m in the military?
Yes. American Express waives 100% of the annual fee on all its personal cards for active-duty military, Guard and Reserve on 30+ day orders, and spouses. For example, Amex Platinum ($695 fee) and Amex Gold ($250 fee) both become $0 for military cardholders. Amex applies MLA benefits automatically for new accounts opened during service, and you can request SCRA for any Amex cards opened before service.
What about Capital One and Bank of America – do they waive fees?
Capital One: Partially. Capital One waives fees under SCRA for accounts opened pre-service, but does not waive the annual fee on accounts opened while on active duty. In practice, this means if you already had a Capital One card before joining, they’ll drop your fees to $0; but a new card like Venture X opened during active duty will still charge its fee.
Bank of America: Yes, in specific cases. BoA will waive annual fees for military borrowers if the fee is > $100. This covers their premium cards. Lower-fee cards may be considered “reasonable” and not automatically waived, so check with BoA on their policy for your specific card.
Can my spouse get their credit card annual fee waived too?
Yes. Military spouses and dependent family members are eligible for the same annual fee waivers under the MLA. If your spouse opens their own account (or is a joint account holder) with an issuer that waives fees, they will receive the waiver. For example, a military spouse can get their own Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire card and pay $0 annual fees, as long as they are enrolled as a dependent. This is a fantastic benefit for military families – both servicemember and spouse can enjoy premium cards free during active duty.
How much money can I save with these military fee waivers?
The savings can be substantial. For one card alone, you could save hundreds per year – e.g. $795/year saved on Chase Sapphire Reserve® or $695 on Amex Platinum. Many military folks get multiple fee-waived cards. Over the course of a military career, that’s potentially tens of thousands of dollars in fees avoided, all while enjoying rewards like free travel credits, airport lounge access, elite statuses, and cashback. It’s one of the biggest financial perks available exclusively to active-duty members and their families.
Conclusion
Being in the military opens the door to premium credit card perks without the price. By choosing cards from issuers that waive annual fees for servicemembers, you can travel in style, earn rewards faster, and save money. It’s a smart way to leverage your benefits. And whenever you’re evaluating your card options, remember to use tools like Kudos to compare rewards and find hidden perks – making the most of your military money every day.
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