Navy Federal offers five main credit cards, each built for different spending patterns and financial goals
Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) issues credit cards only to members — active duty, retired, or honorably discharged military, Department of Defense civilians, and their families. The five cards are the Cash Rewards, More Rewards, Cashback Card, Secured Card, and nRewards. Each one has different cash back rates, annual fees, and rewards structures. The right choice depends on whether you want flat-rate cash back, bonus categories, or a card to rebuild credit.
All Navy Federal cards report to the three major credit bureaus and offer fraud protection and zero liability for unauthorized charges. None of them charge foreign transaction fees, which matters if you travel or send money overseas. The main trade-off is between earning rates and annual fees — the cards with the highest rewards usually cost money to hold.
Key Takeaways
- Navy Federal's Cash Rewards card gives 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee, making it the simplest option for everyday spending.
- The More Rewards card earns higher rates in specific categories (gas, groceries, dining) but costs $49 per year and requires you to set up categories each month.
- The nRewards card earns points toward travel and merchandise but has a $99 annual fee and is best for people who spend heavily on the card.
- The Secured Card is for people rebuilding credit and requires a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit, with no annual fee.
- All Navy Federal cards require membership, which is free for military-connected people but may require a one-time deposit for others.
Cash Rewards: Flat-rate cash back with no annual fee
The Navy Federal Cash Rewards card earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase, everywhere, with no annual fee. You get the cash back as a statement credit or a check, and there is no minimum redemption amount. This card has no foreign transaction fees and no caps on how much cash back you can earn in a year.
The main limitation is that 1.5% is a flat rate — you do not earn more in any category. If you spend heavily on groceries or gas, the More Rewards card might pay more, but only if the $49 annual fee is worth it to you. The Cash Rewards card is the right choice if you want simplicity and do not want to track bonus categories each month.
More Rewards: Higher rates in rotating categories, but requires set up
The More Rewards card earns 3% cash back on gas and groceries, 2% on dining, and 1% on everything else. It costs $49 per year. The catch is that you must set up the bonus categories each month through the Navy Federal app or website, or you only earn 1% on those purchases that month.
The math works like this: if you spend $500 a month on groceries and gas combined, the 3% rate earns you $180 per year in extra cash back compared to the Cash Rewards card. That covers the $49 fee and leaves you $131 ahead. If you spend less than $1,600 per year on groceries and gas combined, the Cash Rewards card is cheaper. The More Rewards card also has no foreign transaction fees and no annual cap on rewards.
nRewards: Points toward travel and merchandise with a $99 annual fee
The nRewards card earns 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases. Points can be redeemed for travel (flights, hotels, rental cars), merchandise, or statement credits. The card costs $99 per year and comes with a $100 statement credit toward travel in the first year, which offsets the fee if you use it.
The value of points depends on how you redeem them. A point is typically worth between 0.5 and 1.5 cents, so 1 point per dollar is roughly equivalent to 0.5% to 1.5% cash back. You would need to spend at least $10,000 per year on the card to earn enough points to justify the $99 fee, unless you value the travel redemption options highly. This card also has no foreign transaction fees.
Secured Card: For rebuilding credit with a cash deposit
The Navy Federal Secured Card requires a cash deposit between $300 and $2,500, which becomes your credit limit. There is no annual fee. You earn 1% cash back on all purchases. The card reports to all three credit bureaus, so on-time payments build your credit history.
After you have held the card for at least six months and made on-time payments, you can request to convert it to an unsecured card, and your deposit is returned. This card is designed for people with no credit history or damaged credit who need to prove they can use credit responsibly. The 1% cash back is lower than the Cash Rewards card (1.5%), but the lack of an annual fee and the credit-building purpose make it the right choice if you are rebuilding.
Comparing the cards side by side
| Card | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Rewards | $0 | 1.5% all purchases | Everyday spending, no category tracking |
| More Rewards | $49 | 3% gas/groceries, 2% dining, 1% other | High grocery and gas spending |
| nRewards | $99 | 1 point per dollar (0.5–1.5 cents value) | Travel redemptions, high annual spending |
| Secured Card | $0 | 1% all purchases | Building or rebuilding credit |
| Cashback Card | $0 | 1% all purchases | Basic cash back, no annual fee |
How to decide between the cards
Start with your annual spending. If you spend less than $5,000 per year on the card, the Cash Rewards card (1.5%, no fee) is almost always the best choice. The annual fee on the More Rewards or nRewards card will cost more than you earn back.
If you spend $5,000 to $15,000 per year, calculate whether your bonus category spending justifies the More Rewards fee. Add up what you spend on gas and groceries each month, multiply by 12, and multiply that by 1.5% (the extra rate you earn). If that number is larger than $49, the More Rewards card pays for itself.
If you spend more than $15,000 per year and value travel, the nRewards card might be worth the $99 fee, but only if you redeem points for travel rather than statement credits. If you redeem for statement credits, the value drops to roughly 0.5% cash back, which is worse than the Cash Rewards card.
If you are rebuilding credit, the Secured Card is your only option among these five. Once your credit improves, you can move to the Cash Rewards card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be active duty military to join Navy Federal?
No. Navy Federal membership is open to active duty, retired, and honorably discharged military, Department of Defense civilians, and their when ready family members. Family members can join if a military-connected person sponsors them. Membership is free for most military-connected people, though some may need to make a one-time deposit.
Can I earn cash back and rewards points at the same time?
No. Each card earns one type of reward — either cash back or points. You cannot combine rewards across multiple Navy Federal cards. You can hold more than one card, but each purchase goes on one card and earns that card's reward only.
What happens if I do not set up the bonus categories on the More Rewards card?
If you do not set up gas and groceries for a given month, you earn only 1% cash back on those purchases that month instead of 3%. You must set up each month through the Navy Federal app or website. set up takes less than a minute and resets each month.
Can I convert the Secured Card to a regular card without closing it?
Yes. After six months of on-time payments, you can request a conversion. Navy Federal will review your account and either convert it to an unsecured card or deny the request. If approved, your deposit is returned to you, and the card continues with the same account number and history.
Do Navy Federal credit cards have a sign-up bonus?
Navy Federal does not currently offer sign-up bonuses on these cards. The nRewards card includes a $100 statement credit toward travel in the first year, which effectively reduces the annual fee to $0 in year one, but this is not a traditional sign-up bonus for new cardholders.