Navy Federal More Rewards American Express card review

Navy Federal More Rewards American Express card review

Updated: April 5, 2022
Updated: April 5, 2022
Ratings Policy
Low Interest Rating:
2.4 rating
2.4 rating
2.4 / 5
Rates, Fees, Penalties:2.0
Rewards:3.2
Features:4.0
Customer Experience4.8

In a Nutshell:

The NFCU card comes with very reasonable rates and fees, though cardholders looking to save on interest may be better served by a card with a stronger introductory APR offer.

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Regular APR
9.65-18% (variable)

Very Good

Introductory Purchase APR
None

Poor

Introductory Balance Transfer APR
None

Poor

Fees

  • No annual fee
  • No balance transfer fee
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Cash-advance fee is $.50 domestic, $1 overseas, free at NFCU ATMs
Excellent

Penalties

  • $20 late payment fee
  • 18% penalty APR
  • $20 returned payment fee
Very Good

Customer Experience

  • Consumer Reports rating: 95 (3% of issuers ranked higher)
  • 24/7 customer service?: Yes
  • Online chat available?: Yes
  • Google Play Store mobile app rating: 4.4/5
  • Apple Store mobile app rating: 3.3/5
Excellent

Other Notable Features: Access to presale tickets and special events/experiences, no foreign transaction fees, emergency assistance (medical, legal, personal and travel-oriented), roadside assistance, car rental loss and damage insurance, extended warranty, purchase protection, return protection, $0 liability, EMV chip technology

Ratings Policy
Rewards Rating:
3.7 rating
3.7 rating
3.7 / 5
Rewards Value:3.6
Annual Percentage Rate:4.9
Rewards Flexibility:3.7
Features:2.0
Customer Experience4.8

In a Nutshell:

With no annual fee and triple points on supermarket, gas station, transit and restaurant purchases, the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express card is an especially good deal for families and business travelers.

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Rewards Rate

  • 3 points per dollar on supermarket, gas, transit, restaurant and food delivery purchases
  • 1 point per dollar on other purchases
Excellent

Sign-up Bonus

  • 1.99% intro APR on balance transfer for 12 months (offer expires on Feb. 28, 2022)
Very Good

Annual Bonus
None

Poor

Annual Fee
$0

Excellent

Average Yearly Rewards Value ($1,325 monthly spend)
$437

Very Good

APR
9.65-18% (variable)

Excellent

Pros:

  • Points don’t expire
  • No limit to the points you can earn
  • No blackout dates
  • Variety of redemption options, including gift cards, merchandise, travel and cash back

Cons:

  • Airfare must be booked through NFCU website
Very Good

Customer Experience

  • Consumer Reports rating: 95 (3% of issuers ranked higher)
  • 24/7 customer service?: Yes
  • Online chat available?: Yes
  • Google Play Store mobile app rating: 3.8/5
  • Apple Store mobile app rating: 4.9/5
Excellent

Other Notable Features: Access to presale tickets and special events/experiences, no foreign transaction fees, emergency assistance (medical, legal, personal and travel-oriented), roadside assistance, car rental loss and damage insurance, extended warranty, purchase protection, return protection, $0 liability, EMV chip technology

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The Navy Federal More Rewards American Express card* is a simple and straightforward credit card with an excellent rewards program, flexible redemption, and a great variable APR. And now there’s even more reason to apply for the card: It recently updated its already generous bonus categories to offer 3X points on restaurant and transit purchases.

However, before you start celebrating and filling out the application, you should know that only Navy Federal Credit Union members can apply, and eligibility is restricted to past and present servicemen, servicewomen, and their immediate family members.

Generous 3X bonus categories

The Navy Federal More Rewards card earns high marks for its strong 3:1 rewards at supermarkets — which, unlike the American Express EveryDay Preferred card*, doesn’t have an annual cap. Road trippers and business travelers will enjoy that same generous rate on gas station purchases, while cardholders who frequently dine out are sure to appreciate the card’s 3:1 rewards at restaurants.

And, if you don’t own a car and rely on public transit or ride-sharing, you’re also in luck, because the card now offers 3 points per dollar on transit purchases. The base reward for general purchases is 1 point per dollar.

Depending on your spending habits, the card’s rewards program makes it a good option for everyday use, especially when you factor in no annual fee and average yearly savings of $437 (based on a monthly spend of $1,325).

Excellent APR

With average APRs for credit cards hovering above 16%, the Navy Federal More Rewards card’s variable interest rate is particularly attractive. Cardholders with excellent credit may be offered an APR as low as 9.65%. Meanwhile, those with less-than-perfect credit histories may also qualify for a relatively low rate that tops out at just 18%, which is well below many other rewards and cash back cards.

However, don’t let a reasonable APR stop you from using your credit line wisely. In other words, try to use the Navy Federal More Rewards card only for what you’d usually pay for with cash or your checking account balance.

Flexible redemption options – with a catch

Card rewards are redeemable through the Navy Federal Rewards websitenot American Express’ Membership Rewards program – and can be used for gift cards, merchandise, travel and cash back. Also, airfare, hotels and car rentals must be booked directly through this site, giving you a little less freedom than cards such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which allows you to redeem any travel purchase for a statement credit.

Good perks for no annual fee

For a card with no annual fee, the Navy Federal More Rewards offers an impressive array of benefits. Perks include access to presale tickets, special events and experiences; emergency assistance (medical, legal, personal and travel-oriented); roadside assistance; car rental loss and damage insurance; extended warranty; purchase protection and more. Card members are also eligible for a 25% discount on car rentals from a select list of agencies.

The lack of a foreign transaction fee – a feature usually reserved for cards with high annual fees – is also notable. What this means is you can use the Navy Federal More Rewards to build up rewards while traveling without having to worry about racking up excessive fees, too.

Why get the Navy Federal More Rewards card?

  • You already belong to Navy Federal Credit Union or can qualify for membership.
  • You regularly use credit cards to pay for everyday purchases.
  • You have kids or otherwise require a large budget for grocery shopping.
  • You dine out frequently and want to cash in on the card’s restaurant rewards.
  • You want to earn 3X points on your Uber rides or daily subway commutes.
  • You prefer a variety of options when it comes to redeeming rewards.

How to use the Navy Federal More Rewards card:

  • Use it to pay for all U.S. supermarket and gas station purchases.
  • Keep your account open until you’ve redeemed all awards.
  • Use it when traveling overseas to take advantage of no foreign transaction fees.
  • Take advantage of NFCU’s Member Deals site to earn additional points and savings on your purchases with the card.
  • Get a 25% discount on car rentals from participating agencies.

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*All information about the American Express Everyday Preferred card and Navy Federal More Rewards American Express card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.

All reviews are prepared by CreditCards.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the bank’s website for the most current information.

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