Navy Federal More Rewards American Express Card Review
This article was last updated Sep 16, 2019. Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
Navy Federal Credit Union gave cardholders something to be excited about in September 2019 with an upgrade to its Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card. The card now offers 3X points at supermarkets, gas and transit, 3X points at restaurants, and 1X point on everything else. Plus, the annual fee is $0.
“The combination of 3X points on groceries, dining and gas and transit makes this a pretty compelling card,” said Matt Schulz, chief industry analyst at CompareCards. “It also helps that the card has no annual fee and a lower-than-usual APR.”
So is this card right for you? Read on for a full breakdown.
In this article:
- Where the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card stands out
- Additional Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card benefits
- Where the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card falls short
- Compare it with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- The bottom line
Where the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card stands out
Generous rewards. Earn 3X points at supermarkets, gas and transit, 3X points at restaurants, and 1X point on everything else. The rate on dining is upgraded from what it used to be, and transit as a rewards category is new. Transit includes purchases at tolls, parking garages, ride-sharing apps, taxis, metro and more.
“For our members, getting to work often means a lot more than filling your gas tank,” said Justin Zeidman, manager of credit card products at Navy Federal Credit Union.
The card has a broad definition of dining as well, including delivery and Uber Eats orders, Zeidman said.
You can redeem points for cash, travel, gift cards and merchandise. Points are generally worth 1 cent each.
Low APR. The regular purchase APR is 11.40% - 18.00% variable. This is significantly lower than many other rewards cards. Plus, the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card has an introductory rate on purchases — 0.00% introductory APR for 12 months, then a 11.40% - 18.00% variable APR applies.
No foreign transaction fee. This card’s foreign transaction fee is none, so you don’t have to worry about racking up extra charges on each purchase if you use it outside the U.S.
Additional Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card benefits
This card has several perks, including:
- The ability to freeze and unfreeze your card.
- Access to your FICO score.
- Flight discounts.
- Up to 25% off car rentals, plus car rental loss and damage insurance.
- Roadside assistance.
- Entertainment access.
- Global Dining Program.
Where the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card falls short
This card isn’t available to everyone. You have to be a Navy Federal Credit Union member in order to apply. The credit union serves current and retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces, their families and household members, Department of Defense personnel and more.
But don’t write this card off just because of the membership requirement — it might be easier for you to qualify for Navy Federal membership than you think.
“We estimate 150 million people in the U.S. could qualify,” Zeidman said.
Compare it with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
If you’re looking for cash back rewards on grocery store purchases, fuel and transit, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a competitive choice. It charges a $0 introductory annual fee for one year, then $95 annual fee, but depending on how much you spend each year, the annual fee could be worth it for the generous rewards.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is on par with the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card when it comes to the rewards rates for fuel and transit. Where it pulls ahead is supermarket spending, where the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express rewards rate is twice as high as the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card.
Once you’ve spent about $1,584 in the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express’s 6% categories, you’ve recouped the amount of the annual fee in cash back. Anything after that is money in your pocket.
However, if you aren’t a big spender at the grocery store, you might prefer the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card. It offers a rewards rate on fuel and transit that’s just as good as the other card, and thanks to its $0 annual fee, you’re earning net cash back right from the start.
| Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 introductory annual fee for one year, then $95 |
| Regular purchase APR | 11.40% - 18.00% Variable | 13.99%-23.99% Variable |
| Rewards | 3X points at supermarkets, gas and transit, 3X points at restaurants, and 1X point on everything else | 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases. |
| Welcome Offer | N/A | $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None | 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. |
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please click here.
If it’s the dining rewards you’re after, you may also want to take a look at the Uber Visa Card. This card offers 5% back in Uber Cash on Uber rides, Uber Eats, and JUMP, 3% in Uber Cash on restaurants, bars, hotels, and airfare, and 1% back in Uber Cash on all other purchases. Even better — there’s a $0 annual fee.
The bottom line
For those who qualify for Navy Federal Credit Union membership, the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card is an attractive rewards card. It offers a generous rewards rate in several useful categories, as well as a range of options for redeeming points.
If you don’t qualify for membership with the credit union, don’t despair. It’s possible to find other cards which offer great rewards in the same categories as the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card — though you might not find all the categories represented on one card. For more options, check out our guide on the best rewards credit cards available.
