American Express military benefits could be quite the money-saver for military personnel. Thanks to the Servicemembers’ Civil Release Act (SCRA), American Express limits the rate of interest that may be assessed on eligible loans and credit products to no more than 6%. “Interest” for SCRA purposes includes fees such as annual membership fees, late fees, and returned payment fees.
This is largely an under-the-radar perk, but it can really benefit American Express cardholders, especially if you’re a service member who wants to enjoy the lucrative luxury perks that accompany a premium card such as the CardName, or the everyday practicality of the CardName discontinued. As an added bonus, spouses of military personnel are also eligible these benefits.
Before you start crunching numbers only related to your annual fee savings, know this: SCRA offers protections to active duty military personnel and their spouses when it comes to a number of financial situation and loan terms and those terms apply regardless of credit card issuer. Amex takes it a step further, however, with annual fee assistance. More on the SRCA below, but first, let’s look at some of the top Amex cards military personnel should consider in light of this perk.
American Express cards for military personnel
So, now that you know you can get your American Express rates limited, including your annual fee, as an active service member or spouse of a service member, what are the best American Express cards to check out? Here are some of our favorites:
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The CardName AnnualFees annual fee isn’t horrendous, but don’t think that means this card doesn’t come packed full of benefits. It offers 3X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com; 2X points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com; and 1X point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases, but perhaps its most lucrative offer right now (as well as on an everyday basis) is its opportunity to earn 4X points per $1 spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year), then 1X points; 4X points per $1 spent at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year) then 1X points. This means even if you’re not traveling much at the moment, you can still benefit big by having this card in your wallet. And when you are ready to travel, feel free to take this card abroad with you as it does not charge foreign transaction fees.
For a limited time, new cardholders can earn 60,000 points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. This is one of the largest bonus offers we’ve seen with this card, and the fact that you have six months to earn it versus the standard three, makes the card even more attractive. You can also earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with your card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys locations. This is an annual savings of up to $120. Plus, add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit. Cardholders can also enjoy a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property. Terms Apply. Enrollment required for select benefits.
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This is a premium card, and you get a lot with it including a generous rewards program if you’re a frequent flyer. The card offers a strong five-times the Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with the airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) as well as on prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com. You can also earn a 80,000-point bonus when you spend $8,000 on your card in the first six months.
The card offers many travel-related perks, including access to hundreds of airport lounges through the Global Lounge Collection, 24/7 access to a Platinum Club Concierge who can help with travel arrangements, and a credit to cover your Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® application fee (enrollment required). And, as you would expect with a card of this caliber, you won’t be charged foreign transaction fees when you use your card while abroad.
The Platinum Card® also gives you up to $200 a year in statement credit to cover airline-related charges like baggage fees and in-flight refreshments that you charge on your card, when you select one qualifying airline.
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The reward categories for the Blue Cash Preferred® make it an excellent card for your everyday spending: you earn 6% cash back on the first $6,000 spent annually at U.S. supermarkets, 6% on select U.S. streaming services, 3% back on purchases at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% back on your other purchases. By the way, most supermarkets these days sell a host of gift cards and, yes, you can earn 6% back when you buy gift cards at those supermarkets.
Since you, as a member of the military, are eligible for assistance with your fees, consider carrying both the Blue Cash Preferred® for your everyday spending AND the Platinum Card® or the Gold Card with which you earn maximum rewards on your travel and enjoy those luxury travel perks described above.
There’s really no reason not to carry two or more cards and those rewards you’ll be racking up will come in handy down the road.
How to request SCRA benefits from American Express
If you already have an American Express card, you can call American Express at 1-800-253-1720. Tell the representative that you’re an active duty military member and request SCRA protections for your account. Don’t be deterred if the customer service rep isn’t familiar with these benefits; just request to speak with a supervisor. You should also expect to answer a series of questions about your military service.
You can also contact American Express online. American Express allows you to log into your account and request SCRA benefits. Once you’ve made contact with American Express, you can also send a copy of documents with the account number to: American Express, Attn: Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, PO Box 981535, El Paso, TX 79998-1535. It’s a good idea to contact the company before sending your documents, so Amex is aware that you’re sending documentation its way.
Once American Express has your information, it will review your SCRA eligibility to confirm you are an active duty military member or the spouse of an active service member. American Express will examine the provided documents and check the Department of Defense Manpower Data Center. Be aware that, depending on how long the verification process takes, you may have to pay certain fees up-front before being reimbursed when your status is verified.
SCRA protection for active military members
Congress passed the Servicemembers Civil Rights Act (SCRA) in 2003, which expanded the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940. The SCRA protects the finances of military members (and their families) while they are on active duty. The provisions deal with rental agreements, security deposits, mortgage interest rates, health insurance, income tax payments, mortgage foreclosures, and yes, credit cards.
To be eligible, you must be a:
- A member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty or a reserve component called to active duty,
- National Guard personnel under a call or order to active duty for more than 30 days,
- A Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration commissioned officer,
- A U.S. citizen servicing with another nation, which is allied with the U.S. “in the prosecution of a war or military action,” or
- The spouse of an active duty service member.
The SCRA caps active military members’ interest rate at 6% for financial obligations incurred before military service. The servicemember must provide the creditor with a copy of his/her military orders and a written notice to take advantage of the interest rate cap, but that’s not a bad hoop to jump through for an interest rate cap that could literally save you hundreds of dollars if you happen to have some credit card debt you’re working to pay off.
The creditor must forgive interest greater than 6%. It can’t defer it to later and must also forgive the interest retroactively. Military members have until 180 days after their end of service to send the required documents to the creditor.
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