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Fortune
Fortune
Trina Paul

Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card: credit union members can score more points on dining out and gas with this $0 annual fee card

Photo of the Navy Federal CU Go Rewards credit card over a blue background with orange abstract shapes. (Credit: Photo illustration by Fortune; Original photo by Navy Federal Credit Union)

Why we like this card: If you’re a Navy Federal Credit Union member, you could be eligible for the Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card, a no-annual-fee card with solid rewards on dining out and gas.

Pros

  • Decent rewards on restaurant and gas spending
  • No annual or foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • Must be a Navy Federal Credit Union member to qualify
  • Small sign-up bonus

Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card: Overview

APR

  • Intro: 1.99% intro APR for 9 months from account opening on purchases (then a variable APR between 14.24%–18.00%)
  • Purchase: 14.24%–18.00% variable
  • Balance transfer: 14.24%–18.00% variable
  • Cash advance: 2% above your variable APR
  • Penalty: 18.00% (and up to $20 for late and returned payments)

Annual fee: $0

Foreign transaction fee: None

With the Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card, cardholders earn higher reward rates at restaurants and gas stations without paying annual or foreign transaction fees. 

Though this card offers decent rewards, there aren’t many additional perks: Cardholders receive Collision Damage Waiver coverage, and instead of a 0% intro APR period, they’ll get a 1.99% intro APR for 9 months from account opening on purchases (then a variable APR between 14.24%–18.00%). 

If you think this card could be a good fit, note that only some are, as you must be a Navy Federal Credit Union member to qualify. Credit union membership is restricted to current and retired members of the armed forces, Department of Defense employees, and service members' families. If you do sign up, you must open a Membership Savings Account and keep a $5 minimum balance to maintain your membership, so even though you’re not paying an annual fee, you’ll have to deposit some money to keep your membership. 

Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card: Points

This card has an easy-to-understand rewards structure. Cardholders get 3x points on restaurant purchases, 2x points on gas, and 1x points on all other purchases, with no cap on how many points they can accrue.

Does Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card offer a new customer bonus?

Cardholders can earn 10,000 bonus points after you spend $500 in eligible purchases on the card within your first 90 days of account opening. Since one point is worth one cent, the bonus is worth $100. 

How to redeem Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card Points

Though this is a cashback card, cardholders can also redeem their rewards to purchase travel or other goods. If they opt to earn cashback rewards, there are three redemption methods they can choose.

Get cash back 

You can get cashback credited to your savings account, receive a statement credit, or use your points to pay for transactions already posted to your account. If you opt for the Pay With Points method, you can only cover up to three transactions worth at least $50 in total.

Buy gift cards, book travel, and purchase merchandise

You can redeem points through the mobile app. There, you can purchase gift cards and merchandise or spend rewards on hotel stays, car rentals, flights, and more.

Additional benefits

  • Collision Damage Waiver. When you rent a car for 15 days or less and pay with your card, you receive coverage in the event of damage to the car, theft, and more. 
  • Free credit score. You can see your FICO score for free through the credit union’s mobile app.

Is the Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card right for you?

The GO REWARDS® Credit Card is best for cardholders who are Navy Federal Credit Union members (or who can become members) and want to cash in on their eating-out habit and gas bills.

Credit cards similar to Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card

If you don’t qualify for Navy Federal Credit Union membership but still want to earn additional rewards on dining out and gas, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card could be a solid option as there are no eligibility requirements. 

U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature® Card vs. Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card

Like the Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card has a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. 

However, with the U.S. Bank Altitude Go card, cardholders can earn a larger welcome bonus and more generous rewards.

  • 4x points per dollar on dining (including takeout and food delivery)
  • 2x points per dollar on grocery stores, gas stations and streaming service purchases
  • 1x point per dollar on all other purchases

For the sign-up bonus, you’ll earn 20,000 points when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of card membership. 

You’ll also get a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 billing cycles (after that, the variable APR will be 18.24%–29.24%), which could come in handy if you want to transfer your balance to lower your APR or don’t want to accrue interest on your balance during the first year. 

Frequently asked questions

What credit score is needed for the Navy Federal GO REWARDS card?

Typically, you’ll need at least a good credit score—or a FICO score of 670 or higher—to qualify for the Navy Federal GO REWARDS® card.

Is Navy Federal GO REWARDS® a visa?

Yes, the Navy Federal GO REWARDS® card is a Visa Signature card, which means you’ll get access to certain Visa benefits like a collision damage waiver, Visa Signature concierge service, and more.


Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

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