Navy Federal Flagship Rewards Credit Card Review 2024
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For just $49 per year, the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card offers competitive perks you typically find from more expensive rewards credit cards on the market. In fact, as the credit union's top card, it features benefits like a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit, 3x points on travel, and travel insurance coverage.
To qualify for the members-only Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card, you must be a service member from any branch of the US armed forces, a retiree, a veteran, or a qualifying family member, among others who are eligible for the credit union.
Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card Apply now lock icon An icon in the shape of lock. On Navy Federal Credit Union's website Rates & Fees
Insider’s Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection. PerksAnnual Fee$49
Intro APRN/A
Regular APR16.49% - 18.00% Variable
Intro Offer Info icon 40,000 bonus points (a $400 value) when you spend $3,500 within the first 90 days of account opening plus a free year of Amazon Prime (a $139 value) (offer valid for accounts applied by 01/01/2025)Earn 40,000 bonus points plus one year of Amazon Prime
Recommended CreditVery Good to Excellent
Pros- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Good earning rate on travel (3x) and other purchases (2x)
- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Decent welcome bonus offer which includes a free year of Amazon Prime
- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Travel benefits including car rental insurance and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Must be a member of Navy Federal Credit Union to qualify
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Annual fee
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Some other comparable travel cards have more benefits
For just $49 per year, the Navy Federal Credit Union® Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Credit Card offers competitive perks you typically find from more expensive rewards credit cards on the market. In fact, as the credit union's top card, it features benefits like a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit, 3x points on travel, and travel insurance coverage.
Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card Product Details- Earn 40,000 bonus points (a $400 value) when you spend $3,500 within the first 90 days of account opening plus a free year of Amazon Prime (a $139 value) (Valid for offers applied for between 07/01/2024 and 01/01/2025).
- Earn 3x points for every $1 you spend on travel.
- Earn 2x points on everything else.
- No balance transfer fees, no foreign transaction fees, no cash advance fees.
- Receive statement credits (up to $100) for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® (see terms: https://www.navyfederal.org/loans-cards/credit-cards/flagship-visa-signature.html#CC13)
- No rewards limit or expiration while the account is open.
- Enjoy free Amazon Prime® for a year.
Navy Federal Flagship Rewards Credit Card Review
In a sea of travel credit cards, the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card is a standout product for its affordability and value. You'll be hard-pressed to find a rewards credit card that comes with the same level of perks with its reasonable $49 annual fee – but that's if you're eligible to join the credit union.
If you are indeed a Navy Federal Credit Union member, the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card is the top-tier offering. While you'll need good to excellent credit to qualify, it's doubly great as a travel and everyday card, with good returns on all your card purchases, no foreign transaction fees, and some of the industry's lowest credit card interest rates to boot.
The Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card can really start to pay for itself once you maximize the benefits, which we'll delve into below. And that's before you consider the welcome offer for new applicants: a solid 40,000 bonus points when you spend $3,500 within the first 90 days of account opening plus a free year of Amazon Prime, a $139 value (offer valid for accounts applied by 01/01/2025).
For those who aren't eligible to join the Navy Federal Credit Union, other comparable options to consider include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Both offer a range of similar travel benefits that can easily exceed the value of their modest annual fees.
Navy Federal Flagship Rewards
How to Earn Rewards
The Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card's rewards rate is easy to remember: 3x points on travel and 2x points on all other purchases. There's also no limit to the number of points earned, and your rewards don't expire if you keep your account open.
The travel category is broad, including airlines, hotels, vacation rentals, taxis, rideshares, parking, public transit, amusement parks, museums, or virtually any other purchase that codes as "travel" on your statement credit. For all other expenses, you'll still earn 2x bonus points per dollar spent.
To illustrate, let's say that you spend $5,000 on combined travel purchases per year. That could include an annual family vacation as well as miscellaneous, day-to-day travel expenses. Additionally, if we assume you spend $20,000 on the card for all other purchases, that amounts to 55,000 points earned in one year.
We'll explain how to use your hard-earned rewards in the next section, but each point is worth 1 cent. Therefore, the points from the example above are worth $550 toward travel — so you can only start to imagine how your rewards stack the more you spend on the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card.
How to Use Rewards
You can use the rewards earned from the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card in a variety of ways, from travel, cash back, gift certificates, and more. No matter how you redeem them, your points are worth 1 cent each.
When you're ready to use your points, you can find your rewards balance through your online banking account on navyfederal.org or through the Navy Federal mobile app. For some redemption options, such as hotels, cruises, or vacation packages, you may need to call the Navy Federal Visa Signature Flagship Rewards Service Center to get further assistance.
Another unique way to use your rewards is by redeeming 4,900 points (worth $49) to receive a statement credit as a refund for the annual fee. This can be a great loophole to carry the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card for a minimal cost.
Note: Active-duty servicemembers can qualify for a special offer on the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card that waives the annual fee for the first four years (then $49 per year). In addition, this offer includes 5x rewards earning at military exchanges for four years after account opening.
Navy Federal Credit Union Flagship Card Benefits and Features
As the name suggests, the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card enjoys benefits from the Visa Signature network, in addition to the in-house benefits on the card.
Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
If you apply to either trusted traveler program, you'll receive up to a $100 statement credit when you charge the application fee to your card. Both Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are good for five years, and you'll enjoy this recurring benefit every four years, which covers the cost when it's time to renew.
Worldwide travel accident insurance
You and your eligible dependents are automatically covered in the event of a bodily injury or loss on a covered trip. To qualify, simply charge the cost of your entire flight (or another common carrier fare) to the card. This is an essential traveler's benefit for families, and coverage kicks in for one year from the date of the accident.
Secondary car rental insurance
When you rent a car for 15 days or less with your Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card, you'll receive automatic car rental insurance that can cover physical damage and theft. The coverage is secondary to any other insurance that you may have on hand.
Travel and emergency assistance
If you experience an emergency while abroad, you can call the travel and emergency assistance hotline at any time. They can help provide referral services and prescription assistance, among other services (any third-party costs are the cardholder's responsibility).
Purchase protection
You can file a claim with the Visa Signature network to refund you if an eligible item you bought with the card is stolen or damaged. The covered item must be within the first 90 days from the date of purchase.
Lost luggage reimbursement
Finally, if the airline or other common carrier loses your luggage, the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card can reimburse you up to $3,000 per covered trip, which can help you make up for the value of the lost items in the bag.
Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card Apply now lock icon An icon in the shape of lock. On Navy Federal Credit Union's website Rates & Fees Insider’s Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection. PerksAnnual Fee$49
Intro APRN/A
Regular APR16.49% - 18.00% Variable
Intro Offer Info icon 40,000 bonus points (a $400 value) when you spend $3,500 within the first 90 days of account opening plus a free year of Amazon Prime (a $139 value) (offer valid for accounts applied by 01/01/2025)Earn 40,000 bonus points plus one year of Amazon Prime
Recommended CreditVery Good to Excellent
Pros- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Good earning rate on travel (3x) and other purchases (2x)
- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Decent welcome bonus offer which includes a free year of Amazon Prime
- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Travel benefits including car rental insurance and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Must be a member of Navy Federal Credit Union to qualify
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Annual fee
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Some other comparable travel cards have more benefits
For just $49 per year, the Navy Federal Credit Union® Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Credit Card offers competitive perks you typically find from more expensive rewards credit cards on the market. In fact, as the credit union's top card, it features benefits like a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit, 3x points on travel, and travel insurance coverage.
Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card Product Details- Earn 40,000 bonus points (a $400 value) when you spend $3,500 within the first 90 days of account opening plus a free year of Amazon Prime (a $139 value) (Valid for offers applied for between 07/01/2024 and 01/01/2025).
- Earn 3x points for every $1 you spend on travel.
- Earn 2x points on everything else.
- No balance transfer fees, no foreign transaction fees, no cash advance fees.
- Receive statement credits (up to $100) for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® (see terms: https://www.navyfederal.org/loans-cards/credit-cards/flagship-visa-signature.html#CC13)
- No rewards limit or expiration while the account is open.
- Enjoy free Amazon Prime® for a year.
Navy Visa Signature Flagship Visa Card Fees and Costs
While not completely fee-free, the $49 annual fee is relatively low when you take a look at what the card has to offer.
Oftentimes, rewards credit cards charge high interest rates, dinging you if you're conducting a balance transfer or taking out cash from an ATM. That's not the case with the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card, which has a 16.49% - 18.00% Variable APR, making it one of the most consumer-friendly cards available.
Navy Federal Flagship Rewards Card Comparison
Navy Federal Credit Union Flagship Rewards Card vs. Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card
The Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card is another option from Navy Federal, with a $0 annual fee and a welcome bonus of $300 cash back when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of account opening plus a one-time $98 statement credit when you pay $49 or more for an annual Walmart+ membership (offer valid for accounts applied by 10/09/2024). Unlike the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card, this card earns cash back: 1.75% back on all purchases if you have direct deposit at Navy Federal Credit Union, or 1.5% back on all purchases if you don't have direct deposit. If you don't anticipate using rewards for anything other than cash back, this no-annual-fee card may be a better option.
Read our Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card review
Navy Federal Credit Union Flagship Rewards Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card has a lower annual fee than the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which charges $95 per year. The two cards have different earning structures, but the biggest difference when it comes to rewards is your options for redeeming them. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can transfer points to a variety of airline and hotel partners, and depending on what you book you can get several cents per point in value. With the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card, you'll always get just 1 cent per point in value, no matter how you redeem.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review
Navy Federal Flagship Rewards Card Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Navy Federal Flagship Rewards card? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.To be eligible for membership with the Navy Federal Credit Union, you must be an active-duty servicemember, retiree or veteran, Department of Defense, National Guard, or have an immediate family member who already has a standing membership. You can apply through the Navy Federal Credit Union's website in 10 minutes.
What credit score do you need for the Navy Federal Flagship card? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Prospective applicants will need a good to excellent credit score (a FICO score of 670 or higher) to maximize their chances of approval. You can also take advantage of the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Travel Rewards Credit Card's prequalification tool to see if you prequalify – which won't impact your credit score.
What is Navy Federal's Flagship credit card spending limit? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.The standard daily transaction limit for purchases is $5,000. The daily cash limit is $1,000, including cash at an ATM, manual cash at a branch, or as cash back with a purchase at participating merchants.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Navy Federal Flagship Rewards Card
We follow the same credit card rating methodology for every card we evaluate. We assign a numerical score to the card in a handful of different categories, including welcome bonus, annual fee, rewards, and other benefits. The numerical score represents how the card compares to similar cards, meaning cards with a similar annual fee and rewards structure. We then average these numerical scores together to come up with a final rating for the card out of 5.
Juan Ruiz Juan has been writing and editing stories involving credit cards, loyalty programs, travel, and personal finance for more than 10 years. In addition to contributing to a number of outlets including The Points Guy, Forbes, and CNN Underscored, Juan was recently the editor-in-chief at Money Under 30, where he led a team of personal finance journalists. You can follow Juan on Instagram and Twitter @doubledutydaddy Read more Read less 
Angela Fung Marketing Compliance Manager Angela Fung is the Compliance Manager for Business Insider's Personal Finance division, overseeing a team that ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers are always getting up-to-date and objective financial advice.The compliance team's mission is to maintain reader trust by confirming stories are fact-checked and current so that readers can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by maintaining clear, precise language that is compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team. Read more Read less Top Offers From Our Partners 
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