Best Credit Union Credit Cards
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Credit unions are member-owned cooperatives whose mission is to help the communities they serve succeed financially. Profits that a bank might distribute to its shareholders or owners are instead returned to members in the form of better interest rates and fees. As a result, some credit unions offer better credit cards than you might find at a bank, depending on what you're looking for.
To get a credit card from a credit union, you must be a member. You can usually qualify based on where you live, work or worship, or if you have a qualifying relative. If you don't meet the standard eligibility requirements, some credit unions allow you to join by donating to a partner organization.
Credit unions are member-owned cooperatives whose mission is to help the communities they serve succeed financially. Profits that a bank might distribute to its shareholders or owners are instead returned to members in the form of better interest rates and fees. As a result, some credit unions offer better credit cards than you might find at a bank, depending on what you're looking for.
To get a credit card from a credit union, you must be a member. You can usually qualify based on where you live, work or worship, or if you have a qualifying relative. If you don't meet the standard eligibility requirements, some credit unions allow you to join by donating to a partner organization.
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Best Credit Union Credit Cards
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card Apply now on Pentagon Federal Credit Union's website | Best for Travel | $95 | 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 90 days after account opening. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non- | 17.99% Variable APR | Apply now on Pentagon Federal Credit Union's website |
DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card | Best for Bad credit | $0 | N/A | 15.25% Variable | Read review |
PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card Apply now on Pentagon Federal Credit Union's website | Best for Cash back with no annual cost | $0 | 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 90 days after account opening. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non- | 17.99% Variable APR | Apply now on Pentagon Federal Credit Union's website |
Navy Federal Credit Union® More Rewards American Express® Credit Card | Best for Everyday purchases | $0 | 1.99% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then 13.40%- | 13.40%- | Read review |
Navy Federal Credit Union® Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Credit Card | Best for Travel with current or former military status | $49 | 1.99% intro APR on purchases for 9 months, then 13.74%- | 13.74%- | Read review |
Our pick for
Travel
on Pentagon Federal Credit Union's website
on Pentagon Federal Credit Union's website
$95
0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 90 days after account opening. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%.
17.99% Variable APR
The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card offers premium travel perks without the added cost. With its generous rewards rate, you can also rack up points toward your next vacation.
The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card offers premium travel perks without the added cost. With its generous rewards rate, you can also rack up points toward your next vacation.
Pros
This credit card's travel perks and features can help put your travel goals into action. Cardholders earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases and 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. If you’re part of the PenFed Honors Advantage program, you get a slightly higher rate of 4 points per $1 spent on travel-related purchases. The card's rich welcome offer can defray some of your travel costs. You can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in purchase transactions within the first 90 days of account opening. And its two noteworthy perks — a $100 annual air travel credit and a statement credit to cover the application fee for TSA Precheck or Global Entry programs — can provide ongoing value.
Cons
You must be a PenFed credit union member to qualify for this credit card. Everyone is eligible to join, but it will require a few extra steps such as submitting an application and opening a PenFed savings account with a $5 deposit.
Earn more everywhere you go!
50,000 Bonus Points when you spend $3000 in the first 90 days
Up to $799 total Travel value
4X Points on all Travel categories for PenFed Honors Advantage Members
3X Points on all Travel categories
1.5X Points on all other purchases
0% Balance Transfers Promo APR for 12 months, 3% fee applies to each transaction. Subject to credit approval. 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 90 days after account opening. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. A 3% balance transfer fee applies to each transfer. This transaction is subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
Annual Fee: $95 (waived for existing PenFed Honors Advantage Members)
Purchase Variable APR: 17.99%
Refer to PenFed.org for Terms/Conditions
Our pick for
Bad credit
$0
N/A
15.25% Variable
The DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card is an excellent credit-building tool. It reports to all three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, companies that gather the information used to calculate your credit scores). It also offers the chance to upgrade to a regular Digital Federal Credit Union credit card if you keep up a good payment history.
The DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card is an excellent credit-building tool. It reports to all three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, companies that gather the information used to calculate your credit scores). It also offers the chance to upgrade to a regular Digital Federal Credit Union credit card if you keep up a good payment history.
Pros
There's no limit on how much you can deposit, and, therefore, no limit on your credit line. With a good payment history, you can eventually get that deposit back and possibly upgrade to a regular DCU credit card within a year. Your payment history — a key component in your credit scores — will be reported to the bureaus that compile credit reports.
Cons
Though there's no maximum deposit, there's a very high minimum of $500 — much higher than what other secured cards require. Plus, you’ll have to qualify for membership at Digital Federal Credit Union. You can get that deposit back eventually, but you’ll have to part with it for at least a year.
Embedded EMV chip - this tiny chip protects your information in a big way.
Mobile Wallet Compatible - works with Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, and Samsung® Pay.
Optional overdraft protection - We’ll transfer the balance of any overdrafts from your DCU checking account to your DCU Visa Platinum account up to your available limit.
Our pick for
Cash back with no annual cost
on Pentagon Federal Credit Union's website
on Pentagon Federal Credit Union's website
$0
0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 90 days after account opening. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%.
17.99% Variable APR
This card's ongoing rewards make it a valuable pick for PenFed members, especially if you can qualify for the 2% rate, which puts it among the best in class.
This card's ongoing rewards make it a valuable pick for PenFed members, especially if you can qualify for the 2% rate, which puts it among the best in class.
Pros
The PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card holds a lot of value for a $0-annual-fee card. It offers an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. (If your checking account or military status qualifies you for the Honors Advantage program, that rate rises to 2%.) There's also a solid bonus for new cardholders.
Cons
Membership is required to qualify for the PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card. Even though it’s easy to join, it still requires a few extra steps. You’ll have to submit an application and make a $5 deposit into a PenFed savings account to join.
Earn Cash Back for Everyday Purchases.
No Caps. No Limits. No Gimmicks.
2% Cash Back on all purchases for PenFed Honors Advantage Members.
1.5% Cash Back on all purchases made with your card.
$100 Bonus Offer Statement Credit When you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days.
0% Balance Transfers Promo APR for 12 months, 3% fee applies to each transaction. Subject to credit approval. 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 90 days after account opening. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. A 3% balance transfer fee applies to each transfer. This transaction is subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
Annual Fee: $0.
Purchase Variable APR: 17.99%
Refer to PenFed.org for Terms/Conditions
Our pick for
Everyday purchases
$0
1.99% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then 13.40%-18.00%, Variable
13.40%-18.00% Variable APR
It's rare to find cards that earn such elevated rewards across so many popular spending categories, and rarer still to encounter no caps on those higher rates.
It's rare to find cards that earn such elevated rewards across so many popular spending categories, and rarer still to encounter no caps on those higher rates.
Pros
The Navy Federal Credit Union® More Rewards American Express® Credit Card offers rich and unlimited bonus rewards across multiple everyday categories like groceries, gas, dining and transit. (All other purchases earn 1 point per $1 spent.) There's also a rich welcome offer.
Cons
You’ll have to be a Navy Federal Credit Union member to qualify for this card. Membership is limited to current or former members of the military, Department of Defense employees, or their qualifying family members. And since it's an AmEx, you may encounter limited global acceptance abroad.
3X points at restaurants and on food delivery
3X points at supermarkets
3X points on gas and transit
1X points on everything else
No annual fee
Put those points to good use and redeem them for cash, travel, gift cards and merchandise without expiration while your account is open.
Our pick for
Travel with current or former military status
$49
1.99% intro APR on purchases for 9 months, then 13.74%-18.00%, Variable
13.74%-18.00%, Variable
You'll get generous ongoing rewards, as well as some perks that are usually found on higher-annual-fee cards, all of which can easily outweigh the annual fee.
You'll get generous ongoing rewards, as well as some perks that are usually found on higher-annual-fee cards, all of which can easily outweigh the annual fee.
Pros
The $49-annual-fee Navy Federal Credit Union® Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Credit Card earns 3 points per $1 spent on travel and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases. That base rewards rate helps you pile up points even when you're not traveling. There's also a statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fees.
Cons
Credit union membership is required and is limited to military or Department of Defense employees and qualifying family members. And the $49 annual fee may be unappealing.
Get a Flagship credit card, and you could earn 30,000 bonus points (a $300 value) when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of opening your account and a free year of Amazon Prime® (a $139 value)—on us. Expires on Feb. 28, 2023.
3X points on travel
2X points on everything else
Receive statement credits (up to $100) for Global Entry or TSA Preè
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CREDIT UNION CREDIT CARDS
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
» FOR ELEVATED CASH BACK
» FOR GENERAL-PURPOSE TRAVEL REWARDS
» FOR BALANCE TRANSFERS
» FOR BAD CREDIT
» FOR CASH BACK WITH NO ANNUAL COST
» FOR EVERYDAY PURCHASES
» FOR TRAVEL WITH CURRENT OR FORMER MILITARY STATUS
Last updated on January 26, 2023
