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The Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card has no annual fee and earns a decent rewards rate on gas purchases and dining out. This card's primary selling points are the lower APR on purchases and no balance transfer fees.
Business Insider's personal finance team compared the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card to the best cash-back credit cards and found it in need of improvement because the card isn't readily available to most applicants, and the rewards are mediocre at best with limited redemption opportunities.
Our review evaluates all of these points and more to help you decide if this is the right credit card for you.
Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card On Navy Federal Credit Union's website Insider’s Rating A five pointed starA five pointed star
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Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection. Perks Earn 3X points at restaurants. Earn 2X points on gas. Earn 1X points on everything else. Annual Fee Intro APRAfter that, a variable standard rate between 15.24% - 18.00% applies. Offer valid for accounts applied by 01/01/2025.
0.99% intro APR on purchases for six months Regular APR 15.24% - 18.00% Variable Intro Offer Recommended Credit Average to ExcellentTo qualify for this card, you must be a member of the Navy Federal Credit Union. Active-duty members, National Guard members, Department of Defense (DOD) officers or reservists, retirees, veterans, and their family members are all eligible for this credit union.
Navy Federal Credit Union members who want to earn more rewards at restaurants and gas stations without having to pay an annual fee or deal with foreign transaction fees when traveling abroad may want to get the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card. There are better cards for people with good credit, but even people with average or fair credit can take advantage of this card's rewards program.
The no-annual-fee Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card currently does not offer a welcome bonus, but cardholders can earn 3x points at restaurants, 2x points on gas, and 1x point on everything else.
This card's APR range is 15.24% - 18.00% Variable, which is lower than average, is an interesting perk. This range applies to both purchases and debt transfers. While only applicants with great credit are likely to be eligible for the lower end of this interest rate range, we always suggest that cardholders avoid carrying a balance on any credit card because high interest cancels out any benefits from rewards.
Some of the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card's benefits, such as secondary accident damage waiver coverage for qualified rental cars and cell phone protection, aren't often found on cards with no annual fee. Furthermore, depending on which variation of the card you are approved for, you will enjoy Visa or Mastercard benefits.
The Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card is a decent card overall, and we recommend it for people who are members of the Navy Federal Credit Union and possess excellent credit. Even though it could be more interesting, it's still a card that people who might not be able to get a better offer should think about.
The Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card does not offer a welcome bonus.
This card is great for earning points on dining, gas, and more. The Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card earns rewards with no spending caps in the following categories:
While the earning rates on dining and gas purchases are not groundbreaking by any means, some gas stations sell third-party gift cards, which means you can earn 2x points on various purchases beyond gas.
However, most of the best credit cards offer similar or better rewards on everyday spending. The best credit cards for dining and restaurants and the best credit cards for gas typically offer the same or more value per dollar spent on these categories.
Navy Federal GO Rewards points are worth 1 cent apiece, which means 100 Navy Federal GO Rewards points are worth $1. The value of Navy Federal GO Rewards points is the same regardless of how they are redeemed.
Navy Federal Go Rewards cardholders can use their points, which are worth 1 cent each, in several different ways:
Unlike issuers that offer transferable rewards such as American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, Navy Federal Rewards points can only be redeemed for the above-mentioned options, and cannot be transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs.
While the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card doesn't offer many robust perks and benefits, some notable features merit a mention.
The Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card occasionally offers an intro APR of 0.99% intro APR on purchases for six months. Beyond that, the card offers one of the lowest purchase variable APR rates on the credit card market: 15.24% - 18.00% Variable.
If you pay your monthly cellphone bill using the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card, you can submit an insurance claim to receive up to $600 in coverage per claim ($1,000 total per year) if your phone is stolen or destroyed. While many premium credit cards offer cellphone protection, few offer this benefit without an annual fee.
When you pay for your car rental with the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card and decline the rental agency's collision loss/damage insurance, you may be insured for damage or theft on your eligible rental.
This coverage is in addition to any personal auto insurance you may have in the United States. If you don't have any other coverage, you'll have primary insurance protection from your Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card.
One important factor that makes the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card appealing is the absence of pesky fees, which are common on many other credit cards.
Most credit cards impose fees for balance transfers and cash advances; the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card does not, although you'll only enjoy fee-free cash advances from a Navy Federal branch or an ATM. Even if you don't, it's only $0.50 in the United States and $1 internationally — significantly lower than elsewhere.
Furthermore, there are no foreign transaction fees for Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card, in addition to the card's lack of annual fee. Even the card's $20 fee for late and returned payments is reasonable, compared to fees which can range up to $39 from most competitors.
This card is best compared against other options from the same credit union, as well as the best no-annual-fee credit cards from other issuers.
The Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card, Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card and Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card are all no-annual-fee cards, but the welcome bonus and reward structure on each card varies.
The Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card doesn't offer a welcome bonus, whereas the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card offers 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). The Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card also comes with one: 30,000 bonus points (a $300 value) 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 for between 07/01/2024 and 01/01/2025).
The Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card and Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card both earn points that can be redeemed for cash, travel, gift cards and more. In comparison, the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card earns cash back — a better option if you're looking for a card with straightforward earning structure.
Each of these three cards earns bonus points for different categories and at different rates. For example, the Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card earns 3 points per dollar across its bonus categories, including restaurants, food delivery, groceries, gas and transit — significantly more bonus point categories than the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card.
If you don't want the hassle of dealing with multiple bonus point categories, go with the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card. If deciding between the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card and Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card, choose the card with the bonus categories that best align with your spending habits.
If you're considering the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card, you should also check out some of the other popular no-annual-fee rewards cards, as they might be a better fit.
For example, the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card doesn't offer a welcome bonus. But no-annual-fee cards like the Citi® Double Cash Card
and Chase Freedom Unlimited®cards do.
With the Citi® Double Cash Card, new cardholders can earn $200 cash back, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. New Chase Freedom Unlimited® cardholders can earn additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
The card with the "best" bonus reward rates will depend on your spending habits. While the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card earns bonus points on restaurant and gas spending, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns bonus points on travel (purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards), dining, and drugstore purchases. If you spend a lot on travel, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® would make more sense than the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card.
The Citi® Double Cash Card has the simplest earning structure: Cardholders earn 1 point (1% back) per dollar on purchases, plus 1 point per dollar (1% back) when paying their bill. If you don't want to worry about bonus categories, this card would be a solid choice.
How do I earn points with the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants, 2x on gas, and 1x on everything else.
What can I redeem my GO REWARDS points for? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, merchandise, and more, offering flexibility to fit various preferences and needs.
Is there an annual fee for the GO REWARDS card? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
The Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card does not have an annual fee, making it a cost-effective option for earning rewards on daily expenses.
How does the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card compare to other rewards cards? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
The Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card offers decent rewards for restaurants and gas purchases. However, GO REWARDS points are not as flexible or valuable as those earned from many of the best credit cards on the market.
Who is eligible to apply for the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Only members of the Navy Federal Credit Union are eligible for this card. To become a Navy Federal Credit Union member, you must be a current or retired member of the armed forces, work as a civilian for the Department of Defense, or be a direct family member of an eligible member. For more details on member eligibility, click here.
What credit score do you need for the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
There are reports that a "fair" credit score — which is commonly defined as a FICO score of 580 to 669 — is required for approval of the Navy Federal Credit Union GO REWARDS® Credit Card. However, a credit score of 690 or higher will increase your odds of approval.
Do Navy Federal GO REWARDS expire? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Your rewards do not expire as long as your account is active.