Best Credit Union Credit Cards
Updated: Nov 18, 2024
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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.
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400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
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Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards.
Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today,
The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America"
and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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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.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet's Best Credit Union Credit Cards
PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card: Best for Travel
DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card: Best for Bad credit
PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card: Best for Cash back with no annual cost
Navy Federal Credit Union® More Rewards American Express® Credit Card: Best for Everyday purchases
Navy Federal Credit Union® Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Credit Card: Best for Travel with current or former military status
Show SummaryHide Summary
Best Credit Union Credit Cards
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card | Best for Travel | $95 | 1.5x-4x | 50,000 points | |
 DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card | Best for Bad credit | $0 | N/A | N/A | |
 PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card | Best for Cash back with no annual cost | $0 | 1.5%-2% | $100 | |
 Navy Federal Credit Union® More Rewards American Express® Credit Card | Best for Everyday purchases | $0 | 1x-3x | 30,000 points | |
 Navy Federal Credit Union® Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Credit Card | Best for Travel with current or former military status | $49 | 2x-3x | 40,000 points |
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.
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.
Travel
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.
Our Take
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.
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.
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.
Bad credit
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.
Product Details
- Could help with building or rebuilding your credit – with responsible use.
- No annual, balance transfer, foreign transaction, or cash advance fees
- Fraud notifications and the ability to freeze/unfreeze your credit card
- Great Visa benefits on travel, live music, and more.
Our Take
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.
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.
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.
Cash back with no annual cost
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.
Product Details
- 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 Take
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.
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.
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.
Everyday purchases
Travel with current or former military status
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
The Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card is designed for big spenders, although perhaps not the biggest spenders. It offers the highest ongoing rewards rate of any flat-rate cash-back card, but it limits the amount of spending that earns rewards. (That limit is high, but it's still a limit.) If you're expecting to put more than $2,500 a month on a credit card, this is an excellent one to put it on. Read our review.
» FOR GENERAL-PURPOSE TRAVEL REWARDS
With premium perks for a $95 annual fee (which can be waived in some cases), jet-setters will get a lot of value from the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card. It also offers a generous rewards rate on travel purchases and a decent flat rate on everything else. Plus, you’ll get travel credits and a Priority Pass membership that offers airport lounge access for $32 per visit. Read our review.
» FOR BALANCE TRANSFERS
With debt, the Aspire Platinum Rewards Mastercard® is a decent match to pay off a balance over a short term. It offers a $0 annual fee, a 0% intro APR period and a low balance transfer fee. Terms apply. Membership at Aspire Federal Credit Union is required to be eligible for this card. It's easy to join with a few extra steps. Read our review.
» FOR BAD CREDIT
With low fees and interest, the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card has the ideal features to help you build credit. You'll have to clear a few hurdles to qualify for this second-chance credit card. To be eligible, you must be a member of Digital Federal Credit Union and pay a steep security deposit requirement. Read our review.
» FOR CASH BACK WITH NO ANNUAL COST
The PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases, the gold standard among flat-rate credit cards. Some PenFed members may qualify for more rewards. Honors Advantage program members get an additional 0.5% back, bringing their cash-back earnings rate up to 2%. Read our review.
» FOR EVERYDAY PURCHASES
It's easy to rack up rewards on everyday purchases with the Navy Federal Credit Union® More Rewards American Express® Credit Card. It offers 3 points per dollar spent on groceries, gas, dining and transit. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar spent. You’ll have to be a Navy Federal Credit Union member to qualify. Membership is typically limited to current or former members of the military, Department of Defense employees, or their qualifying family members. Read our review.
» FOR TRAVEL WITH CURRENT OR FORMER MILITARY STATUS
The Navy Federal Credit Union® Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Credit Card can take your travel goals further with perks typically found on cards with higher annual fees. For a $49 annual fee, you earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel and 2 points per dollar spent on everything else. You’ll have to be a Navy Federal Credit Union member to qualify. Membership is typically limited to current or former members of the military, Department of Defense employees, or their qualifying family members. Read our review.
Last updated on November 18, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
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