Bank of America Military Credit Card Fee Waivers MLA 2024

Bank of America may waive annual fees above $100 for military servicemembers and military spouses on Bank of America credit cards.

Starting in 2021, multiple data points suggest that the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card waives annual fees for MLA covered borrowers. Here is a letter with MLA CREDIT-ANNUAL FEE for $450 on a account statement from November 2021:

Interestingly, the fee waiver is only for $450, leaving a $100 annual fee on the normally $550 annual fee card.

Perhaps Bank of America considers a $100 annual fee meets the intent of the Military Lending Act? I'm not sure.

Other data points report that the full $550 annual fee was credited as “MLA CREDIT – ANNUAL FEE $550” for some MLA covered borrowers. I even have a data point with a military servicemember with 7 Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Cards, all with annual fee waivers.

A Bank of America Alaska Air Air Miles Visa, with a $75 annual fee, was not waived for a MLA covered borrower in January 2022.

Chase and American Express continue to waive annual fees for servicemembers and spouses on accounts opened while on active duty.

Bank of America MLA Response

I applied for both Military Lending Act MLA and Servicemembers Civil Relief Act SCRA benefits on my Bank of America Alaska Air Miles Visa credit card in 2020 and I was not successful for MLA and SCRA fees waivers. I believe Bank of America changed their MLA fee waiver policy in late 2021 for cards with over a $100 annual fee.

Here is the Bank of America SCRA denial letter in PDF format from the Military Benefits Unit. And here is the text:

Unfortunately, we're unable to approve your request for military benefits.
Here are the details
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature
Account number ending:

Unfortunately, we're unable to approve your request for military benefits because:
In order to qualify for benefits, an obligation or liability must be incurred by the servicemember or by an eligible dependent of the servicemember prior to an applicable period of military service.

How to Apply for Bank of America Military Benefits

Here is the email I sent to the Bank of America Military Benefits (SCRA and MLA) team: militarybenefits@bankofamerica.com

From: Spencer from Military Money Manual
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 20XX 8:45 PM
To: Military Benefits <militarybenefits@bankofamerica.com>
Subject: MLA Bank of America Credit Card

Hello

I recently received my Bank of America Alaska Air Mileage Plan credit card. I noticed it had a $75 annual fee. I am an active duty US servicemember and should be eligible for MLA benefits. Please see my attached certificate from the MLA database.

What is Bank of America's policy with regards to the Military Lending Act (MLA) and annual fees? 

Is it calculated into the 36% Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR)?

Thank you for your time,

Spencer

Here was BoA's response on how to submit the form:

We’re providing instructions for you to submit your Military Benefits Request Form.

What you need to do 1. Establish a secure communication by following the instructions provided in the attachment. 2. Download the Military Benefit Request Form. 3. Complete the Military Benefit Request Form by typing your responses into the PDF and saving the document to your computer. Do not submit handwritten responses. 4. Attach the completed Military Benefit Request Form to your secure email and send it to the Military Benefits Team. What happens after you submit your benefit request? We’ll use the information you provide on this form to verify your eligibility for military benefits, including contacting the Department of Defense’s Manpower Data Center (DMDC). If we’re unable to confirm your military service through the DMDC, we may contact you to provide additional qualifying military documentation. Please allow up to 30 days for a response to your request. We thank you for your service and appreciate your business. We want to help with all of your financial needs while you’re supporting and protecting our country. You can find additional resources, including financial education and information about how we support those who serve our country, at bankofamerica.com/military. If you have any questions, please send them to militarybenefits@bankofamerica.com.

If you have had any luck getting Bank of America to waive your annual fees on your credit cards as a military servicemember, please let us know how you did it in the comments. Thanks!