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Chase waives all annual fees on their personal credit cards for active duty military servicemembers and spouses.
The Chase military discount includes the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Learn how to apply on our partner's secure site
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x points on dining (includes takeout, delivery, and dine-in), select streaming services and online groceries
- 2x on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠ . Example- 60,000 points would be worth $750 toward travel.
- No foreign transaction fees, great for overseas OCONUS assignments, TDY, and PCS
- Primary rental car insurance coverage & trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and more.
- DashPass access is complimentary which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Upgrade to a Chase Sapphire Reserve after 1 year (compare Reserve vs Preferred)
- $95 annual fee waived for military and spouses with Chase Military Lending Act
- Member FDIC
I recommend every military servicemember pick up the Chase Sapphire Preferred with it's huge welcome bonus and then upgrade the card to a Chase Sapphire Reserve after one year. You can compare the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. the Chase Sapphire Reserve in this article.
This is a fantastic benefit available to all servicemembers on active duty orders (30 days or more) and their military spouses or dependents. This benefit is similar to the American Express military fee waiver program.
Every servicemember should now have a no annual fee Chase Sapphire Reserve card in their wallet alongside the Amex Platinum!
In this post:
Best Chase Credit Cards for Military With No Annual Fees
| Read the Reviews | Annual Fee Waived | Other Benefits | First Year Potential Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $300 travel credit | $1200 | |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 3x points dining | $1000 | |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card | 1 free night annually | $700 | |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card | Companion Pass | $500 | |
| The World of Hyatt Credit Card | 1 free night annually | $600 | |
| Chase Freedom Flex℠ Credit Card | $0 | Cash back | $$300 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card | $0 | Cash back | $300 |
You can also compare the Chase Sapphire Reserve vs the Chase Sapphire Preferred for military or see the best hotel credit cards for military.
Chase Military Lending Act
Chase updated their military policy on September 20, 2017 to comply with the Military Lending Act. Any account opened AFTER Sep 20, 2017 is eligible for the Chase military fee waiver.
You can check your MLA status in the MLA database.
I recently opened a Chase IHG Premier card and received my MLA fee waiver letter from Chase before I even received the card. When my wife opened up her Sapphire Reserve card, she also received the Chase MLA letter the same day she got her cards.
Here's a scan copied the MLA letter I received. You can click on the image to see a PDF copy:
The text of the letter says:
Update: We Applied MLA benefits to your account
Dear Spencer
Your account is eligible for benefits under the Military Lending Act (MLA) and Chase policy (collectively referred to as “MLA”).
We applied these benefits to your account:
- Your Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) won't be more than 36%
- If you have a promotional or introductory rate, you'll keep it for the existing balances until it expires
- Your contract rate won't be impacted and will remain as outlined in your Cardmember Agreement
- We won't charge you fees, other than late fees an non-sufficient fund fees, if applicable
If you have any questions, please call our Military Specialists anytime at 1-800-235-9978. If you're overseas, call us collect at 1-318-340-3308.
Thank you for your business and your service to our country,
Chase Military Specialists are available to discuss MLA benefits on the Chase Military Hotline at 1-800-235-9978 or from overseas 1-318-340-3308.
Unfortunately, if your account was opened before 20 Sep 2017, you are out of luck with MLA benefits. You could always open a new card though and receive the fee waiver benefit.
The MLA caps interest the banks can charge at 36% Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR). This MAPR includes annual fees, so Chase decided it was easier to waive the annual fees for military members rather than calculate the 36% MAPR for each military servicemember.
The only fees Chase now charges military personnel are late fees and insufficient fund fees. This is a very generous interpretation of the MLA, as “bona fide fees” on premium cards are allowed under the MLA. That said, take advantage of Chase’s military fee waiver while you can!
One of the oldest credit cards on my credit history is a Chase Freedom card I opened in 2011 (now known as the Chase Freedom Flex). This is a great card with 5% quarterly rotating categories up to $1500 per quarter (usually gas for half the year) and 1% back on every other purchase.
I am a happy Chase customer for over 10 years and plan to increase my business with them now that they waive annual fees for military personnel.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
Learn how to apply on our partner's secure site
- $550 annual fee waived to $0 for US military + spouses with Chase MLA policy
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
- 3x Points on other Travel (airfare, hotels) after earning the $300 travel credit
- 3x Dining restaurants, takeouts, delivery
- Chase Ultimate Reward Points redeemed through Chase Travel℠ are worth 1.5 cents, a 50% bonus.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Priority Pass lounge and restaurant access with over 1300+ airport lounges worldwide
- Up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry every 4 years
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Primary coverage with Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- No foreign transaction fees, Member FDIC
- Learn more in the Chase Sapphire Reserve review
Chase Sapphire Reserve MLA SCRA Fee Waiver
Chase Bank is very restrictive with the amount of credit cards you can have opened in the last 2 years. Known as the 5/24 rule, Chase will deny most but not all credit card applications if you have opened 5 credit cards in the past 24 months.
If you are interested in earning lots of credit card reward points, you cannot go wrong starting with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. You can also compare the Chase Sapphire Reserve vs the Amex Platinum card.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a huge welcome bonus but the Chase Sapphire Preferred often has a larger bonus. In addition, you will receive annually:
- Ultimate Reward Points can be redeemed at 1.5 cents per point (cash out value 1 cent per point)
- UR Points can also be transferred to over a dozen airline and hotel partners, giving you access to free 5 star hotel stays and first/business class flights (like my trip to New Zealand, Australia, and Dubai)
- 3x points on travel and restaurants, after earning the $300 travel credit – great for TDYs
- Priority Pass complimentary airport lounge access. VERY nice to get free food, drink, and a place to rest when on the road.
- NO foreign transaction fees, essential for TDYs, deployments, and OCONUS assignments
- $300 travel credit on your statement
- Military: annual fee waived AND additional cardholder fee waived
This is how the $300 travel credit is applied instantly to any travel related purchases:
Other benefits include every 4 years you can get your Global Entry $100 fee waived. Don’t bother with TSA Pre-check, as all military personnel and dependents get automatic TSA Pre-check with your DOD ID (CAC) number.
Learn more about the Chase Saphire Reserve military fee waiver. Or, see my step-by-step guide for the optimal order to apply for military credit cards.
Chase Freedom Flex℠ Credit Card
Learn how to apply on our partner's secure site
- Earn $200 cash back (20,000 Ultimate Reward points) when you spend $500 in 3 months
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel℠ portal
- 3% on dining at restaurants, takeout, and delivery
- 3% back on drugstore purchases
- 1% back on all other purchases
- 5% on up to $1,500 of purchases in specific bonus categories each quarter
- No annual fee
- Compare the Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited
How to Get the Chase SCRA Active Military Fee Waiver
The easiest way to have the Chase active duty military annual fee waiver applied to your account is apply for any Chase card and select “Military” as your income source.
Chase will compare the Social Security number on your application to the DoD MLA database. If you’re a dependent spouse, they will check the DEERS database to confirm your eligibility for the MLA waiver.
Chase does not waive the annual fee for military business card holders, but many Chase business credit cards have no annual fees, like the Ink Business Unlimited® credit card and Ink Business Cash® credit card.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Learn how to apply on our partner's secure site
- Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent
- Hyatt rooms start at just 5000 points, so you could earn 6 nights with just the welcome bonus
- 1 free night at any category 1-4 Hyatt hotel every year you keep the card open
- Earn ANOTHER free night at category 1-4 hotel when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
- Cardholders get World of Hyatt Discoverist status (Level 2/4) just for having the card, as long as the account is open
- $95 Annual fee waived for US military personnel and spouses with Chase MLA policy
- discontinued_disclaimer
Chase Military Credit Cards Fine Print
If you’re interested, here’s the fine print on all Chase cards now describing the Military Lending Act:
MILITARY LENDING ACT NOTICE: Federal law provides important protections to members of the Armed Forces and their dependents relating to extensions of consumer credit. In general, the cost of consumer credit to a member of the Armed Forces and his or her dependent may not exceed an annual percentage rate of 36 percent. This rate must include, as applicable to the credit transaction or account: the costs associated with credit insurance premiums; fees for ancillary products sold in connection with the credit transaction; any application fee charged (other than certain application fees for specified credit transactions or accounts); and any participation fee charged (other than certain participation fees for a credit card account). To receive this information and a description of your payment obligation verbally, please call 1-800-235-9978.
Let me know in the comments if you successfully had your Chase annual fee waived. My wife, a civilian spouse married to an active duty servicemember (me), just opened her Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the annual fee was waived! That's $550 annual fee waived for her and $75 authorized user fee waived for me!
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Learn how to apply on our partner's secure site
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x points on dining (includes takeout, delivery, and dine-in), select streaming services and online groceries
- 2x on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠ . Example- 60,000 points would be worth $750 toward travel.
- No foreign transaction fees, great for overseas OCONUS assignments, TDY, and PCS
- Primary rental car insurance coverage & trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and more.
- DashPass access is complimentary which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Upgrade to a Chase Sapphire Reserve after 1 year (compare Reserve vs Preferred)
- $95 annual fee waived for military and spouses with Chase Military Lending Act
- Member FDIC
If you're interested in supporting my site, applying for credit cards through my links is the easiest way to do it. I'll receive a referral bonus at no cost to you. Thanks! You can also check out other credit cards that waive annual fees for military.
Chase Military Credit Cards Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, Chase waives all annual fees on their personal credit cards for US military and their spouses. Chase Bank waives the annual fees to comply with the Military Lending Act. This includes the $550 annual fee Chase Sapphire Reserve!
The best Chase credit cards for military servicemember and their spouses is the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The Chase World of Hyatt, Southwest, IHG Premier, and Chase Freedom Flex are also cards that deserve a slot in your wallet.
When it comes to credit cards, Chase is extremely military friendly. The bank waives all annual fees on all of their personal credit card for active duty US military and their spouses!
The best credit card for military servicemembers and their spouses depends on whether you want cash back or travel points. If you want cash back, have a look at the American Express Blue Cash Preferred with up to 6% cash back on US grocery stores. If you want a luxury travel credit card, check out the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the AMEX Platinum.
Yup! Chase Bank waives all annual fees on all of their personal credit cards for military spouses. It's part of their Chase Military Lending Act program.
I recently commissioned and applied for the chase freedom unlimited and was denied within seconds. I’ve had a secured card for about 9 months and I’m an authorized user on two other cards in good standing. Credit Karma says my score is 725. I also have no debt. Why can’t I get this card? I’d like to start through the avenue in the best credit cards for military blog but I’m not sure how to get approved.
Open a no annual fee (not secured) card from USAA or Navy Federal or your favorite military bank of choice.
Wait 3 months and try applying for a different Chase card next time, like the Chase Freedom Flex. Let me know how it goes.
I’d also like the Amex gold card and credit karma says my odds of approval are outstanding. Do you think the Amex gold could function the same way?
You can start the application for the Amex Gold card and Amex will let you know if you qualify for the welcome bonus before they check your credit score. Might worth applying for and then come back to the Chase Freedom cards (and then Chase Sapphire Reserve) after a few months with the Amex Gold card.
My husband is an AF reservist and he is only active one weekend per month, he will be also be on duty for 15 days straight this upcoming month. Can I apply for CSR and have the annual fee waived? How will I know if I (spouse) be eligible and if I’m not, can I close the credit card immediately and not pay the annual fee?
Check the MLA database before you apply for the card if you want to confirm you are eligible for the fee waiver.
Military reservists need to be on active orders for 30 days or more to qualify for Military Lending Act covered borrower status.
As a military spouse, you can check the MLA database and if you are listed as a covered borrower, then your fees will be waived. But as a spouse of a reservist, the reservist will need to be on active duty orders for 30 days or more before you qualify as a covered borrower under the MLA.
Spencer – Already have the Chase Starbucks card; no fee for first year. Does Chase waive their renewal fee for retired personnel/spouses?
Thanks,
Jan Cooper
No, you must be active duty or a spouse of an active duty servicemember to get the annual fees waived. If you think you qualify, you can check your status in the MLA Database.
Hi Spencer,
I’m between the Chase Freedom and United Infinite for my 5th 5/24 Chase card. Does one offer better long-term value? I don’t fly United often but would value lounge access if I did. If I went Freedom could I upgrade that to a second CSR a year later? Should I consider something else for better value for the 5th slot? I noticed that you/your spouse have several Freedoms, no United’s. Thanks!
Past cards:
1. CSR
2. SW-RR
3. IHG-Premier
4. WoH
Personally I would go CF and upgrade to another CSR for long term benefit. If you fly United a few times a year and want lounge access then I’d go United if you value the lounge access at $100-$150 per visit. If that seems like a high valuation for lounge access then go for the CF and upgrade to CSR.
I thought that Chase has a one Sapphire Card per person rule? Am I wrong?
You can’t apply for multiple Sapphires but you can upgrade lower tier cards like Chase Freedom Flex or Unlimited to more Chase Sapphire Reserves or Preferreds.
Hello,
Does anyone know if upgrading lower tier cards from Chase still works to get a second Chase Sapphire Reserve? If so what is the max a single account could in theroy have, and how long do you have to wait before requesting an upgrade? Do you have to remove the card from online managment like getting a second amex Plat?
Thanks to anyone that can answer this.
Yes it still works. You can upgrade Chase Freedom Flex or Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Sapphire Preferred to additional Chase Sapphire Reserve cards.
Most I have heard is 5 CSRs but I bet someone out there has a few more. You must wait a year from account opening to request upgrade.
You do not need to remove cards from online account management. You’ll need to call in for the upgrade.
1. How long after applying and getting the Chase sapphire reserve does one need to wait in order to upgrade a freedom flex to another CSR, has been open more than a year, in 2022. Really want to get her another CSR before the end of the year but she just got her csr end of Aug.
2. I got out of active duty in 22, wife joined in 23 but got her freedom flex in the gap in 22, would they waive the annual fee for her if she upgrades it to a CSR?
. Data point. Hey its been about a year sorry I didn’t update you sooner But Amex did waive my annual fees as a spouse who got my cards prior to my wife’s active duty start date, and cards that I got while AD.
To give better data points.
Joined AD 2018 out in Feb 2022. During that time I opened 2 plats, gold, aspire, brilliant, then out of AD in march 22 I opened the Morgan Stanley , I was charged the annual fee but thought they waived it for new cards opened within a year of getting out of AD, I sucked it up. paid the annual fee
Dec 2022 I got 5 letters in the mail from amex for each of my cards saying I will be expected to pay the Annual fee. I said F that and told my wife to join so I can get the fees waived and get more Amex cards, joking.
Wife joined April 2023, My Annual fee posted sometime that month. I told Amex my wife was AD even confirmed it on the MLA SCRA database and saw i was covered too. They asked me submit a request and very quickly got a series of emails saying my annual fees will be waived for all my cards.
They refunded me when they verified my dependa status but said they can’t refund the previous fee.
since then I opened a CSR for me,
for her its Gold, aspire, CSR,
3. She’s got one more card before 5/24 was wondering what the best use of it is we got great credit scores and decent income, her CSR is a 33k limit which is wild worried that too much available credit will deny us of anything chase. If there’s nothing good for chase then I’m thinking BRILIANT or delta reserve, also want to get her the OG plat and then 2 more plats asap since they don’t have bonuses.
Sorry that’s a lot thank you for your time and hope my data point helps others.
Oh one more data point, I hate U.S banks. We had been banking with them and she applied for the Altitude reserve and they outright denied her. Recon line was not helpful, they said she had too many AU cards, opened in 2020 so odd. I was gonna apply but after spend 2 hours trying to verify at the bank and online if they waive the fees I just gave up, no one could answer if they did or didn’t and I was sent around and around so frustrating, I love amex. I’m sure U.S bank does secretly waive the fees but I decided they are too much if a headache to deal with.
Wife applied for CSR 2023, denied because credit was frozen and spoke to recon line we realized we put monthly income not annual, the rep fixed it and told her we were not approved. called again and denied. Same day I applied for the gold for her and we got approved.
1. If the Freedom Flex has been open for more than 1 year and has a $10,000 or more credit limit, you don’t need to wait at all to upgrade to another CSR.
2. No, fee will probably not be waived. Account must be established when you/she is in the MLA database.
You can move credit around between Chase cards. So for example move $10,000 from your CSR to a Chase Freedom card.
Hello!
For reservists who get activated on temporary orders, does the SCRA prorate the annual fees? For example, if I have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and I am on orders for 6/52 weeks of the year, will they waive those six weeks?
They should waive the fees for an entire year.
Hello! If I get added to my wife’s chase preffered card as an additional member, will that count as one of my 5 chase credit cards? I only want to do this because it makes it easier to track credit cards when they’re on my app.
No, an additional user card will not count against your Chase 5/24. Only card accounts you open with your own SSN count.
People are making this too complicated. Yes or No question. I’m active duty. If my spouse obtains an amex card (charge card or credit card) or chase credit card and I am added as an authorized user on the account, will the annual fee be waived?
Yes, but you don’t need to be added as an authorized user. Your spouse gets fee waived cards by her or himself. MLA applies to both the active duty servicemember and any legal dependants in DEERS.
To be clear: You can add yourself as an authorized user, but it’s not required for fee waiver. Check your and their status in the MLA database.
Hi, I just commissioned into the AF and I’m waiting for my orders. I would like to know if I should apply for this card before I EAD or after I EAD to get the benefits ( fee waived, etc.)? I tried calling Chase to ask about the military benefits they offer and the person I spoke to did not seem to understand the questions I was asking.
Wait until after you EAD and confirm you are listed as eligible for MLA benefits in the MLA database: https://mla.dmdc.osd.mil
I already have a CSR, we want to get my wife a CSR. She is a civilian, should we say her income is “Military” to facilitate her getting the MLA waiver for the CSR?
Sure, if you’re married filing jointly, it’s a true statement and will trigger an MLA review.
Spencer,
Great site! Do you recommend the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless? I know you can’t double dip on the bonuses for the Chase and the Amex Bonvoy cards, so I’m curious if you recommend going with the Chase card instead of the Amex, and then upgrading it one year later to the Ritz card?
Side by side, I found the AMEX to offer the better perks.
Recently opened an IHG RCP and a CSR card. Applied for MLA and received the following reply:
The account isn’t eligible for one of the following reasons
* The active duty period started and ended entirely before the account was opened.
* The account was opened during the active duty period.
I’ve been on active duty since 2001 and still serving (estimated final date, Feb 2025). Their reasoning seems contradictory- I’m being denied because wasn’t on active duty when I opened it, or I’m being denied because I WAS on active duty…?
I’ll call the number tomorrow and hopefully get it sorted.
Some kind of confusion between MLA and SCRA, but we got it sorted. Phew.
Hi Spencer,
I have the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card and tried to apply for the MLA/SCRA benefits because I have been charged the annual membership fee every year since I opened it back in April 2017.
I got the same responses from Chase when I contacted them. I do not understand, because it seems like a lot of people who opened their similar credit cards before, after, or around the same time I did are still having their annual membership fees waived.
I have been on Active Duty in 2014.
What can be done for me to have this fee waived?
I really like this web page you have created on “Chase Acitve Duty Military Credit Cards,” and I would like to successfully benefit from it, but I am having a hard time because of getting the same response Jake did.
How are people resolving this issue? Can anyone help shed light on this?
I cannot afford to close my Preferred credit card and then apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve because the Preferred makes up the majority of my credit score. If I close it to apply for the Reserve, I will probably be denied for having a low credit score.
I cannot afford to upgrade to the Reserve from the Preferred right now because if Chase is not waiving the annual membership fee for me for the Preferred ($95 per year), then they will definitely not waive the fee for the Reserve ($550 per year). Being enlisted, and regardless of how my finances are, I truly cannot afford that.
I really want to benefit from the Reserve, so long as I can have the annual membership fee waived, otherwise it is not worth it for me because I cannot afford it (the expense outweighs the benefits).
I also asked and tried to see if I could change or downgrade my Preferred to another card and then apply for the Reserve, but Chase still insists that (1) I will not be waived the annual membership fee, and (2) I will not be given the sign-on bonus because 48 months have not yet passed yet since my last Sapphire sign-on bonus. To be a military member and not receive both of those is a huge loss for me.
Please help.
What are your thoughts?
Thank you so much!
Close your CSP and open a CSR. You will not be eligible for the CSR welcome bonus since it is less than 48 months since you received the bonus on the CSP. But you should be still able to open a CSR. Or you could wait until May 2021, close your CSP, then open a CSR and receive the welcome bonus, since it will be 48 months since you last opened the Sapphire Preferred.
Also the reason you are not getting your annual fees waived is simple: Chase does not waive annual fees on cards opened on active duty before Sep 2017. If you had opened the card before active duty and before Sep 2017, you might be eligible for SCRA fee waivers.
And if you opened the card AFTER Sep 2017 while on active duty, you are eligible for MLA, and will also get your annual fees waived. But you are stuck in a pre-MLA, post-SCRA trap. The easiest way to escape is to close your old account and open a new one. You could also downgrade the CSP to a Chase Freedom so that you don’t have an annual fee and the line of credit remains good with Chase.
I received a CSP before the Sep 2017 mark, so fees not waved. At the same time, I had my wife added as an authorized user. Can my wife get a CSR with fees waved, then I get added as an authorized user on her account. Then I can cancel my CSP and we can just use the CSR with all fees waved? Thanks for the help.
Yes, this was my exact strategy in mid-2018. Worked great, I downgraded my CSR to a Chase Freedom Unlimited and my wife and I both use her CSR now.
No annual fee must be applied for only personal credit cards not the business credit cards. The annual fee was waived for CSR but not for Chas Ink business preferred. Do you know if the same rule applies for Amex business cards? As far as CIP goes, I would still pay $95 and collect 80,000 sign-up bonus points anyway. However, I am planning to either close the account or downgrade to Ink Cash or Ink Unlimited. Any suggestion?
Correct, Chase MLA is only for personal cards. AMEX business cards are fee waived, including the $595 per year AMEX Business Platinum.
I agree that the $95 annual fee is definitely worth it on the Chase Ink Preferred to collect the 80,000 welcome bonus. I recommend closing the account or downgrading to an Ink Cash or Ink Unlimited if you are not getting value from your CIP.
How can you get these fees waived if you are a reservist not drilling more than 30 days in a single period?
No
My wife is the account holder for our CSP (in which I am an authorized user) and was turned down for the SCRA due to opening the account after already being active duty. Would it work better if she downgraded to Freedom and then waited a year and upgrade to CSR to get the fees waived under MLA, but how does this work? when she upgrades to the CSR doesn’t she still have the same account opened since 2016? or is it better if I (also active duty) opened a new account for the CSR and applied for the fee waived under MLA? Thank you
Sorry if this is a repeat question but I’m trying to gain clarification as well.
I have the CSR opened before 9/2017=fees not waived.
My wife who opened her CSR 03/2019 = fees waived.
What would be the best course of action if we both wanted to keep our own cards (double dip on benefits)?
A) Downgrading my CSR to a Chase Freedom, then reapplying for a new CSR a few months later?
B) Applying for a Chase Freedom now, canceling the CSR and then upgrading the Chase Freedom in a year?
C) Do you have a better solution?
A) Might work but I think they go based on account opening date. Downgrading and upgrading again wouldn’t change the fact the account was opened before SEP 2017
B) Yes this should work and would be my solution
Do you know if this applies to all Chase credit cards? I have the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus card and wondering if I can get the fees waived (I opened it after 9/2017). I am a military spouse.
Yes all Chase personal cards.
This is a common question you’re getting but i was hoping to get more clarification.
I have the CSP opened before 9/2017=fees not waived.
I have no spouse so I can’t open an account under another name.
It seems upgrading my CSP to CSR = not opening another account, meaning they will not waive the 450 fee.
It seems like the only option i have would be to downgrade my current CSP to a Chase Freedom (1. To avoid a yearly fee and 2. Keep my earned points) and apply for the CSR. Would this be correct???
Yes, that sounds like the correct course of action. Please let us know how it goes!
i had the CSP (fees are paid every September) and just recently upgrade to CSR after receiving my active duty order (exp 2021). Same account/credit card number and keep my previously earned points. No bonus points for me for upgrade but they’ll waive the $450 annual fee. Did it all over the phone in 20 minutes.
Great news!
Andrew,
Following your thread, my spouse and I are both AD, both opened our CSR’s prior to Sep 2017. Fortunately, we are stationed in Ohio so able to get our fees waived through state-SCRA benefits. But…we wont be in Ohio forever. Did you have success in this strategy? Want to have our gameplan together for when we move and inevitably lose our fee waiver. Thanks!
thoughts on limited time (ends 3/18) offer chase united explorer business visa? 75K miles with 3mo $5k spend
Worth it if you fly United or partners and you are under 5/24.
Thanks for this post. I’m an active duty SM who opened a Chase Sapphire Preferred account in 2013 with my wife, and recently upgraded to the CSR (Dec 2018). Unfortunately I don’t meet criteria for the SCRA or MLA. Do you think I would have success closing my CSR account, then opening again several months later to get the military benefits?
@John – Does your wife have her own Chase Sapphire Reserve/Preferred? If no, you could close your account and open one in her name. Her annual fees will be waived under MLA. Add yourself as an authorized user and you now have a CSR with no annual fees.
If you both had a CSR/CSP opened before 20 Sep 2017, you can open a Chase Freedom or Freedom Unlimited and then product change (upgrade) it to a CSR after a year. Since it’s a new account opened after 20 Sep 2017, MLA will apply to the account. Then close your old CSR and now you’re left with a CSR with no annual fees.
Nope, no spouse. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to be grateful with the 1000 free AMEX cards I have :)
Yup, stack those AMEX cards if you’ll never be under 5/24 again (like me)!
Is there anyway that you can think of to product change from a Chase Freedom to a Chase Reserve and not pay the annual fee if I opened my Chase Freedom in December 2016? Opened after SCRA but before MLA benefits… I was waiting to be under 5/24 since I’m on a deployment and didn’t have enough expenses to earn bonuses on new cards but now that Sapphire credit cards are under the new 48 month rule I decided to open an Ameriprise Plat, Ameriprise PRG, and Amex Green before the end of the year. I don’t think I will be under 5/24 for a long time and won’t be eligible for the Reserve.
Marcus – I have no data points on this after searching around a bit. Do you have a spouse? That’s the easiest way around this problem. You could try product changing the Chase Freedom to the CSR but it won’t be a new account opening so I doubt they will apply the MLA benefits to the account, as the account was opened before 20 Sep 2017. You could always try it and report back. Worst that happens is $450 annual fee, offset by $300 in travel credits, so $150 fee. Then you could downgrade it back to a Chase Freedom. Something to consider.