topic Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards? in Credit Cards

Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

Anonymous — Sat, 05 May 2018 11:46:30 GMT

The Pentagon credit union and Navy Federal CU cards are 3-2-1 or lower.

Is the appeal from the big opening CL and 3x cli? Generous LOC? Util % drops?

I dont see a big advantage to these.

What benefits am i missing?

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

EAJuggalo — Sat, 05 May 2018 11:56:16 GMT

My NFCU card is 1.5% CB, same as my quicksilver, same as my CFU. And much less hassle than my Citi DC. A big SL and lower interest rate than other rewards cards helps too.

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

AverageJoesCredit — Sat, 05 May 2018 11:58:38 GMT

For me Navy has more to do with their generosity with their credit limits more so than PenFed. The reward bluffs may scoff at their rewards for certain reasons, sure a 1.5% cb isnt a 2%, lol, but I just like the overall experience with Navy . Great customer service, growth potential for all classes of income earning individuals, and of course great bt offers. Though rewards may no stack up to other credit cards, I'd much rather have s Nsvy card in my wallet. Just an average opinion of course

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

Gmood1 — Sat, 05 May 2018 11:59:12 GMT

For me, it's more about establishing payment history for future loans if I need one. I like Navy's frequently offered no fee, 0% rate BT offers as well. 😁
I like Penfed's SP REAL no hassle pre-approvals offered to premium members. Whether I use them or not. It's nice to have them available just in case I need it. As the saying goes "Better to have and not need, than need and not have".

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

AverageJoesCredit — Sat, 05 May 2018 12:00:59 GMT

Lol, G said "PREMIUM MEMBERS" with Penfed. THAT is a huge difference in between PF and Navy imo.

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

Gmood1 — Sat, 05 May 2018 12:08:18 GMT

@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
Lol, G said "PREMIUM MEMBERS" with Penfed. THAT is a huge difference in between PF and Navy imo.

Yeah, I did tell them I knew you. 😉

There are perks in hanging out with the AVJ!😁

I'm not sure when they consider members premium? That didn't happen till nearly 3 years in and of course I mentioned you the last time I dealt with them.

Between you and UnkaB, you fellows have opened some doors for me.🤣

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

UncleB — Sat, 05 May 2018 12:16:46 GMT

We all have different needs, but for me the draw to NFCU was for their low-APR Platinum card (in my case, MasterCard).

I have taken advantage of BT promotions a couple of times now (the one I currently have was no-fee, and is 0% for a year) and should I need to carry a balance the 7.24% APR is hard to beat.

Even when there's no BT promo there's never a fee to transfer a balance to NFCU, and I like having that option.

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

UncleB — Sat, 05 May 2018 12:18:52 GMT

@Gmood1 wrote:
@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
Lol, G said "PREMIUM MEMBERS" with Penfed. THAT is a huge difference in between PF and Navy imo.
Yeah, I did tell them I knew you. 😉
There are perks in hanging out with the AVJ!😁
I'm not sure when they consider members premium? That didn't happen till nearly 3 years in and of course I mentioned you the last time I dealt with them.
Between you and UnkaB, you fellows have opened some doors for me.🤣

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

Anonymous — Sat, 05 May 2018 13:19:52 GMT

@Gmood1 wrote:
@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
Lol, G said "PREMIUM MEMBERS" with Penfed. THAT is a huge difference in between PF and Navy imo.
Yeah, I did tell them I knew you. 😉
There are perks in hanging out with the AVJ!😁
I'm not sure when they consider members premium? That didn't happen till nearly 3 years in and of course I mentioned you the last time I dealt with them.
Between you and UnkaB, you fellows have opened some doors for me.🤣

Lucky your not in jail when looking at the company you keep

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

Anonymous — Sat, 05 May 2018 14:48:29 GMT

Ok, so they offer low apr, very low bt apr, and easy cli that are large, regardless of income with 1.5% cb.

Thanks to everyone for the replies!

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

Anonymous — Sat, 05 May 2018 17:00:52 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Ok, so they offer low apr, very low bt apr, and easy cli that are large, regardless of income with 1.5% cb.

Thanks to everyone for the replies!

And Penfed at least has some other cards, the 2% with no FTF (with a checking account or military status) and the Plat Rewards which is roughly 4.3 on gas/2.54 on groceries/0.85 everything else. Not these these are necessarily best in class, but not bad. Also from time to time, Penfed has very good rates on CDs.

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

Loquat — Sun, 06 May 2018 02:09:05 GMT

I have PenFed and Navy. While they both have their perks, I tend to favor PenFed a little more. I haven't had to speak with either in quite some time but I did enjoy that I could speak with a loan officer and explain my situation with PenFed if for whatever reason my request was denied or not the amount I was hoping for. They were more open to discussion than Navy has been in my expereince.

PenFed's application process seems to be slightly better to me than the cumbersome one of Navy. While neither are setting industry standards, I give the slight upper hand to PenFed.

Then there's Navy...if I have to say there's a positive with them is that they're willing to extend a lot of credit to folks like myself who at the time had less than stellar credit. Their customer support seems to be US based but the same goes for PenFed as well. Navy is open 24/7 whereas PenFen isn't so there's that.

They both serve their purpose and I'm happy to be a member of both even if PenFed gets all of my business at the moment.

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

Anonymous — Sun, 06 May 2018 03:24:39 GMT

I been looking around in Navy Federals member mall and found it interesting....

Like this summer road trip I'm taking with my family I'm getting 4% CB on Holiday Inn Express , plus the normal 1.5% CB on the CashRewards card. A total of 5.5%, its hard to do much better than that. and that is all year long. When booking through member mall.

Also currently 2% Bonus cash back on Walmart on top of the 1.5% for 3.5% total.... Probably better and a Walmart MC.

And they have a lot in there...... worth cheking out. (Also BofA give me plenty 1 time of 10% CB in their mobile app.)

Re: Benefits of PFCU and NFCU Cards?

UpperNwGuy — Sun, 06 May 2018 10:46:34 GMT

Both PenFed and Navy have excellent across-the-board cash back cards. PenFed's is slightly better because it is 2% whereas Navy's is only 1.5%. Both post the cash back to your account when the transaction posts and allow you to redeem it immediately.

The category spending cash back cards of the two credit unions are not especially noteworthy. PenFed has one for gas and groceries. Navy has a card for dining and gas, and a different card for groceries and gas. PenFed's card earns points, but each point is worth less than a penny, so the cash back is lower than the advertising implies. Navy's cards both have cumbersome $50 minimum redemptions.

Both credit unions have travel cards. PenFed's is called Pathfinder. Navy's is called Flagship and has an annual fee. I've never had either card, but my understanding is that they earn points, and the points can be redeemed through a travel portal for nonrefundable air travel. Unless you especially like dealing with these credit unions, you'll do better using Amex, Chase, Citi, or Bank of America for travel cards.

Both credit unions have cards that do not give rewards of any kind. Many people like these cards because they have the lowest APRs and often offer deals on balance transfers.