Garden or join navy???

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

I’m working on rebuilding my scores currently sitting at 661 Eq 632 Trans and 633 Exp.

I currently have 3 cards two with a zero balance and one with a balance of $35. I’m going to start practing the AZEO method.

Now my grandfather is a vet, so I was thinking about using him to get me into navy Or should I wait and garden my current cards?

1 card has a limit of 500 another 600 and one 5k. The 500 and 600 are with Capone. The 500 is a secured card and the 600 is QS. I just increased this QS1 limit from 500-600.

If I should apply for navy which card(s) should I apply for? I have two collections that I’m working on PFD.

Thanks In advance

[Anonymous]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: every time I look at NFCU cards I'm less than impressed. I have joined 3 credit unions for a credit card though: Penfed for the Pathfinder Rewards card ($100 travel credit and global entry reimbursement, no annual fee ever), Nusenda for the Platinum Cash Rewards card (5% cash back [actually 6, as I noticed when I got $48 back on an $800 purchase] in rotating categories that repeat every year [q1 is always the same, q2 is always the same, etc]), and Vantage West for the Connect Rewards Visa (5% back in a category of your choice, like the US Bank Cash+ but you only pick 1, yet the categories tend to be more useful).

To me, every NFCU card is decidedly "meh" when you consider the alternatives from other issuers

[AverageJoesCredit]

I think joining Navy is a great financial decision if you can get in. Not everyone can. They offer more than credit cards too. Though their reward cards may not beat certain individual cards elsewhere, same can be said amongst many CU's and banks, not many CU's can beat Navy in their generosity of credit limits and growth potential. Plus you can get amazing BT offers on their cards. We have seen Navy be kind to thin files so in my humble opinion, i would join Navy , e en if you postpone getting a cc right away.

[Anonymous]

qasiymsg did your grandpa mention? "join the Navy and see the world"? On the serious side there have been a lot of posts on the benefits of the Navy Federal Credit Union. It is certainly worth a serious look for the long term!

[coldfusion]

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@AverageJoesCreditwrote:
I think joining Navy is a great financial decision if you can get in. Not everyone can. They offer more than credit cards too. Though their reward cards may not beat certain individual cards elsewhere, same can be said amongst many CU's and banks, not many CU's can beat Navy in their generosity of credit limits and growth potential. Plus you can get amazing BT offers on their cards. We have seen Navy be kind to thin files so in my humble opinion, i would join Navy , e en if you postpone getting a cc right away.

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This.

At a minimum join now and hold off applying for any CC until you're ready.

I would agree with the other posters comments that their cards are pretty generic,  but they have an established track record of being rebuilder-friendly. For you IMO this is a good CU to join. 

[UncleB]

I'll concede that NFCU rewards cards aren't that exciting, but for me the draw was a low-interest option for those times when "life happens".

The NFCU Platinum card has no rewards, but has the lowest APR of all their cards, and is my own personal lowest APR at 7.24%. 

NFCU is also known for their no-fee balance transfers, and that combined with a 0% promo that comes around every year or so makes for a valuable card, at least for me.