SCRA & MLA Credit Card Fee Waivers (Military Benefits, 2026)
Bottom Line Up Front: Active-duty service members and dependents covered under the Military Lending Act can have annual fees on most personal premium credit cards reduced to $0 — including the $895 Amex Platinum and $795 Chase Sapphire Reserve, both of which raised fees in 2026. The waiver isn't a "discount" — it's how a lender complies with the 36% MAPR cap under 10 USC § 987. This guide explains who qualifies, which issuers honor it, and how to request it.
Two Laws, Two Mechanisms
Most servicemembers conflate SCRA and MLA. They are different.
- SCRA — 50 USC § 3937. Caps interest at 6% on debts incurred before you entered active duty. Applies to the service member only (not dependents). You must request it in writing with a copy of orders. Some issuers also voluntarily waive annual fees on cards opened pre-service when SCRA is invoked.
- MLA — 10 USC § 987 and 32 CFR Part 232. Caps the all-in cost (Military Annual Percentage Rate, or MAPR) of consumer credit at 36%. Applies to active-duty members, Reserves on active duty, Guard mobilized 30+ days, plus spouses and dependents in DEERS. Coverage is automatic when the lender verifies your status against the DoD MLA database.
For credit cards opened during active duty, the fee waiver comes from MLA, not SCRA. The math is simple: a $895 annual fee on a card with even a modest balance can push the MAPR above 36%, which would violate the cap. To stay compliant, the major issuers reduce annual membership fees to $0 for covered borrowers. Source: American Express Servicemembers Civil Relief & MLA FAQs.
The outcome to the cardholder is the same — $0 annual fee — but knowing which law you're under matters when you talk to customer service. If you're complaining about a fee that wasn't waived, "you should have applied MLA at issuance" is the correct argument; "I'm requesting SCRA benefits" only works for cards opened before service.
What Changed in 2026
Two of the three premium cards most discussed in military credit-card guidance changed pricing in early 2026:
| Card | Pre-2026 Fee | 2026 Fee | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum | $695 | $895 | Jan 2, 2026 (new cards immediately; renewals from Jan 2) | CNN Underscored |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $550 | $795 | Spring 2026 | Reporting |
| Capital One Venture X | $395 | $395 (unchanged) | — | Capital One |
| Amex Gold | $250 | $325 | Late 2024 | Amex |
For a covered borrower, the fee that would otherwise be charged is reduced to $0 — so the larger sticker prices represent more value waived, not a more expensive proposition. Both cards added new credits alongside the fee increases (Amex Platinum: $600 hotel, $300 entertainment, $400 Resy, $200 Oura, $300 Lululemon, $120 Uber One; CSR: enhanced travel and dining structure).
Eligibility
Covered under MLA (cards opened during active duty)
- Active-duty members of any service
- Reserve members on active duty
- Guard members mobilized under federal orders (Title 10 or Title 32) for more than 30 consecutive days
- Spouses of any of the above (DEERS-listed)
- Dependents of any of the above (DEERS-listed)
Covered under SCRA (cards opened before active duty)
- Active-duty service member only — not spouses or dependents
Not Eligible
- Veterans not currently on active duty (with one important exception below)
- Drilling Reservists not on extended active orders
- Civilians not in DEERS as a military dependent
Exception for veterans. If you opened a card while covered under MLA, the covered-borrower status follows that account for life — even after you separate. New cards opened after separation are not covered. American Express has documented that members keep MLA fee reductions on existing accounts after separation; Capital One and several others terminate fee waivers at separation. Verify with your issuer.
Issuer-by-Issuer Policy (verified May 2026)
| Issuer | MLA fee waiver on cards opened during active duty? | SCRA fee waiver on cards opened before service? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express | Yes — annual membership fees on all personal cards reduced to $0; business cards excluded | Yes, on application | Most generous: also waives overlimit, late, returned-payment, statement-copy fees |
| Chase | Yes — annual fees waived on personal cards opened on or after Sep 20, 2017 | Yes, on application | Verifies status automatically against MLA database |
| Citi | Yes | Yes | Confirm specific card before applying |
| US Bank | Yes | Yes | Verify card-specific |
| Capital One | No — does not waive fees under MLA | Yes, only if opened pre-service (e.g., as ROTC cadet, pre-activation Reservist) | Common surprise: applying for Venture X while on active duty does not waive the $395 fee |
| Bank of America | Varies by card | Varies | Documentation requirements stricter than Amex/Chase |
| Discover | No | No | Not military-friendly on fees |
Sources: Amex SCRA/MLA FAQ; Chase Military Benefits; aggregator reporting cross-checked May 2026. Issuer policies change — verify before applying.
Important: Business credit cards are not eligible for MLA fee reduction at American Express. The MLA covers consumer credit only; business credit is regulated by separate rules. Some online guidance recommends Amex Business Platinum as a "$695 → $0" play — that does not apply at Amex. Treat any such claim with skepticism for any issuer until you've confirmed it directly.
How to Request the Waiver
American Express
For cards opened during active duty, the waiver is automatic if Amex correctly identifies you as a covered borrower at application. If the fee posts on a card you believed should be waived:
- Pull your cardmember agreement from your Amex account. Look for the line "You have been identified as a 'Covered Borrower' under Military Lending Act."
- If absent, call the number on the back of the card and request MLA-status review.
- Provide DoD MLA database confirmation if asked.
For cards opened before active duty, log in and submit an SCRA request via the secure-message center (Account Services → Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Benefits) with a copy of orders.
Chase
For cards opened during active duty, fee waivers are automatic on personal cards opened on or after September 20, 2017. The Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Preferred, Freedom Unlimited, Freedom Flex, Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, IHG One Rewards Premier, and Southwest personal-card lineup all have documented military fee reductions.
For cards opened before active duty, send a secure message via Chase.com or call 1-877-469-0110 with orders attached.
Capital One
Capital One applies SCRA only — and only to cards opened before active duty. Call 800-227-4825 with orders. If you already have a Venture X opened during active duty and are paying the $395 fee, you cannot retroactively waive it under either law at Capital One.
Citi, US Bank, Bank of America
Call the number on the back of the card and ask for the SCRA / MLA department. Documentation requirements vary; have orders, LES, and military ID ready.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing SCRA and MLA when calling customer service. If your card was opened during active duty and the fee wasn't reduced, the right argument is "I am a covered borrower under the Military Lending Act and the annual membership fee should not have been charged" — not "I want to apply for SCRA benefits."
Mistake 2: Assuming Capital One waives fees the way Amex and Chase do. They don't. If a Venture X is in your strategy, open it before active duty (as a ROTC cadet, pre-activation Reservist, etc.) or expect to pay the $395 fee.
Mistake 3: Buying the "Amex Business Platinum, $695 → $0" pitch. Amex business cards are not in the MLA fee-reduction policy. Verify directly with the issuer before opening any business card on a fee-waiver assumption.
Mistake 4: Letting a card be downgraded automatically when you separate. When MLA coverage ends, the fee resumes. Decide ahead of time whether the credits and benefits at the new fee level are worth keeping the card or whether you should product-change to a no-fee version (Amex Platinum → Green or Cash Magnet; Chase Sapphire Reserve → Freedom Unlimited keeps Ultimate Rewards points).
Mistake 5: Forgetting that SCRA also reduces interest to 6% on pre-service cards. This is separate from any fee waiver and applies only to debts you carried before active duty. If you have a pre-service card with a balance, request SCRA benefits even if the fee is already waived under MLA — the rate cap is the bigger benefit.
Action Steps
This week:
- Confirm your status (and your spouse's, if applicable) on the DoD MLA database.
- Pull cardmember agreements for any premium cards you already hold and check for the covered-borrower notice.
- For any card opened during active duty where the fee posted, contact the issuer's military-benefits department.
Next 30 days:
- For cards opened before service, prepare an SCRA request packet (orders + LES + military ID) and submit it to each pre-service creditor.
- Set a calendar reminder for any annual re-certification deadlines (Chase tends to require this; Amex generally does not).
- Calculate which cards make sense at $0 vs the actual fee level when you separate, and note product-change options for each.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do National Guard and Reserve members qualify for fee waivers? Only when on active-duty orders of more than 30 consecutive days under Title 10 or Title 32. Drill weekends and annual training don't qualify. Once you're on extended orders, MLA coverage applies for the duration.
Can I get fees waived on cards I opened after joining the military? At Amex, Chase, Citi, and US Bank: yes, automatically, under the MLA. At Capital One: no. Other issuers: varies.
What happens to my fee waiver when I separate? For cards opened under MLA: covered-borrower status follows the account for its life at most issuers. New cards opened after separation are not covered. Verify with each issuer.
Can my spouse use my active-duty status for their own credit cards? Yes — but through MLA dependent coverage, not SCRA. The spouse must be DEERS-listed. Each issuer verifies the spouse's covered status independently when they apply.
Can I use SCRA to reduce interest rates on pre-service credit-card debt? Yes. The cap is 6% under 50 USC § 3937, retroactive to your active-duty start date. Excess interest charged from that date is forgiven, not deferred.
Is there a limit on how many cards I can have fees waived on? No statutory limit. Practical limits: issuer underwriting, your own credit profile, and Chase's "5/24" rule (no more than five new accounts in 24 months across all issuers).
Sources
- 10 USC § 987 — Military Lending Act
- 50 USC § 3937 — SCRA interest rate cap
- 32 CFR Part 232 — DoD MLA regulations
- American Express Servicemembers Civil Relief & MLA FAQs
- Chase Military Benefits
- DoD MLA database (verify covered-borrower status)
- CFPB Military Lending Act page
- 2026 fee changes: CNN Underscored on Amex Platinum refresh; Financial Wire on premium-card fee resets
Last Verified: May 4, 2026 against the cited issuer pages and statutes.
Related Guides
Use Garrison Ledger Tools
- Ask Military Expert: Card-specific SCRA / MLA questions verified against current statutes and issuer policy.
- LES Auditor: Confirms your active-duty allotments and pay status — useful when an issuer asks for verification.
Next steps. Verify your covered status, then request the waiver in writing where the issuer requires it. If a fee was wrongly charged, dispute it citing 32 CFR Part 232 and escalate to the CFPB if the issuer doesn't resolve.