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3X
Top Rate
Annual Fee
$95
Authorized User Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0
Network
Visa Signature
Rewards Currency
PenFed Points
Point Valuation
0.85–1 cpp (mid: 0.89)
Credit Required
Good to Excellent
Welcome Offer
50,000
Points
Spend $3,000 in the first 3 months
Benefits & Perks
Program & Transfers
Reviews & Analysis
Details & Terms
| Purchase APR | 17.99% (Variable) |
| Cash Advance APR | 17.99% (Variable) |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 |
| Authorized User Fee | $0 |
Honors Advantage is now open to all PenFed members, not just military. You qualify through two paths: (1) Active duty, Reserve, National Guard, or honorably discharged/retired military, OR (2) Maintain an Access America Checking account with either a minimum $500 daily balance or $500+ in monthly direct deposits.
Points expire 5 years from the end of the month they were earned. Points are redeemed on a first-earned, first-spent basis (FIFO), so older points will be used first.
Media & Resources
| Source | Verified | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| PenFed Credit Union Official | — | PenFed Credit Union Official |
| RewardsCC API | — | RewardsCC API |
| NerdWallet | — | NerdWallet |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Multiple card facts | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Welcome offer |
Recurring credits (annual): $100
Estimated annual value: $90
| Credit | Value | Category | Frequency | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 travel credit | $100 | Statement Credit | Annual | |
| $120 Global Entry / $85 TSA PreCheck | — | Travel | — | |
| 8% Booking.com credits | —/Per stay | Travel | Per stay |
Free Priority Pass Select membership valued at $469 gives you access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
Combined Protection Value
$65,150
Cell Phone Protection
Get coverage for collision damage, theft, and loss-of-use when renting a car. Coverage type (primary vs secondary) varies by issuer.
Get an additional year of warranty protection on eligible electronics and appliances with original warranties of 3 years or less.
Access 24/7 multilingual travel assistance including medical referrals, legal help, emergency cash, and lost luggage support.
Secondary collision coverage for rental car damage and theft on rentals worldwide
Get reimbursed up to $3,000 per person per trip for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage when traveling with your card.
| Route / Property | Points | Book With | Cabin/Type | Value / Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Portal Bookings | 1,000–100,000 | — | — | — |
| Gift Card Redemptions | 1,000–50,000 | — | — | — |
| Apple Store Access (Exclusive) | 500–50,000 | — | — | — |
| Power Cash Statement Credit (Honors) | 0–999,999 | — | — | — |
Credit Utilization (60%)
Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status
Total Value Captured
$60
Annual Fee
-$95
Net Annual Value
-$35
Points can be redeemed for travel (flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises through the PenFed Rewards Center), gift cards (300+ brands available), merchandise (electronics, sporting goods, fashion, home items), and partial pay (where points cover part of a statement balance). Power Cash card holders can redeem as statement credit or transfer to a bank account.
No. PenFed operates a closed rewards ecosystem with no transfer partners to airline or hotel loyalty programs. All redemptions must go through PenFed's own redemption channels.
Points are valued between 0.85 and 1.0 cents each, depending on how they're redeemed. Travel portal redemptions typically offer the best value (0.87-1.0 cpp). Gift cards and merchandise average 0.85 cpp. Industry consensus is approximately 0.88-0.9 cents per point.
The Pathfinder card includes a $100 annual domestic airline fee credit (for baggage fees, lounge access, food, Wi-Fi, etc.), a $100-$120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, and complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (1,300+ lounges worldwide).
Yes. The Pathfinder Rewards card normally has a $95 annual fee, but it is completely waived for Honors Advantage members. Platinum and Power Cash cards have no annual fee for any member.
Three main cards earn PenFed Honors Advantage points: Pathfinder Rewards Visa (4X travel/3X dining for Honors, 3X/2X regular), Platinum Rewards Visa (5X gas/EV/3X supermarket/dining/streaming, 1X other), and Power Cash Rewards Visa (2% cash back for Honors, 1.5% regular).
For points-based cards (Pathfinder and Platinum), you need a minimum of 1,000 points to redeem. For Power Cash, cash back can be redeemed at any amount when using automatic redemption (around the 25th of each month).
For travel portal bookings, redemption is typically immediate. For gift cards and merchandise, delivery varies (digital gift cards can be instant, physical goods 5-7 business days). Cash back redemption for Power Cash takes up to 30 days for statement credit, 2 business days for internal PenFed transfers, or 3 business days for external ACH transfers.
Get reimbursement up to $500 per claim for items stolen or damaged by accident within 90 days of purchase.
Get reimbursed up to $300 for essential purchases like clothing and toiletries when checked baggage is delayed 4+ hours.
Reimbursement up to $300 for meals and lodging after 12+ hour delay. Signature requires 12 hours vs Infinite's 6 hours.
Get reimbursement up to $250 per item when a merchant won't accept returns within 90 days of purchase (Signature tier).
24/7 roadside assistance including jump-start, lockout, towing, and fuel delivery. Services charged as flat fee per call.
Insurance
Automatically extends manufacturer's warranty by one additional year on items purchased with card
Coverage for eligible purchases against damage or theft within 90 days of purchase with card
Get reimbursed for meals, hotel, and essentials when travel is delayed 12+ hours or requires overnight stay
Merchants this card gives you a statement credit or membership at. Unlike the brands above, this isn't about earn rate — it's money the card hands back when you spend there.
Brands where this card's earn-rate structure makes it a strong choice. Open a brand for the full ranked list.
