Words From the Director/CEO: Low APR is Just One MILITARY STAR Benefit
Tom Shull
Exchange Director/CEO
Team,
Bankrate, a personal financial services company, issued its 2025 Retail Cards Study this week—revealing that the Exchange’s MILITARY STAR card has the lowest APR among unsecured retail cards.
This news comes at a time when interest rates for retail cards are skyrocketing. According to the study, the average retail card APR remains above 30%, which is the second-highest average rate since 2008.
The MILITARY STAR’s APR of 14.24% is nearly half of the industry average of 30.14%. Only the Amazon Secure Card has a lower rate, but it requires cardholders to put down a deposit equal to their credit line.
The low APR is just one benefit of the MILITARY STAR card. The card has no annual, late or over-limit fees. Unlike most store cards, it never charges deferred interest after 0% promotions, meaning shoppers are not charged “back interest” for the entire promotional period.
Other benefits include 5 cents off of every gallon at all participating Exchange, NEX, and MCX fuel stations; 10% off at participating Exchange restaurants; free standard shipping on all ShopMyExchange.com and MyNavyExchange.com orders and more.
With one low rate offered to all cardmembers, regardless of credit score, MILITARY STAR is a force multiplier for mission success. It is often a young service member’s first credit card, supporting credit building and financial readiness. And a great way for retired service members to enjoy extra savings.
And the tremendous value this financial readiness tool provides our military community continues to grow. During fiscal 2024, the MILITARY STAR® card, now powered by Discover, provided $473 million in value to the military community. The card is now accepted at more merchants across installations—including vendors and Quality-of-Life programs—as well as all military exchanges and commissaries.
MILITARY STAR ambassadors and associates at BXs, PXs and Expresses continue to be lead tanks in increasing awareness of the card and its versatility.
MILITARY STAR is the one card for the military lifestyle!
Very best,
Tom
