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You are here: Home / Credit Cards / Best Credit Card to use on Base (Commissary, DFAC, Exchange, etc)

Best Credit Card to use on Base (Commissary, DFAC, Exchange, etc)

March 17, 2016 by Bobby Rampton

I’m writing this post because I eat at the DFAC every day at the hospital. I occasionally get frustrated because when checking out, there are always long lines and it’s mostly because 75% of people pay with cash instead of a credit card. It takes literally 10X longer to pay with cash than just swiping your credit card. AND if you pay with the right credit card you get 2% or more off your purchase every time.

So let’s compare some places on base and what credit card you should use:

1.) Best Credit Cards to Use at the DFAC (Dining Facilities)

This is coded by credit card companies as “government services, not otherwise classified.” AKA this means it’s not a special category that will give you bonus cash back.

  • Recommendation: Use a 2% cashback credit card (Citi Double Cash, Fidelity Rewards, or the Mastercard Gold by Barclay are all examples of credit cards that give 2% back on every purchase)
  • My experience: Earlier this year, Discover had a promotion where they gave 10% back on all purchases made by ApplePay and they had a 2X promotion so I technically got 20% back on all my purchases. Unfortunately, that promotion only lasted 2 months and is over now.

2.) Best Credit Card to Use at the Base Commissary

This is coded by credit cards as a grocery store.

    • Recommendation: The American Express Preferred Card is hands down the best card in this scenario. It gives 6% cashback on all grocery purchases. It has a $75 annual fee but that is waived for military members.
  • A close 2nd place would be the USAA American Express Cashback Rewards Plus Card that gives 5% back on all purchases on base. Chase Freedom will also be giving 5% cash back from April – June.

3.) Best Credit Card to use at the Base Exchange

The best card to use at the exchange is the USAA American Express Cashback Rewards Plus Card that gives 5% back on all purchases on base. There is the Military Star Card, but that only gives 2% back.

  • Recommendation: USAA American Express Cashback Rewards Plus Card

4.) Best Credit Card to Use at Gas Stations on Base

Again the USAA American Express Cashback Rewards Plus Card gives 5% back on all purchases on base. You could also use Discover/Chase Freedom when they do their 5% cash back quarterly bonuses. Sams Club and PenFed also have essentially 5% cash back cards on gas as well.

  • Recommendations: There are a lot of different choices that give 5% back on gas. Pick whichever one works best for you

5.) Best Credit Card to Use at the Food Courts on Base

This is typically coded as restaurants/fast food. Depending on locations, the Military Star Card gives 10% back on food purchases made at the food courts on base. If you don’t have that card, the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus Card gives 5% and Discover/Chase Freedom both have 5% rotating categories with restaurants/fast food

  • If your base gives 10% cashback with the Military Star Credit Card then that is definitely the clear winner.
  • If you are going to apply for this card, I would do this at the Exchange in person. From March 18-March 24 they have a promotion going on that they will give 15% off everything on your first day. This includes uniforms.

Did I miss anything? Please comment below. Thanks.

Filed Under: Credit Cards

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stephanie says

    October 25, 2018 at 10:48 pm

    Do you still have the referral code for the American Express Preferred Card?

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