Chase Sapphire Reserve Military Waiver

Chase has a long-standing history of supporting the military community. In 2011, Chase launched their Military Banking Program. The program was designed to align with the both Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and the Military Lending Act (MLA). These federal laws are intended to protect active-duty service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, from certain financial burdens and legal actions while they are serving their country.

SCRA allows service members to reduce the interest on any debt incurred before service to just 6%. The MLA, which is more applicable for new card holders, redefines credit card annual percentage rate (APR) and fees for service members as a military annual percentage rate (MAPR). This number combines interest, fees and other credit-related ancillary products sold in connection with the transaction as may not exceed 36%. For open-ended credit like credit cards, the MARP cannot exceed 36% in any billing cycle.

With the credit card APR average over 20%, and annual fees billed in a single month, calculating the monthly MAPR can prove difficult. As a result, some creditors have waived annual fees for military personnel to avoid exceeding the Military Lending interest cap.

Chase Bank waives annual credit card fees for active duty military including the Chase Sapphire Reserve with a current annual fee of $550. Qualified applicants will receive an MLA Benefits letter stating that they “won’t charge you fees, other than late fees and non-sufficient funds fees, if applicable.” It is worth noting that fees are waived when applying as an active duty cardholder or spouse. Some have reported that the fees are not waived for existing cardholders as these protections fall under SCRA.

Chase does not advertise these benefits, but states that they will provide more information verbally at 1-800-235-9978.

Your eligibility for a fee waiver is based on your MLA status. Before applying it is recommended that you check your MLA status. All applicants must be correctly enrolled in DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System). MLA applies to all active duty service members including active Guard and active Reserve duty personnel, their spouses and certain dependents. To obtain more accurate and up-to-date information about the Chase Sapphire Reserve military fee waiver, you can call Chase Military Services. Their representatives will provide precise details regarding the program, including eligibility requirements and the application process.

Once you are confident of your eligibility status, you can apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card using the online application. Chase typically waives the fees automatically when you apply for the account and determines your eligibility based on your social security number.

Once you have submitted your application, Chase will review it and make a determination. If approved, you will receive your Chase Sapphire Reserve® card in the mail in 10 – 14 days. If your MLA status was approved, you will also receive an MLA Benefits letter in mail.

If your fee is not automatically waived, you can submit supporting documentation through Chase’s secure message system. Just log in to your Chase account, create a “New Message,” select “Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)” from the dropdown menu and you can upload documentation. Chase indicates that documents should be uploaded directly rather than taking photos. You can also mail a copy of your documentation to Chase.

Beyond the military fee waiver, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a wide array of additional benefits tailored to the needs of military personnel. These benefits include:

$300 Annual Travel Credit

You’ll receive up to $300 in statement credit each anniversary year for qualifying travel purchases. Eligible travel includes flights, hotels, and rental cars.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® Program

The Sapphire Reserve card earns valuable Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, statement credits or transferred to Chase’s airline and hotel partners. The card also offers a 50% bonus when redeeming points for travel through Chase Travel℠. You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. You’ll also earn 3 points per dollar on travel after the first $300 that can be redeemed with your annual travel credit.

Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS Fee Credit

All active duty members qualify for TSA PreCheck for free and do not need to complete the application. As a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, you are also eligible to receive up to $100 in statement credits every four years to cover the application fee for either your Global Entry, or NEXUS or you may use it for TSA PreCheck for an authorized cardholder. This perk expedites the security screening process, making travel more efficient and seamless.

Travel Insurance and Protections

When you use your Sapphire Reserve card to book travel, you gain access to a comprehensive suite of travel insurance and protections. These include trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, primary rental car insurance and roadside assistance. You may also qualify for roadside assistance or emergency medical and dental benefits up to $2,500 when you are more than 100 miles from home.

Airport Lounge Access

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® grants you and two accompanying guests complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, providing access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. Lounge amenities often include comfortable seating, complimentary refreshments, Wi-Fi access and business facilities, offering a respite during your travels.

Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection

Card holders who book through Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection may receive additional guest privileges including room upgrades, late check out and a complementary daily breakfast.

Food Delivery and Rideshare Benefits

Chase Sapphire Reserve card holders also receive a 2-year complimentary Lyft Pink All Access Membership and 1-year DashPass membership for DoorDash plus a monthly $5 DoorDash credit through December 2024 while enrolled in DashPass. You also receive a complimentary 1-year membership to Instacart+ and a monthly $15 statement credit on eligible purchases through July 2024.

By offering a military fee waiver and an impressive range of benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card demonstrates its commitment to supporting those who serve in the military. Service members and their families can take advantage of this opportunity to access unparalleled travel rewards, enjoy peace of mind through travel protections, and elevate their overall travel experience.