DALLAS – In the year since service members and their families have been able to use the MILITARY STAR® card at Department of Defense commissaries, military shoppers have earned more than $4 million in rewards, just from buying groceries.
Commissaries began accepting MILITARY STAR as a form of payment in October 2017, with all 237 worldwide locations accepting the card by November 2017. Since acceptance at the commissary started, more than 335,000 shoppers have spent more than $204 million on groceries with the card. As with all MILITARY STAR purchases, they earned two points for every dollar as part of the card’s rewards program, which automatically earns them a $20 rewards card with every 2,000 points. For commissary shoppers, that translated into more than $4 million in rewards earned in the first year alone.
“Groceries are everyday expenses that can now earn rewards for service members, thanks to MILITARY STAR,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Luis Reyes, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s senior enlisted advisor. “Plus, every MILITARY STAR purchase helps to support on-installation Quality-of-Life programs that are critical to keeping our Warfighters and their families ready and resilient.”
The card’s acceptance at the commissary was many years in the making. The Exchange Credit Program, which is administered by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, had long been in discussions with the Defense Commissary Agency to reach an agreement that would allow shoppers to use MILITARY STAR in commissary stores. The organizations worked together to overcome logistical obstacles—such as updating and integrating register systems—to make it easier for military shoppers to earn rewards.
“MILITARY STAR’s goal is to make the card more convenient and rewarding for our service members, retirees and their families,” said Kathy Bronkalla, Vice President of Exchange Credit Strategy. “Partnering with the commissary was a huge step to evolving the card to fit the military community’s lifestyle.”
The ability to use MILITARY STAR at commissaries also means shoppers can enjoy the fair and flexible terms offered by the card, such as:
- One APR rate for all cardholders, regardless of credit score (12.24 percent—the lowest flat-rate APR among store cards).
- No annual, late or over-limit fees.
- Reduced-interest deployment plan with no payments required for eligible customers.
For more information on the MILITARY STAR card and the Exchange Credit Program, visit MyECP.com.
Facebook-friendly version: In the last year, military shoppers earned $4 million just by buying groceries at the commissary, thanks to MILITARY STAR. Learn more about how: https://wp.me/p9Q7PG-K1.
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About MILITARY STAR: The MILITARY STAR credit card program offers affordable and responsible credit solutions to the military community. The Army & Air Force Exchange Service operates the MILITARY STAR program on behalf of the military resale community.
About the Exchange: Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 61st-largest retailer in the United States. Its earnings provided $2.4 billion in dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs over the last 10 years. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.
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Media Notes:
For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Marisa Wolfe at 214-312-5111 or [email protected].
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