{"id":4919,"date":"2020-02-12T17:18:19","date_gmt":"2020-02-12T17:18:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=4919"},"modified":"2020-02-12T17:27:53","modified_gmt":"2020-02-12T17:27:53","slug":"exchange-credit-program-celebrates-40-years-of-helping-military-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2020\/02\/12\/exchange-credit-program-celebrates-40-years-of-helping-military-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Exchange Credit Program Celebrates 40 Years of Helping Military Community"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"DALLAS \u2013 <\/strong>For Army spouse Joyce Fruean, whose husband, Sgt. 1st<\/sup> Class Vaisigago Fruean, has served for 13 years, the MILITARY STAR\u00ae<\/sub> card has been a big help financially and in a more personal way<\/a>. Her most memorable MILITARY STAR purchase was about 10 years ago, when she bought an iPad Mini for her then-non-verbal son with autism, Cupidaris, who was a toddler at the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat iPad opened so many doors for his communication,\u201d said Fruean, whose family currently resides at McChord Air Force Base. \u201cHe was able to touch things by himself without having to ask for help. And he liked that it was small and he could hold it himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recently, the Exchange Credit Program, which runs the MILITARY STAR card program, celebrated 40 years of helping shoppers like Fruean safely and affordably build credit.<\/p>\n

In 1979, Congress approved the credit program designed to protect U.S. service members overseas from predatory lenders. In the four decades since, the program has expanded and developed into the MILITARY STAR card, which the military community can use at all exchanges and commissaries. Plus, shoppers can earn rewards points every time they use the card.<\/p>\n

\u201cMILITARY STAR continues to be a safe and responsible way for service members and their families to build their credit, especially when they\u2019re first starting out,\u201d said Exchange Senior Vice President of Credit Operations Tommy Ward. \u201cThe fact that the program has thrived for 40 years is a testament to its value to the military community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Besides helping service members and their families build credit, MILITARY STAR returned a value of $471 million to cardholders in 2018 through rewards, savings, discounts, financing offers and cardholder-friendly terms and conditions, such as no late, annual or over-limit fees and the lowest flat-rate APR (11.74%) among retail cards.<\/p>\n

In addition to the iPad Mini, Fruean has also used her MILITARY STAR card to buy noise-canceling headphones and other electronics for her son. Most recently, she used it to replace some furniture in her home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a MILITARY STAR offer with no interest for a few months [on the furniture],\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a huge help to have extra time to pay it off. It\u2019s one less thing to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n

MILITARY STAR is administered by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. For more information or to apply for a card, visit MyECP.com.<\/p>\n

Facebook-friendly version: <\/strong>40 years and counting! The Exchange Credit Program, which administers the MILITARY STAR card, recently celebrated its 40th<\/sup> anniversary of helping the military community safely and affordably build credit. The savings and convenience of MILITARY STAR has helped military spouse Joyce have \u201cone less thing to worry about.\u201d Read more: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-1hl<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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About MILITARY STAR:<\/strong> The MILITARY STAR\u00ae<\/sub> card is an exclusive line of credit for service members and their families to use at exchanges and commissaries\u2014no matter where they serve. MILITARY STAR is administered by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. Other benefits of the card include:<\/p>\n