To request the six percent interest rate cap on pre-service debts, fill out Navy Federal’s SCRA request form (NFCU 101), attach a copy of your active-duty orders, and submit both by eMessage, fax, or mail. The form is one page, available on navyfederal.org under the SCRA section or through the forms library in online banking.1Navy Federal Credit Union. Request for Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Benefits Getting the paperwork right the first time is what determines how quickly the rate reduction shows up on your accounts.
Who Can Use This Form
Active-duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard are eligible.2Navy Federal Credit Union. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) National Guard members qualify when called to active service authorized by the President or the Secretary of Defense for more than 30 consecutive days in response to a nationally declared emergency.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 50 USC 3911 – Definitions
The debt has to have existed before you entered military service. Joint debts qualify only if both you and your spouse are named on the account; accounts in your spouse’s name alone are not covered.4United States Department of Justice. 6% Interest Rate Cap for Servicemembers on Pre-Service Debts
You have until 180 days after your release from active duty to submit the request. Miss that window and the creditor has no obligation to reduce your rate, even if you were eligible during service.5Navy Federal Credit Union. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Eligibility Guide and Checklists
What to Gather Before You Start
Have these ready before you open the form:
- Your official military orders showing your active-duty start date. This is the single most important document because it establishes when your protections begin.
- Every Navy Federal account number you want covered: loan numbers, credit card numbers, and mortgage account numbers.
- Your full legal name, Social Security number, and branch of service.
Navy Federal will cross-reference your submission against the Department of Defense’s Manpower Data Center to verify your active-duty status.1Navy Federal Credit Union. Request for Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Benefits If your orders aren’t available yet, a letter from your commanding officer on official letterhead confirming your active-duty status and start date may serve as interim documentation, but expect the credit union to follow up for orders before finalizing the rate reduction.
Which Accounts to List on the Form
List every Navy Federal account you hold that predates your active-duty start date. Leaving one off means it won’t be reviewed. The eligible product types are:
- Consumer loans, including auto loans and personal loans
- Credit cards
- Education loans, both federal and privately funded
- Checking lines of credit
- Mortgages, fixed equity loans, and home equity lines of credit
- Business loans
The six percent ceiling is broader than the stated interest rate. Under the statute, “interest” also includes service charges, renewal charges, fees, and any other charges except bona fide insurance premiums, so items like a credit card annual fee count toward the cap.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 50 USC 3937 – Maximum Rate of Interest on Debts Incurred Before Military Service
Filling Out NFCU 101
The form is one page. The form number is NFCU 101, and you can download it from Navy Federal’s website under the SCRA section or find it in the forms library within online banking.1Navy Federal Credit Union. Request for Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Benefits
Enter your personal information exactly as it appears on your Navy Federal accounts. A mismatch between the name on your orders and the name on your accounts is a common snag. Enter your active-duty start date exactly as it appears on your orders. Then list every account number you want covered: mortgage, credit card, auto loan, and any others.
If you’re submitting digitally, scan or photograph every page of your orders clearly enough that the official seal, signature, and dates are legible. Blurry or cropped images are a routine reason requests get sent back for resubmission.
How and Where to Submit
Navy Federal accepts the completed form and supporting orders through three channels:2Navy Federal Credit Union. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
- eMessage. Log into online banking or the mobile app, open a new eMessage, and put “Attn: SCRA” in the subject line. Attach your completed NFCU 101 and your orders.
- Fax to 1-800-550-8601, attention SCRA Servicing.
- Mail to Navy Federal Credit Union, PO Box 3302, Merrifield, VA 22119, Attn: SCRA.
eMessage is the fastest route if you’re deployed and have internet access; you get a timestamp and a message thread you can refer back to. If you fax, print the confirmation page. If you mail, use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of the date you submitted. That date matters if there’s ever a dispute about whether you filed within the 180-day window after separation.
After You Submit
Navy Federal asks that you allow up to two billing cycles for processing. An SCRA specialist reviews your documentation and verifies your active-duty status through the Manpower Data Center, and may reach out if anything is missing or unclear.1Navy Federal Credit Union. Request for Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Benefits
Once approved, the rate reduction is applied retroactively to your active-duty start date. If you’ve been paying 18 percent on a credit card for six months since entering service, the difference between 18 percent and six percent for that entire period is forgiven and credited to your account. Any interest above six percent that would have accrued during the protected period is permanently forgiven, not deferred, and your monthly payment is reduced accordingly.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 50 USC 3937 – Maximum Rate of Interest on Debts Incurred Before Military Service
Check your statements carefully for the first few billing cycles after the adjustment. Confirm the rate on each account dropped to six percent or below, and verify that retroactive credits appeared. If something looks off, send a follow-up eMessage referencing your original submission.
If the Request Is Denied or Not Applied
Most denials stem from incomplete paperwork or from accounts that were opened after your active-duty start date rather than before it. Contact Navy Federal’s SCRA unit directly first to resolve the issue.
A creditor can technically challenge the rate cap by arguing to a court that your military service doesn’t materially affect your ability to pay the higher rate. If Navy Federal denies or fails to apply the benefit, the SCRA provides a private right of action, meaning you can sue for violations. The U.S. Attorney General can also bring civil actions against violators, including claims for monetary damages.7National Credit Union Administration. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Your installation’s legal assistance office can review your situation and help you escalate if needed.