ECP Collaborates with Discover® Global Network to Expand MILITARY STAR Card Acceptance

Tommy Ward
Senior Vice President,
Exchange Credit Program

This fall, the Exchange Credit Program is taking a historic step toward making MILITARY STAR_® the one card for the military community.

ECP is teaming up with Discover® Global Network to allow the MILITARY STAR card to be more widely used across Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force installations worldwide. The collaboration means the MILITARY STAR card can be used with Discover’s existing network, making acceptance seamless and convenient.

In fiscal 2023, the MIILTARY STAR card generated $439 million in value for the military community. The Exchange Credit Program has operated military-specific credit services for nearly 45 years, helping service members and families build credit responsibility. Expanding on-installation acceptance of the MIILTARY STAR card further strengthens Quality-of-Life support for all who serve and have served.

Finding a solution

As military resale works closely with third-party providers, such as name-brand restaurants, food delivery services and other businesses that bring needed tastes of home to Warfighters and families, the Exchange recognized the need to team up with a credit-card network to expand MILITARY STAR card acceptance.

Many retail and food providers, as well as other on-installation vendors, had proprietary point-of-sale systems and applications that challenged acceptance of the MILITARY STAR card.

Through research, the ECP team found that by tapping into Discover’s network, the MILITARY STAR card can ride the same rails as all other credit card transactions while still retaining its private-label status. By moving from a closed-loop network to the Discover network, additional services and providers on military installations can quickly begin accepting the MILITARY STAR, including concessionaires, name-brand restaurants, third-party vendors as well as certain Morale, Welfare and Recreation and Services activities and more.

Why it matters

The MILITARY STAR card, which is administered by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, is accepted at all Army PXs; Air Force and Space Force BXs; Express convenience stores; Navy, Marine and Coast Guard Exchanges; and commissaries.

Using Discover’s network allows ECP to “turn on” MILITARY STAR acceptance for any partner that takes credit cards without change to their existing processes. There’s no need to go through system testing and integration; no change in accounting; no additional equipment; and no additional support required to accept MILITARY STAR. For businesses across the installation, this makes accepting the MILITARY STAR card as seamless as accepting any other form of credit.

The end result? MILITARY STAR will be the card of choice on military installations worldwide.

Important to know

Associates—and the military community—should keep in mind that the MILITARY STAR card will not be a Discover card. ECP’s collaboration with Discover simplifies acceptance—but MILITARY STAR remains a private-label card that authorized cardholders can use on the installation or the exchanges’ websites. ECP is still the card issuer and processor, simply using Discover’s network to complete transactions.

New cards will be issued to cardmembers this fall. MILITARY STAR still has all the terrific benefits such as an industry-leading low APR; a rewards program; food and fuel discounts; and special promotions—but it will be even better. The card will have a modern design, chip technology for security, tap-to-pay capability and mobile wallet options.

A team effort

While the ECP team has worked tirelessly to bring wider acceptance of the MILITARY STAR card to fruition, directorates across the organization are making expansion possible. Thank you to IT, General Counsel, contracting, Merchandising and Corporate Communication for being tremendous partners in making this historic moment possible.

I’m looking forward to watching the MILITARY STAR card benefit grow—and I can’t wait to swipe my brand-new card at a new vendor partner this fall.