Union Plus is one of the few widely-marketed credit cards with a benefit that has nothing to do with points or cash back: a cash hardship grant program run through the AFL-CIO Mutual Benefit Plan, available to eligible cardholders regardless of which of the three APR variants they choose.
Three variants, three different rate structures
Per Capital One's official Union Plus page (verified August 2026):
| Variant | Intro APR | Ongoing APR |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Rewards | 0% for 12 months | 16.4%–26.24% variable |
| Rate Advantage | 0% for 15 months | 14.4%–24.4% variable |
| Primary Access | None | 26.74% variable (flat) |
Rate Advantage carries the lowest ongoing range of the three, trading a slightly shorter 0% window (15 vs. potentially longer promos elsewhere) for a materially lower long-term rate.
The hardship grant benefit
Members with at least 3 months of good-standing union membership can apply for AFL-CIO Mutual Benefit Plan hardship grants ranging from $500 to $2,700, depending on grant type. Capital One's page specifies a limit of up to three grants of each type over a member's lifetime, capped at one grant per type per year — the account must be in good standing at the time of the covered loss event.
Who this fits
This card is restricted to AFL-CIO union members and affiliates — it isn't available to the general public. For eligible members, the combination of a standard Capital One product (Mastercard acceptance, normal bureau reporting) plus a union-specific safety net is the differentiator; the APR structures themselves are comparable to other major-bank 0%-intro cards.
Compliance note
ClearValue Lending is not a bank, card issuer, or financial advisor. This is editorial content built from Capital One's own published disclosures. Union Plus Credit Card is issued by Capital One, N.A. APRs, grant amounts, and eligibility criteria may change — verify current terms at capitalone.com before applying.