Compare USAA credit cards

The bank of choice for military families, with solid reward cards to boot.

USAA has carved out a niche as the premier bank for military families. Its hallmark is its special interest rate for active military personnel, but a few of its cards offer strong rewards as well. Standouts include the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card and USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card.

Compare USAA credit cards

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Name	Product	APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for Purchases	Annual Fee
USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card		8.90% to 25.90% variable	$0	This card offers the same low rate for purchases, cash advances and balance transfers.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
USAA® Secured American Express® Card		11.90% to 21.90% variable	$35	Get travel benefits (no foreign transaction fees), retail benefits and collision damage waiver coverage on your rental car.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
USAA® Secured Visa Platinum® Card		11.90% to 21.90% variable	$35	Get a card that can help you build credit. Determine your own credit limit. When you apply, you'll open a two-year certificate of deposit (CD) with $250 to $5,000. The balance of your CD is your credit limit.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card		11.9% to 27.9% variable	$0	Earn 2X points per dollar spent on gas and dining. Earn 1 point for every dollar spent on all purchases.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card		13.90% to 27.90% variable	$0	Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no limits or category restrictions. Pay no annual fee, no penalty APR and no foreign transaction fees.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card		11.9% to 27.9% variable		You can get cash back (unlimited) on groceries and gas and on most purchases and get car rental insurance as well.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card		13.90% to 27.90% variable	$0	Earn $ bonus after you make in purchases within the first days of opening your account.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
USAA Military Affiliate Cards		12.90% to 27.90% variable	$0	Earn 2,500 bonus points when you make your first purchase and earn 1x points on all purchases.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The American Legion USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card		12.65% to 27.65% variable	$0	This card lets members show their support for The American Legion. Earn 1 point for every dollar spent on your everyday purchases.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Wounded Warrior Project USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature Card		12.65% to 27.65% variable	$0	Get 2,500 bonus points after your first purchase and earn 1x points on all purchases.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Best USAA credit cards

Many USAA cards aren’t as powerful as products you’ll find from other major providers. But the bank offers solid cards for cashback and everyday rewards, and it’s an especially good choice if you’re a military member on active duty.

Best for cash back: USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card

USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card

Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no limits or category restrictions. Pay no annual fee, no penalty APR and no foreign transaction fees.

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This card is a good choice for most individuals and families, as it offers a simple flat cashback rate on all purchases.

• The perks

  • Annual fee: None.
  • Rewards: 1.5% cash back on all purchases. A simple, solid rate for most families.
  • Deployment and PCS rate. Receive a 4% fixed APR on all balances for up to 12 months when you’re on deployment or PCS. After that, receive an ongoing APR on all balances of 13.90% to 27.90% variable.
  • SCRA Rate. If you have a balance when you enter active military duty, you’ll receive a 4% fixed APR on the balance until one year after you complete active duty. After that, receive an ongoing APR on all balances of 13.90% to 27.90% variable.

• What to watch out for

  • No signup bonus. Other cards offering 1.5% cash back on all purchases often offer signup bonuses. Look into the Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card or HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card.
  • Potentially high APR. Depending on your credit, you may receive an APR for all purchases as high as 27.9% variable. The average credit card APR is around 16%.

Best for everyday purchases: USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card

USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card

• Earn 3X points per dollar spent on dining
• Earn 2X points per dollar spent on gas and groceries
• Earn 1X points for every dollar spent on all other purchases
• Get 2,500 bonus points with your first purchase
• Redeem points for cash, merchandise, gift cards and more

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This card offers strong rewards for dining, gas and groceries. And unlike similar everyday cards, your points are never capped. Redeem points for airfare, merchandise, cash and more.

• The perks

  • Annual fee: None.
  • Bonus points. Get a relatively easy-to-earn signup bonus of 2,500 with your first purchase.
  • Rewards: More for everyday purchases. Earn 3x points for dining out, 2x points for gas and groceries and 1x points on all other purchases.
  • Deployment and PCS rate.Receive a 4% fixed APR on all balances for up to 12 months when you’re on deployment or PCS. After that, receive an ongoing APR on all balances of variable.
  • SCRA Rate. If you have a balance when you enter active military duty, you’ll receive a 4% fixed APR on the balance until one year after you complete active duty. After that, receive an ongoing APR on all balances of variable.

• What to watch out for

  • Potentially high APR.Depending on your credit, you may receive an APR for all purchases as high as 27.9% variable. The average credit card APR is around 16%.

Best for low interest: USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card

USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card

• USAA's lowest rate card
• No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, no penalty APR
• USAA membership is available to active and former military and their eligible family members

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If you have excellent credit and plan on carrying a balance on your card, the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card might be perfect for you. That’s because it offers an APR on all balances as low as 8.9% variable. That’s quite a good rate, considering the average credit card APR is around 16%.

• The perks

  • Annual fee: None.
  • Potentially low APR. You may qualify for an APR on all balances as low as 8.9% variable.
  • Deployment and PCS rate. Receive a 4% fixed APR on all balances for up to 12 months when you’re on deployment or PCS. After that, receive an ongoing APR on all balances of 8.65% to 25.65% variable.
  • Deployment and PCS rate.Receive a 4% fixed APR on all balances for up to 12 months when you’re on deployment or PCS. After that, receive an ongoing APR on all balances of 8.90% to 25.90% variable.
  • SCRA Rate. If you have a balance when you enter active military duty, you’ll receive a 4% fixed APR on the balance until one year after you complete active duty. After that, receive an ongoing APR on all balances of 8.90% to 25.90% variable.

• What to watch out for

  • Potentially high APR.Depending on your credit, you may receive an APR for all purchases as high as 25.9% variable. The average credit card APR is around 16%.

Best for rebuilding credit: USAA® Secured Visa Platinum® Card

USAA® Secured Visa Platinum® Card

Get a card that can help you build credit. Determine your own credit limit. When you apply, you'll open a two-year certificate of deposit (CD) with $250 to $5,000. The balance of your CD is your credit limit.

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Pound for pound, there are better secured credit cards. But USAA’s product comes with a potentially low APR, and your security deposit will earn interest.

• The perks

  • Annual fee: None.
  • Potentially low APR. USAA guarantees your security deposit will grow. This is uncommon among secured-card providers.
  • Deployment and PCS rate. Receive a 4% fixed APR on all balances for up to 12 months when you’re on deployment or PCS. After that, receive an ongoing APR on all balances of 11.90% to 21.90% variable.
  • SCRA Rate. If you have a balance when you enter active military duty, you’ll receive a 4% fixed APR on the balance until one year after you complete active duty. After that, receive an ongoing APR on all balances of 11.90% to 21.90% variable.

• What to watch out for

  • Annual fee: $35.This might be more than you want to pay for a secured card. You’ll find other options that don’t have annual fees.

Best for intro APR: USAA Military Affiliate Cards

USAA Military Affiliate Cards

Earn 2,500 bonus points when you make your first purchase and earn 1x points on all purchases.

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Through USAA’s military-affiliate program, you can get a credit card emblazoned with your favorite military group’s design. You’ll also receive an intro APR on balance transfers.

• The perks

  • Annual fee: None.
  • Signup bonus: 2,500 bonus points. To earn them, just make your first purchase.
  • Intro APR: 0% on balance transfers for 12 months following your account opening. After that, your balance transfer APR will be 12.90% to 27.90% variable.
  • Rewards: Depends on provider. With the Visa version, you’ll earn 1x points on all purchases. With the American Express version, you’ll earn 2x points on gas and groceries and 1x points on all other purchases.

• What to watch out for

  • Balance transfer fees apply.For all balance transfers, you’ll pay a fee of 3% of the transaction.
  • Potentially high APR. Depending on your credit, you may receive an APR for all purchases as high as 27.9% variable. The average credit card APR is around 16%.

USAA rewards program

USAA reward cards offer either cash back or points.
If your card offers points, you can redeem them for rewards that include:

How can you redeem rewards?

To redeem rewards, log in to your credit card account on the USAA website. Then navigate to the USAA Rewards Service Center. You can also call 1-800-900-8722 to redeem your rewards.

How much are rewards worth?

USAA points are worth 1 cent apiece, which is standard across the credit card industry. For some rewards, points might be worth less than that rate. For example, 6,000 points may be worth only $50 in cash rewards instead of $60.

Typical card features and benefits of a USAA card

• No annual fee. Almost every USAA card has no annual fee. The exception is the USAA® Secured Visa Platinum® Card which has a $35 annual fee.
• Rewards.You’ll typically find rewards with USAA cards, except the bank’s low-rate and secured cards.
• No foreign transaction fees. All USAA’s cards come with no foreign transaction fees, making them great choices to take on trips abroad.
• Some signup bonus. Only USAA’s military-affiliate cards, USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card and USAA Rewards™ cards offer signup bonuses.
• Ongoing APR between 11% and 27% variable. USAA cards have a wide range of APRs. This makes them more attractive if you have excellent credit, as you may score a lower-than-average interest rate.
• No penalty APR. Some providers will assess penalty APRs to all your balances of around 30% variable if you make a late or returned payment. Luckily, USAA won’t.
• Special interest rates for those in active duty. USAA offers as low as a 4% fixed APR on all balances to eligible military members.

How to apply for a USAA card

To apply for a USAA card, visit the USAA website and click Get started.
If you have an account, enter your username and password. If not, click Get started now. USAA will verify your eligibility for its products.

Eligibility criteria

• You’re at least 18 years old.
• You are an eligible military affiliate who qualifies for USAA membership.

Information you’ll need

• Your name and residential address.
• Your Social Security number and date of birth.
• Your email address and phone number.
• Financial information like your annual income and income source.

How does USAA keep my credit card information secure?

USAA maintains a Cyber Threat Operations Center that constantly monitors online threats. It offers multiple tools for enhanced login security, such as CyberCode Text, Computer Recognition and Biometrics.

When you join USAA, you’re automatically enrolled in the bank’s security and fraud alerts program. If USAA spots suspicious activity on your account, it will notify you by text or email. Additionally, you can receive free CreditCheck Monitoring from Experian, which will alert you to changes in your credit reports.

USAA uses encryption software so your data is scrambled and safe from third parties. It also deploys virus and malware detection software.
Under USAA’s Zero Liability Policy, you never have to pay for unauthorized purchases on your account.

Bottom line

USAA offers solid cards for cashback rewards and everyday purchases. Because of its special interest rates, it’s a strong choice for military members in active duty.

If you’re not sure whether a USAA product is right for you, check out other credit card providers to compare more options.

Frequently asked questions

• How do I look at my monthly statement?

  Your monthly billing statement is available trough the USAA website and the mobile app.

• How is interest calculated for my USAA credit card?

  The interest on your purchases, cash advances and balance transfers is calculated by multiplying the daily periodic rate and the number of days in the billing cycle. These are multiplied by the average of your daily balances. You can avoid paying interest by paying off the entire amount owed before the end of a billing cycle.

• Are there fees associated with my USAA credit card?

  Depending on the card there are annual, balance transfer, late payment and cash advance fees. There are also certain cards that charge a foreign currency conversion fee. Have this in mind before you make your decision.

• How can I increase my USAA secured card credit limit?

  For secured cards, you may be able to increase your limit as your credit score increases. Develop a history of paying bills on time to build your credit limit.

• Can my APR change?

  The APR for purchases, balance transfers, cash advances, and penalty APRs will all vary with the market based on the prime rate.