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USAA credit cards: Which one is best for you?
Compare credit cards from the bank of choice for military families and read card reviews.
Compare USAA credit cards
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. Use our table to compare all USAA credit cards side-by-side and find the one that fits your needs.
Best USAA credit cards
The best USAA credit card is the one that offers the biggest value for the lowest cost, whether that’s cash back, military perks or welcome offer size. We compared a variety of factors across USAA credit cards, including rewards options, earning potential, interest rates, fees, introductory APR offers and other common credit card features. The USAA cards that stood above the others when it came to performance were selected for our best list in their respective category. Without any enormous changes to speak of across the USAA credit card line in 2020, our top USAA choices for 2021 remained largely the same.
- Why trust us? Unlike our competitors, Finder’s credit card experts research and write about all credit cards, including those from providers who aren’t partners on our site. Our trustworthy, unbiased evaluations are solely meant to help you choose the best credit card for your financial needs.
USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
| Welcome Offer | n/a |
|---|---|
| Rewards | 1.5% cash back |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Minimum Credit Score | 670 |
Best for rebuilding credit
How to apply for a USAA card
To apply for a USAA card:
- Visit the USAA website and select Products on the top menu bar.
- Choose Credit cards under the Banking column of the drop-down menu.
- Browse USAA credit cards by feature. When you find one you’re interested in, hit the Get started button.
- If you have an account, enter your username and password. If not, select Join online. USAA will verify your eligibility for its products.
Application restrictions
The USAA has a few simple requirements for credit card qualification:
- You’re at least 18 years old.
- You’re an eligible military affiliate who qualifies for USAA membership. To qualify, you must:
- Be in the US Military or honorably discharged.
- Be in the process of joining the US Military.
- Have a parent or spouse who is or was a member of the USAA.
You’ll need your:
- Name and residential address.
- Social Security number and date of birth.
- Email address and phone number.
- Financial information like your annual income and income source.
How many USAA cards can I have?
USAA doesn’t advertise a credit card limit on their website. However, some users on the MyFICO forums suggest that you can have multiple credit cards, but only up to a cap of $50,000 in total credit.
How to choose a USAA credit card
- Don’t worry about annual or foreign transaction fees. At the time of this writing, all USAA cards have no annual fees. Previously, the exception was the USAA® Secured Visa Platinum® Card, but this product is currently not open for new applications. All of USAA’s cards come without foreign transaction fees, making them great choices to take on trips abroad.
- Do you want rewards? You’ll typically find rewards with USAA cards, with the exception of the USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card.
- Are you looking for a welcome offer? USAA’s military-affiliate cards, USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card and USAA Rewards™ cards have welcome offers.
- Do you have excellent credit? If so, you may qualify for the bank’s lowest APRs — potentially as low as around 7% to 11% varible. If you don’t have excellent credit, you may receive an APR as high as around 26% variable.
- Are you currently in the military or are you about to enter the military? A few cards, including the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature®, offer specific benefits for being on active duty.
- What design do you want? A few USAA cards let you choose your card design. Not necessarily a deal-breaker, but a fun thing to keep in mind.
Types of USAA cards
USAA offers a wide range of credit cards for eligible USAA members: rewards, APR and military affiliate credit cards. USAA rewards credit cards allow you to earn points when you use your card to make purchases on eligible products. You can redeem these points on travel, gift cards and more. With a USAA cashback card, you’ll get a percentage of your eligible purchases as cash back. You’ll often receive this as a statement credit.
USAA also offers one credit card designed for those looking for a low APR. Strangely, this card doesn’t offer an intro APR period. Additionally, USAA offers a few cards that let you choose a particular military affiliate for your design. Make purchases with this card and USAA will make a small donation to your chosen affiliate.
USAA rewards program
USAA rewards cards offer either cash back or points. If your card offers points, you can redeem them for rewards that include:
- Airfare
- Merchandise
- Gift cards
- Cash rewards
- Donations to charities
- Cruise tickets
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 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.
Full list of USAA Bank credit cards
- The American Legion USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card
- USAA Military Affiliate Card
- USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card
- USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card
- USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card
- USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card
- Wounded Warrior Project USAA Rewardsâ„¢ Visa Signature Card
Alternatives to USAA credit cards
Frequently asked questions
How does USAA keep my credit card information secure?
USAA employs several of the standard issue security features for its card accounts, including fraud alerts, a zero liability policy and encryption software for its website.
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 decide.
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.
Read more on this topic
- Can I add my USAA credit card to Apple Pay?
Pay with your Apple device at participating locations.
- USAA credit card extended warranty: How does it work?
Each eligible item gets an additional warranty of up to one year.
- USAA car rental insurance: How does it work?
Every USAA credit card currently offers car rental coverage.
- How to activate a USAA credit card
There are two ways to activate your USAA credit card.
- How to get a USAA cash advance
Get cash from your credit line with your USAA credit card.
- How to increase your USAA credit limit
Use your card responsibly to increase your purchasing power.
- USAA credit cards with no foreign transaction fee
You can apply if you’re affiliated with the military.
- USAA balance transfer credit cards
Make a quick electronic balance transfer with a potentially low ongoing APR with USAA.
- How to prequalify for USAA credit cards
USAA members can get prequalified and see select offers that may be right for them.
- How to cancel a USAA credit card without calling
How to cancel a USAA credit card without calling, what to consider before you cancel and what to do after you close your account.