{"menuItems":[{"label":"How to prequalify for USAA credit cards","anchorName":"#how-to-prequalify-for-usaa-credit-cards"},{"label":"USAA prequalification vs. preapproval","anchorName":"#usaa-prequalification-vs-preapproval"},{"label":"USAA prequalified credit cards alternatives","anchorName":"#alternatives"},{"label":"What credit score do I need to prequalify?","anchorName":"#what-credit-score-do-i-need-to-prequalify"},{"label":"Bottom line","anchorName":"#bottom-line"}]}
USAA exclusively offers prequalification to its members. Before you can receive preapproval offers in the mail or check your prequalification opportunities, you’ll need to be eligible for membership and go through the membership signup process. Once that’s out of the way though, checking your prequalified offers is easy.
How to prequalify for USAA credit cards
Prequalify online
So long as you’re a USAA member, checking out your prequalification opportunities is simple:
Log in to your USAA account
On the far right of the second navigation bar, click on My offers.
In the new section below, you’ll see a list of various offers available to you. This can include special reward offers on existing accounts, as well as prequalification offers.
Since most USAA credit cards require good or excellent credit to qualify, you’ll need at least a good credit score of 670 to prequalify for USAA credit cards.
USAA preapproval credit cards
If you’re a USAA member, USAA may also send you preapproval card offers in the mail. These are cards that USAA is confident you’ll qualify for if you choose to apply. You stand a good chance of obtaining these cards if you apply for them, but examine the card terms and features carefully — preapproval offers aren’t necessarily going to be the best fit for your financial needs.
Who is eligible for the USAA?
You’re eligible to join the USAA if:
You’re an active, retired or separated veteran with an honorable discharge from the U.S. military.
You’re an eligible family member of a USAA member. This including spouses, widowers, un-remarried former spouses and children/step-children.
You can start the USAA membership application by visiting their website and clicking “Join USAA” on the top navigation bar of the homepage.
USAA prequalification vs. preapproval
A prequalification offer means USAA has checked your credit with a soft pull and believes you might be a fit for select number of cards. This isn’t a guarantee of approval, but receiving such an offer through your account means that USAA believes you have a good chance of qualifying.
Preapproval on the other hand is a card offer USAA will send to you in the mail. While still not guaranteed, you’re very likely to qualify for the preapproved USAA card offer, as preapproval offers are sent only after a more thorough review of your credit score and finances.
USAA prequalified credit cards alternatives
If you’re not a USAA member and don’t expect to become one anytime soon, you still have a few options for checking your prequalified credit card offers. Several major providers, including Citi, American Express, and Chase offer prequalification on select credit card products.
What credit score do I need to prequalify?
You’ll need at least a good credit score of 640 or higher to prequalify for USAA’s credit card options. Like other providers, the cards that USAA offers you during prequalification comes down to the credit score of the card versus your financial and credit history.
Bottom line
While USAA prequalification offers won’t fall in your lap if you’re not a member, it couldn’t be simpler to check once you have an account up and running.
If prequalification is important to you but you don’t wish to become a USAA member, check out other providers to find one that fits your needs.
Images: Shutterstock
Hide
Sign up for the Finder newsletter
Your one-stop shop for maximizing your money - get the best deals in personal finance with our weekly newsletter!
Kevin Chen is a personal finance expert and a former writer at Finder. His expertise has been featured in CNN, U.S. News and World Report, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com, among other top media.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Advertiser Disclosure
finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
