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USAA Cash Rewards® American Express® review

Megan Horner
Megan Horner
Last updated:  

Please note: This card has been discontinued, and it is not available on our site.

Discontinued product

This card has been discontinued, and it is not available on our site. Compare other credit cards or take Finder's credit card quiz to find one that fits your needs.

How to apply for the USAA Cash Rewards® American Express®

Eligibility criteria

  • You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
  • You are at least 18 years old
  • You are a member of the military, a veteran who was honorably discharged, or an eligible family member of military personnel

Required documents & information:

  • Your name, residential status, and residential address
  • Your Social Security number
  • Your email address, phone number, and date of birth

USAA Cash Rewards® American Express®

USAA continues its line of credit cards geared toward military service members and their families with the USAA Cash Rewards® American Express®. Active military members will benefit from a very low 4% interest rate on all balances for 12 months while on deployment, as well as complete rebates for finance charges while they are on military campaigns. And they and their families will enjoy a card with no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees.

Having the ability to earn up to cash back on purchases made with the card is a very attractive feature. So is Visa’s suite of perks, which includes rental car insurance, price protection and extended warranties, concierge services, and travel assistance. These benefits all round out a card that cardholders may be able to acquire at a purchase, balance transfer, and cash advance interest rate as low as 13.65%.

Benefits of the USAA Cash Rewards® American Express®

  • Possibility for a relatively low 13.65% interest rate. Based on your credit, you may qualify for a purchase, balance transfer, and cash advance APR as low as 13.65% variable.
  • No annual fee. You can use the USAA Cash Rewards® American Express® without having to maintain it with an annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fee. You can use your card abroad without incurring foreign transaction fees.
  • Cash rewards. You can receive up to cash back based on your spending on everyday purchases.
  • No cap on cash rewards. You can earn as much cash back as your spending allows. Your cash rewards are also redeemable anytime.
  • Special benefits for military service members. Military service members on deployment enjoy additional benefits like a reduced 4% interest rate for up to 12 months on all balances and complete rebates on all finance charges while on military campaigns.
  • Rental car insurance. When you pay for a rental vehicle with the USAA Cash Rewards® American Express®, you will be covered for any damages to the vehicle.
  • Shopping benefits. The USAA Cash Rewards® American Express® offers price protection and extended warranties for your purchases.
  • Concierge service. Visa’s concierge service can help you find accommodations for dining, hotels, travel, entertainment, and special occasions. It can also provide everyday services like fulfilling household needs and sending reminders for important dates or events.
  • Travel services. The USAA Cash Rewards® American Express® comes with travel assistance for travel emergencies, medical needs, legal services, baggage delay, and more.

Features of the USAA Cash Rewards® American Express®

  • No grace period for cash advances or balance transfers. If you take out cash with the card or initiate a balance transfer, you’ll accrue interest immediately.
  • Balance transfer limit. You can initiate balance transfers up to of your credit limit.
  • Restrictions on balance transfers. Balance transfers from USAA accounts are not allowed.
  • Balance transfer and cash advance fees. Balance transfers and cash advances each come with a 3% transaction fee, capped at $200 per transaction. Cash advance fees are waived when you make electronic transfers to USAA accounts.
  • Only for members of the military and their family members. To qualify for the card, you need to be an active military member, a veteran who was honorably discharged, or an eligible military family member.
  • Sliding APR scale. Depending on your credit, you could qualify for a purchase, cash, and transfer variable APR as low as 13.65% or as high as 27.65%.

Compare other rewards credit cards

Name Product Welcome offer Rewards Annual fee Filter values
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
$300 after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months
6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% after that and on all other purchases
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)
Perfect for families: Get up to 6% on everyday purchases and a welcome offer worth $300. This heavy-hitter rewards card has uncontested value. Terms apply, see rates & fees
Apply now
View details
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
2% at US gas stations and select US department stores, 3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that and on all other purchases
$0
This everyday cashback card offers a higher than average welcome offer for no annual fee, letting you earn $200 after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months. Terms apply, see rates & fees
Apply now
View details
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 5% on Lyft, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases
$0
This solid 1.5% cashback card gets even better with the addition of up to 5% back in categories like travel, drug stores and dining.
Apply now
View details
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USAA Cash Rewards® American Express® reviews and complaints

USAA is not yet accredited with the Better Business Bureau, but it earns an A- rating from the agency as of October 2020. As of this writing, 92% of its reviews are negative and it has over 1,422 customer complaints. USAA customers report unexpected changes to reward balances and a complicated customer service process.

The company earns a Trustpilot score of 1.4 out of 5 as of October 2020. Many negative reviews cite unsympathetic customer service and difficulty getting fraud claims resolved. Positive reviews say customer service is responsive and the bank’s products have strong features.

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2 Comments

    Default Gravatar
    Bob
    July 21, 2017

    I have three high interest credit cards with balances I’d like to transfer to your Visa Signature card. The total of all the balances = $21,000 and my credit score is 756. I’m a Navy veteran, honorably discharged in 1977. Would I be eligible for this card and would I be able to transfer that much of a balance?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      Adrienne
      July 21, 2017

      Hi Bob,

      Your situation sounds like one where a balance transfer credit card might help. USAA states that the credit limit they might extend to you is dependent upon your application criteria and credit history. If your application is approved and the credit limit you are granted high enough, you can use up to 95% of that credit limit for transferring your balances.

      As a Navy vet (thank you for your service!) you are eligible for a USAA membership. You can apply for membership at the same time as you apply for your new card.

      I hope this information was helpful.

      Cheers,

      Adrienne

      Reply
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