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Up to 5%
Cash back
$0
Annual fee
11.9% to 25.9%
Purchase APR (variable)
670
Recommended credit score
Product Name | USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card |
---|---|
Card type | American Express |
Annual fee | $0 |
Purchase APR | 11.9% to 25.9% variable |
Balance transfer APR | 11.9% to 25.9% variable |
Balance transfer fee | 3% |
Cash advance rate | 11.9% to 25.9% variable |
Cash advance fee | 3% of the cash advance amount |
Foreign transaction fee | None |
Interest free period | Up to 25 days |
Late payment fee | Up to $35 |
Returned payment fee | Up to $35 |
Additional cardholder fee | $0 |
Review by
Kliment Dukovski is a credit cards writer. He's written over 600 articles to help readers find and compare the best credit cards. Kliment has also written on money transfers, home loans and more. Previously, he ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies.
The main feature of the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card is its rewards — you get one of the highest cashback rates on gas and purchases made at military bases. You also get decent cash back on groceries.
Furthermore, if you’re deployed, if you’re in a permanent change of station or if you enter active military duty, you’ll get a low APR for a period.
However, you’ll likely need good to excellent credit to qualify for the card, and you must be eligible for USAA membership.
Redeem your cash back at any time by accessing the USAA Rewards Service Center at the USAA website or call 1-800-980-USAA (8722).
Earn 5% on gas and purchases made at military bases on up to $3,000 in combined purchases, then 1%, and 2% back on supermarket purchases on up to $3,000 per year. After that, and on everything else you buy, earn 1% back.
You won’t have to pay an annual fee to own the card.
Where you spend: | The amount you spend: | Cash back earned: |
---|---|---|
Gas stations | $1,500 | $75 |
Military bases | $1,500 | $75 |
Supermarkets | $2,000 | $40 |
Other | $5,000 | $50 |
Total | $10,000 | $240 |
If your annual spending looks similar to our example, you would earn a total of $240 cash back per year.
Note that the 5% cash back applies for combined purchases of $3,000 annually for the first two categories, and 1% after that. This means if you spend $3,000 on gas but $0 at military bases, you would earn $150 cash back on gas alone.
You won’t pay any fees for transactions made outside of the US. Similar cards have a foreign transaction fees of up to 3% every time you use your card abroad.
If you make a late payment, you’ll only pay up to a $35 fee. With other cards, you could end up with a penalty APR of up to 31%.
If you’re deployed or in a permanent change of station, you’ll enjoy a low 4% fixed APR on all balances for 12 months. And if you enter active military duty, you’ll receive the same 4% fixed APR on all current balances until one year after you complete active duty. After that, a variable APR of 11.9% to 25.9% will apply.
Enjoy zero liability for unauthorized charges, secure logon options and support in case of identity theft.
You’re limited to $3,000 in combined purchases for the 5% rate and $3,000 for the 2% cashback categories. After reaching the cap for either, you earn 1% back.
You start off with a variable APR of 11.9% to 25.9%. If you’re looking to transfer your balance from another account, or if you want to make a large purchase and to pay it off interest-free for a prolonged period of time, check out 0% intro APR cards.
Some credit card providers like USAA offer benefits for military service members and their families. Compare the best cards for service members, or take a look at similar cashback credit cards.
To apply for this card, you must be:
If your application is approved, you can choose your military affiliate card design.
Apply with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher. For a lower APR, make sure you apply with a credit score that’s on the upper end of the scale and income enough to easily repay your debt.
Customers who are happy with the card love the high cashback rewards on gas. They also praise the USAA customer support.
USAA is not 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.
If you’re affiliated with the military and looking for a credit card that earns one of the highest cashback rates on gas, the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card could be helpful.
Make sure you check out other credit cards to compare your options and choose the best card for you.