USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card review

How to apply for the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card

1. Go to USAA website and find the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card from the list of credit cards. Click Get started or Log on.
2. Fill out your application form.
3. Review your application and submit it.

The perks

• Cash back.
  Earn unlimited 1.5% back on everything you buy. Redeem your cash back at any time through the USAA Rewards Center.

• No annual fee.
  You’ll earn cash back without paying an annual fee.

You’ll also like …

• No foreign transaction fees.
  You won’t pay extra when you travel outside of the US. Other cards charge up to 3% of the amount of each transaction you make abroad.

• No penalty APR.
  Don’t worry about a APR spike for missing a payment. With other cards, the penalty APR can reach up to 31% and can last indefinitely.

• Deployment, PCS and SCRA rates.
  Enjoy 4% fixed APR on your existing balance when you enter active duty. Also, get 4% fixed APR on all balances for up to 12 months during deployment or permanent change of station. After 12 months the regular APR, ranging from 11.9% to 25.9% variable, will apply.

• Card protection features.
  Get support in case of identity theft, zero liability for unauthorized charges and secure logon options.

What to watch out for

• No intro APR period.
  This card is not for you if you’re looking to transfer your balance from another account or to make a large purchase and carry the balance for months without paying an interest. Consider 0% intro APR cards for that.

• No signup bonus.
  Similar cards offer bonuses up to $150 if you meet certain spending criteria during the first few months of card membership. Unfortunately, this card has no such offer.

Compare other USAA credit cards

Compare credit cards for military members

If you or a family member is in the military, you might benefit from a credit card with perks for service members. Or compare cashback cards with similar features to the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card.

• Cards with military perks
• Cashback cards

Sort by:

Name	Product	Welcome offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card		100,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. That's $1,250 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®	5x points on Lyft, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases	$95		Up to $1,250 signup bonus Earn a massive signup bonus of 100,000 points with this popular travel card. That's worth up to $1,250!	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi® Double Cash Card		N/A	Up to 2% cash back on purchases (1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay)	$0		Earn up to 2% on every purchase with no annual fee. This is the highest flat-rate cashback card on the market.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Chase Sapphire Reserve®		60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, a value of up to $900 through Chase Ultimate Rewards.	10x points on Lyft rides, 3x points on dining and travel after earning your $300 travel credit and 1x points on all other purchases	$550		Earn a huge signup bonus worth $900 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards with Chase’s premier card.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Sort by:

Name	Product	Welcome offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express		Up to $350: 20% back on Amazon.com purchases in the first 6 months for up to $200 back, plus $150 statement credit after you spend $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 (redeem as statement credit)	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)		Earn up to $350. In your first 6 months, you can earn a $150 statement credit when you spend $3,000, and earn 20% back on Amazon purchases made with your card, up to $200 total. Having 6 months to earn a welcome offer is a rare benefit as most cards give you only 3. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express		Up to $250: 20% back on Amazon.com purchases in the first 6 months for up to $150 back, plus $100 statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months	3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (then 1%), 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores and 1% on all other purchases (redeem as statement credit)	$0		Earn up to $250. You'll get 20% back on Amazon.com purchases in the first six months for up to $150 back, and $100 after you spend $2,000 in the first six months. This is a higher-than-average welcome offer for a card with no annual fee. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card		$200 cash back after spending $750 in the first 3 months. Fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back	5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle on up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back thereafter and on all other purchases	$0		A new cashback card that automatically awards 5% to your highest eligible spending category each billing cycle, on up to $500 (then 1%).	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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What should I know before I apply?

If you’re approved for the card, you can select your card design to show your military affiliation.

What credit score do I need?

You can apply for the card with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher. For a lower APR and a higher credit line, make sure to apply with a higher credit score and the income to support any potential debt you take on.

USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card reviews and complaints

Customers who are happy with the card praise the USAA customer support. They also claim they received relatively high credit line compared to other cards they own.

As of October 2020, USAA earns an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but it’s not yet accredited with the agency. 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.

I got the card. Now what?

• Download USAA Mobile app. With the app you can manage your account, redeem rewards, set up alerts, monitor your credit score for free and more.
• Enroll in Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Google Pay. Use your phone to make credit card payments.
• Customer service. Call USAA customer service at 210-531-USAA or 800-531-USAA for questions. Get the fastest service by calling from Tuesday through Friday, as recommended by USAA. You can also chat online with a customer support representative.

Bottom line

If you’re affiliated with the military and you want a card with unlimited cash back on all purchases, the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card could be a decent choice. Also, if you’re deployed, in a permanent change of station or you enter active military duty — you’ll get to enjoy low APR for up to 12 months.

However, if you’re not sure whether this is the right card for you, check out similar credit cards to compare your options and find the best card for your financial needs.

Frequently asked questions

• Does the card have a signup bonus?

  No, there’s no signup bonus with this card.

• Is there a minimum amount to redeem my cash back?

  No, there’s no minimum amount to redeem. However, you’ll need to redeem your cash back in increments of $1.

• Can I apply for the card if I'm not a USAA member?

  No, you must be a USAA member to apply for the card.