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USAA is a leading U.S. financial services company that provides several consumer cards for you to choose from. These cards cover multiple categories, from the best travel credit cards to the best cash back credit cards.
In this guide, we’ll compare credit cards from USAA to see which ones offer the best benefits depending on your lifestyle and financial situation. If you’re interested in applying for a new USAA credit card, here are some fantastic options.
Latest USAA personal card offers
Low Interest for Military Members
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USAA Rate Advantage Visa® Platinum Card
Current Offer
24/7 online access to USAA customer service
Annual Fee
$0
Unlimited Rewards for USAA Members
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USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card
Current Offer
Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 within 90 days of account opening
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Cash Back on Military Bases
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USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card
Current Offer
Earn 2% cash back on your first $3,000 in grocery purchases every year
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
5% cash back on gas and at military bases (combined first $3,000 annually), 2% cash back on groceries (first $3,000 annually), and unlimited 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
What is USAA?
USAA is a U.S.-based financial services company offering a wide range of products and services, including insurance, banking accounts, investment opportunities, and credit cards.
Founded in 1922 by a group of 25 Army officers, USAA started off as an automobile insurance company. Membership in the organization doubled to 30,000 during the Great Depression and continued to grow through the following decades. By 1969, USAA had grown to over one million members. The USAA Federal Savings Bank opened in 1983, and USAA.com was established in 1999.
Today, USAA serves over 12 million members and has a net worth of over $31 billion. The company has over 35,000 employees working in 11 U.S. offices and three international offices. The primary focus of USAA is to be the best provider of financial services, including credit cards, for the U.S. military community.
To qualify for a USAA credit card, you must be a USAA member. USAA membership is open to current and former military members, as well as their spouses and children. Since membership is specific to the military community, USAA cards are some of the best credit cards for military members.
What are the different types of USAA credit cards?
USAA offers a variety of credit card options for consumer use, including many no-annual-fee cards. The best no-annual-fee credit cards also provide additional benefits, so whether you’re interested in earning cash back, getting travel rewards, or finding a card with low interest rates — there’s a card for everyone. Consider the benefits of each card to find which would most align with your spending habits and financial needs.
USAA cash back cards
Cash back credit cards provide helpful earning potential when you use them for everyday spending. These types of cards are typically separated into cards that earn a flat, unlimited rate on every purchase and cards that earn bonus cash back on specific purchases, like gas and groceries.
If you don’t want to worry about bonus categories, consider a cash back card with a flat earning rate that you can use on every purchase you make. Or, if bonus categories align with your normal spending habits, go with a card that earns more cash back from those purchases.
USAA offers these cash back cards:
USAA travel cards
If you want to redeem your credit card rewards for travel, a USAA travel rewards card would likely make sense for you. Travel rewards credit cards often come with generous sign-up bonuses and earn points on every purchase; some even offer bonus points, depending on the type of purchase. For example, you may earn 1X points for every $1 you spend on most purchases, but a certain card could also offer 2X points on dining or gas station purchases.
When you use travel cards consistently on purchases in bonus categories, you’ll quickly rack up rewards you can redeem for travel, cash back, gift cards, and more. This is one of the best ways to fly for free using travel rewards.
Travel cards also provide additional benefits that bring a lot of value if you take advantage of them. For instance, the USAA Rewards American Express Credit Card offers 2,500 bonus points after your first purchase. And you can always contact the card’s concierge services if you need help with venue reservations, getting event tickets, or making shopping purchases.
USAA offers these travel cards:
- USAA Rewards American Express Card
- USAA Rewards Visa Signature Card
- USAA Military Affiliate Visa Signature Card
- USAA Military Affiliate American Express Card
Low-interest USAA credit cards
Low-interest credit cards can provide you with a line of credit that won’t accrue interest at a high rate if you carry a monthly balance. These types of cards don’t typically come with any earning potential, but they can help you cover necessary expenses if you’re on a tight budget. Some low-interest cards come with introductory APR offers on balance transfers or new purchases, but USAA does not offer these promotions at this time.
USAA offers this low-interest credit card:
How does USAA compare to other credit card companies?
While USAA has a specific focus on providing services and credit cards for military members, it still competes with other large credit companies for its share of market space. Big companies like American Express, Barclays, and Chase are a few of USAA’s specific competitors. Let’s see how USAA matches up against the competition.
USAA vs. American Express
Both USAA and American Express offer multiple financial services in addition to issuing credit cards. American Express provides savings accounts and payment processing services, while USAA focuses on different types of insurance, loans, and investment accounts.
USAA partners with Visa and American Express to process its card transactions, while American Express credit cards solely use the Amex payments network for transactions. The Amex payments network is accepted throughout 99% of the U.S., but Visa is accepted more widely around the world.
Overall, American Express has over 64,000 employees, and USAA has more than 35,000.
USAA vs. Barclays
Barclays issues credit cards and offers other financial products, such as savings accounts and personal loans. USAA has the same offerings but also delves into investments, insurance, and many other types of loans.
Barclays credit cards use both Visa and Mastercard to process their transactions. Visa and Mastercard are more widely accepted than Amex, so Barclays cards have a better worldwide acceptance rate when compared to USAA cards on the Amex payments network.
Barclays is based out of the U.K. and has more than 85,000 employees, while USAA is U.S.-based and has more than 35,000 employees.
USAA vs. Chase
USAA has a long history as a company, but it doesn’t quite match Chase’s history, which dates back as far as 1799. Overall, though, the two companies do provide similar services. Both companies offer banking accounts, investment options, different types of loans, and multiple credit card products.
Similar to USAA, Chase is a card issuer but not a payments network. Chase works with Visa and Mastercard for payment solutions around the world, while USAA works with Visa and Amex. This means Chase credit cards are more widely accepted because Visa and Mastercard are accepted in more locations than Amex.
Chase has more than 240,000 employees, which dwarfs the 35,000 at USAA.
Which USAA credit card should you choose?
The right USAA credit card for any cardholder depends on the qualifying purchases they make regularly. Since each card provides different benefits and perks, the best card for someone else might not be the best card for you. Consider the benefits of each USAA card to determine which would be an ideal addition to your wallet.
If most of your purchases come from everyday expenses, like groceries, gas, or dining, look into a cash back credit card. This type of card is best for everyday spending because you earn cash back on every purchase. When you earn flat-rate cash back on various spending categories, you’re basically getting a discount on all your purchases.
For the frequent traveler, a travel credit card makes more sense. These cards earn rewards instead of cash back, and when you earn back rewards, you can redeem for different things. One of the most popular redemption options is for travel, which includes airfare. So if you earn enough rewards, it’s easy to redeem them for discounted or free flights.
Remember, to qualify for any USAA credit card, you need to be an active or retired member of the military or be an eligible family member. This military status or connection allows you membership into the USAA organization but doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be approved for a USAA credit card.
USAA credit cards FAQ
Who is eligible for USAA credit cards?
USAA credit cards and other products are available to any USAA member. To join USAA, you must be a current or former military member. You can also join if you’re the spouse or child of a USAA member.
Is the USAA credit card good?
USAA offers several credit cards, each with its own unique perks and benefits. Here are a few examples:
- USAA Rate Advantage Visa® Platinum Card: Comes with a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for through 04/01/2026 billing cycle (for transfers that post by 12/31/2024). After that the rate will be 12.15% to 26.15% (variable).
- USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card: Helps you earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card: Helps you earn 5% cash back on gas and at military bases (combined first $3,000 annually), 2% cash back on groceries (first $3,000 annually), and unlimited 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
What credit score is needed for USAA credit cards?
You likely need a good or excellent credit score to qualify for a USAA credit card. Good FICO scores start at 670 and excellent FICO scores are above 800.
How do you apply for a credit card from USAA?
You can apply for a USAA credit card by visiting USAA.com. Look for the credit card page that includes all the available USAA credit cards and click on the one you’d like to apply for. Keep in mind, you’ll need a USAA membership to be able to start a USAA credit card application. Only current or former military members and their families can join USAA.
USAA credit cards: bottom line
USAA offers multiple credit card products to choose from, whether you’re looking for cash back, travel rewards points, or a card with a low interest rate. Be sure to look over each credit card benefit to find the one that best suits your financial goals.
Keep in mind that USAA credit cards and other USAA products are for USAA members. Active-duty military members and military veterans can join USAA, and so can their spouses and children. So if you’re not a current or former servicemember, you can still join USAA if your spouse or parent was or is in the military.
Unlimited Rewards for USAA Members
USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card
Current Offer
Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 within 90 days of account opening
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day