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USAA offers a suite of credit cards, all charging no annual or foreign transaction fees. However, other rewards credit cards may have more point-earning potential, especially since some USAA credit card cards don’t offer a sign-up bonus.
But the cards make up for the lower rewards with high customer satisfaction and travel benefits such as reimbursem*nt for trip cancellation or interruption and coverage for delayed checked bags. Typically you have to pay a high annual fee for a premium travel rewards card to get perks like that.
You must qualify as a USAA member to get a USAA credit card. Membership is open to current and former military members, their spouses and children.
» MORE: Best credit cards for active-duty military
Top USAA credit cards
USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card
USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Credit Card
Preferred Cash Rewards Visa® Signature Credit Card
USAA Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card
USAA Rewards™ Visa® Signature Credit Card
USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card
Our pick for: A low interest rate
Card details
Rewards: None.
Sign-up bonus: None.
Annual fee: $0
APR: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening. After this time, a variable regular APR will apply. (As of August 2022).
Why we like it
As of May 2022, the average credit card annual percentage rate among accounts assessed interest was 16.65%, according to the Federal Reserve — but you may qualify for an interest rate well below that average with the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card. Add to that a no-interest promotion for balance transfers and you have a card whose main purpose is to lower the cost of credit card debt.
» MORE: Review of the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card
USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Credit Card
Our pick for: Gas station spending
Card details
Rewards:
Earn 5% cash back on up to $3,000 per year in combined gas station and military base purchases.
Earn 2% cash back on up to $3,000 in grocery store spending per year.
Earn 1% cash back on other purchases.
Sign-up bonus: None.
Annual fee: $0.
APR: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening. After this time, a variable regular APR will apply. (As of August 2022.)
Why we like it
Few cards earn such a generous cash-back rate on gas, making the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Credit Card a solid option for anyone looking to save on commuting costs. Plus, it offers 5% cash back on military base purchases, including commissaries, exchanges and shoppettes.
» MORE: 0% APR and waived fees: Credit card benefits for active-duty military
Preferred Cash Rewards Visa® Signature Credit Card
Our pick for: Simple cash back
Card details
Rewards: Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Sign-up bonus: None.
Annual fee: $0.
APR: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening. After this time, a variable regular APR will apply. (As of August 2022.)
Why we like it
If you don’t want every purchase to turn into a “which card should I use?” dance at the register, a flat-rate card like the Preferred Cash Rewards Visa® Signature Credit Card keeps things hassle-free. If USAA’s other cardholder benefits aren’t as important to you as earning rewards, other no-fee cards earn 2% cash back on all purchases and offer a sign-up bonus.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s best cash-back credit cards
USAA Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card
Our pick for: Flexible rewards and a bonus
Card details
Rewards:
Earn 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants and fast food establishments.
Earn 2 points per dollar on gas and groceries.
Earn 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Redeem points for airline tickets or cruise bookings purchased through USAA, cash back as a statement credit or direct deposit to your USAA checking or savings account, merchandise, gift cards, or contributions to participating charities. Point values differ depending on how you decide to redeem.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 2,500 bonus points after your first qualifying purchase.
Annual fee: $0.
APR: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening. After this time, a variable regular APR will apply. (As of August 2022.)
Why we like it
You’ll earn elevated rewards in the big three spending categories — dining out, gas and groceries. Plus, there’s a modest sign-up bonus. And since rewards are in the form of points instead of cash back, there are a greater variety of redemption options, including travel. There’s no foreign transaction fee, but note that international acceptance may be limited as it is an American Express card.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s best no annual fee travel credit cards
USAA Rewards™ Visa® Signature Credit Card
Our pick for: Worldwide acceptance
Card details
Rewards:
Earn 2 points per dollar on gas and dining, including restaurants and fast food establishments.
Earn 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Like the USAA Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card, you can redeem points for airline tickets, cruise bookings, cash back, merchandise, gift cards or charitable donations. Point values vary.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 2,500 bonus points after your first qualifying purchase.
Annual fee: $0.
APR: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening. After this time, a variable regular APR will apply. (As of August 2022.)
Why we like it
The USAA Rewards™ Visa® Signature Credit Card doesn’t quite match the point-earning potential as its sibling card, the USAA Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card. But if you’re taking an international trip, a Visa card will be more widely accepted than one on the American Express payment network.
» MORE: If you’re traveling abroad, take 2 credit cards
