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United Services Automobile Association (USAA) credit cards are highly rated as some of the best credit cards for customer satisfaction. But USAA credit cards aren’t widely available to most applicants, since financial products from USAA are only offered to consumers affiliated with the US military.
Applicants for USAA credit cards must either be on active duty or a veteran of a branch of the armed forces, or claim eligibility through a close family member who must also be a USAA member.
If you qualify for a USAA credit card, these are the best options for your consideration.
Best USAA Credit Cards of January 2024
USAA Eagle Navigator™ Credit Card
Regular APR
20.15% – 28.40% variable
Recommended Credit
Good, Excellent
- Simple rewards structure
- Good annual bonus
- Up to $100 TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® statement credit
- Limited to current or former military and eligible family members
- No welcome offer
Product Details
- Must be a USAA member, or become a member, to apply. USAA proudly offers membership to current and former military, as well as their spouses and dependents.
- 3X points on travel purchases – triple your points on tolls, rideshares, hotels, vacation rentals, flights and more.
- 2X points on everyday purchases – double your points on groceries, gas, dining, bills and more.
- Earn 10,000 Bonus Points every year – applies after you complete eligible hotel or car booking. That’s equal to a $100 travel value.
- Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® fee every four years.
- Enjoy valuable travel benefits and protection, including Auto Rental Coverage, Travel Accident Coverage, Trip Interruption Coverage, Baggage Delay Reimbursement, Purchase Security and Cell Phone Protection.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Points never expire for the life of the account and there are no spend caps on point earning.
- Redeem points your way, on your schedule.
- A fee of 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, cash advance and convenience check applies.
- $95 annual fee.
- See Rates and Fees for details.
- Terms and Restrictions apply. See the Guide to Benefits and Reward Terms and Conditions on USAA’s website for details.
USAA Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening
Regular APR
15.15% – 31.15% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good, Excellent
- Great rewards rates for everyday spending categories
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Comes with a handful of travel coverage benefits
- Unimpressive welcome offer
- No intro APR offer for purchases
- Potential for a high ongoing variable APR
Insider’s Take
The USAA Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card offers an excellent rewards rate for cardholders who spend a lot on everyday purchases like dining, groceries, and gas. The intro APR offer for balance transfers and convenience checks can also make this card a good choice for consolidating high-interest debts.
USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening
Regular APR
12.15% – 29.15% variable
Recommended Credit
Fair, Good, Excellent
- Intro APR offer
- Lower interest rate than other cards if you carry a balance
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- No rewards
- Balance transfers have a fee
- Like other USAA products, only available to current and former military as well as their spouses and dependents
Insider’s Take
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card could be a good option for USAA members who want the chance to consolidate and pay down high-interest debt. Since its intro APR offer applies to balance transfers as well as convenience checks, this card can also work well for cardmembers who want to access a short-term, interest-free loan. That said, using credit card convenience checks that arrive in the mail will still trigger a cash advance fee, and keep in mind that this card doesn’t earn rewards.
USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card
Product Details
- Must be a USAA member, or become a member, to apply. USAA proudly offers membership to current and former military, as well as their spouses and dependents.
- Intro Offer: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post within 90 days of account opening. After this time, the variable regular APR of 12.15% to 29.15% will apply to introductory balances.
- A fee of 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, cash advance and convenience check applies.
- Take advantage of USAA’s lowest interest rate card, whether you’re making a purchase or transferring a balance.
- Pay less in interest if you carry a balance from month to month.
- Enjoy the same low variable regular APR on purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances.
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- See Rates and Fees for details.
USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases
Regular APR
17.15% – 31.15% variable
Recommended Credit
Fair, Good, Excellent
- No annual fee
- No bonus categories to keep track of
- Intro APR period
- Comes with some travel coverage
- Like other USAA products, only available to current and former military as well as their spouses and dependents
- You can earn more cash back with more redemption options on other cards
- Charges a balance transfer fee
- No welcome bonus
Product Details
- Must be a USAA member, or become a member, to apply. USAA proudly offers membership to current and former military, as well as their spouses and dependents.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases, no category restrictions, no caps on cash back.
- Intro Offer: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. After this time, the variable regular APR of 17.15% to 31.15% will apply to these introductory balances.
- A fee of 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, cash advance and convenience check applies.
- No annual fee.
- Cash back rewards never expire.
- Redeem cash back your way, on your schedule.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- See Rates and Fees for details.
USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Credit Card
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening
Regular APR
17.15% – 31.15% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good, Excellent
- Generous rewards rate on gas station and military base spending (up to limits) each year
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Intro APR offer for balance transfers and convenience checks
- Comes with a handful of travel benefits
- No welcome offer
- No intro APR offer for purchases
- Annual spending caps for rewards limit its potential
- Potential for a high ongoing variable APR
Insider’s Take
The Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Credit Card is excellent for active duty military due to its rewards rate of 5% cash back on up to $3,000 in combined gas station and military base purchases each year. The card’s intro APR offer for balance transfers and convenience checks also makes it worth considering if you need to consolidate debt.
USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature® Credit Card
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening
Regular APR
15.15% – 31.15% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good, Excellent
- Decent rewards rate in everyday spending categories
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Comes with Visa Signature benefits
- Unimpressive welcome offer
- No intro APR offer for purchases
- Potential for a high ongoing variable APR
Insider’s Take
The USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature® Credit Card is a decent rewards credit card for consumers who want to earn points on everyday purchases with no annual fee. The card’s intro APR for balance transfers and convenience checks also makes it an option worth considering if you need to consolidate and pay down other debts.
USAA Secured Visa® Platinum Credit Card
Regular APR
28.15% Variable
- Reports to the three credit bureaus to help build credit
- Easier to get approved for than unsecured cards
- Comes with several travel benefits
- No rewards for spending
- Security deposit required
Insider’s Take
If you have imperfect credit or a limited credit history and you’re looking for a credit card that can help you improve your standing, the USAA Secured Visa® Platinum Credit Card can be a good fit. This secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit of at least $250 to get started, but it can help you build credit when you make on-time payments and use credit responsibly.
Compare the Best USAA Credit Cards
- USAA Eagle Navigator™ Credit Card: Best for travel rewards and transportation benefits
- USAA Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card: Best for rewards on everyday purchases
- USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card: Best for balance transfers and convenience checks
- USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate rewards
- USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Credit Card: Best for active duty military
- USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature® Credit Card: Best Visa card for rewards on everyday purchases
- USAA Secured Visa® Platinum Credit Card: Best secured credit card for credit-building
Best for travel and transportation benefits
USAA Eagle Navigator Visa Signature Credit Card
The new USAA Eagle Navigator™ Credit Card is a strong card choice for USAA members who travel and commute regularly. Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar on travel and transportation expenses such as flights, hotels, rental cars, tolls, and rideshares, and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. However, USAA credit cards don’t rank on our list of best travel credit cards because you can only redeem travel rewards through USAA.
USAA Eagle Navigator™ Credit Card benefits include up to $500 in cell phone protection, as well as extended warranty and purchase protection. This card also offers up to $100 credit toward TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® every four years, as well as 10,000 points each calendar year after you complete a hotel or car booking through the USAA Rewards Center using a minimum of 100 points.
Furthermore, the USAA Eagle Navigator™ Credit Card comes with trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver coverage and baggage delay reimbursement coverage.
The USAA Eagle Navigator™ Credit Card is the first USAA credit card with an annual fee, but the benefits and rewards go a long way toward offsetting the $95 annual fee. This card does not offer an introductory APR, but has a standard 20.15% – 28.40% variable APR.
Read our USAA Eagle Navigator credit card review.
Best for rewards on everyday purchases
USAA Rewards American Express Credit Card
The USAA Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card is a solid rewards card for USAA members who want to earn points on regular purchases with no annual fee. Not only can cardholders earn 2,500 bonus points after making a first purchase, but they also earn 3x points on dining, 2x points on groceries and gas station purchases, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
This card also has an intro APR offer that can work well for some consumers. Specifically, cardholders qualify for 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening (followed by 15.15% – 31.15% Variable APR). While this offer is decent for debt consolidation, other cards on the list of best balance transfer credit cards offer longer introductory APRs.
Other notable cardholder benefits of the USAA Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card include auto rental coverage, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and baggage delay and reimbursement. You can redeem your rewards for various options including travel, gift cards, and merchandise.
Best for balance transfers and convenience checks
USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum Credit Card
Like other USAA credit cards, the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card doesn’t have an annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees. That said, this card doesn’t offer any rewards either, mostly because it’s geared toward consumers who want to consolidate debt.
Interestingly, this card has a similar intro APR for balance transfers and credit card convenience checks as other USAA credit cards in our ranking. Specifically, new cardholders qualify for 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening (followed by 12.15% – 29.15% variable).
This card also comes with similar perks as other USAA credit cards in this round-up, including travel benefits like auto rental coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay and reimbursement coverage, and travel accident insurance.
Read our USAA Rate Advantage Platinum card review.
Best for flat-rate rewards
USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card
The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card is the only USAA credit card that offers flat-rate rewards for spending (as opposed to different earning rates based on the type of purchase you make), so it’s a good option for individuals who want to earn unlimited rewards that are simple to keep track of. After signing up, cardholders can earn 1.5% cash back on all their purchases with no limits. Plus, there’s no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no hidden fees to keep track of.
Even though this card offers cash back instead of points, you can still redeem rewards for flexible options like travel, gift cards, merchandise, cash back via a statement credit or a transfer to a USAA bank account, or charitable contributions.
Unlike other USAA credit cards with intro APR offers for balance transfers and convenience checks, the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card comes with 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (followed by 17.15% – 31.15% variable). That makes it a poor option for debt consolidation but a relatively good choice for people who want to pay down large purchases over time without interest.
Read our USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature card review.
Best for active duty military
USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Credit Card
The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Credit Card is best for active duty military because it offers 5% cash back on up to $3,000 across gas station and military base purchases yearly (then 1% back). Members earn 2% back on up to $3,000 in grocery store purchases yearly (then 1% back) and 1% cash back on other purchases.
Another benefit of the card is its 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 offer ends, a 17.15% – 31.15% Variable APR applies. The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus Amex Card comes with similar benefits as other USAA credit cards, including auto rental coverage, travel accident insurance, baggage delay reimbursement, and trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
Best Visa card for rewards on everyday purchases
USAA Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card
The USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature® Credit Card offers a decent rewards rate in everyday spending categories and on all your other purchases, and with no annual fee to boot. While the rewards rate isn’t quite as high as what you would get with the USAA Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card, the USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature® Credit Card is a Visa credit card that is more widely accepted worldwide. Cardholders also get a range of Visa Signature benefits, as well as auto rental coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel accident insurance, and baggage delay and reimbursement coverage.
Applicants who choose this card won’t pay an annual fee, and they can earn 2x points on dining and gas station purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. You can earn a welcome bonus of 2,500 bonus points after your first purchase. As with the USAA Rewards Amex Card, you can redeem rewards for travel, merchandise, gift cards, cash back, or charitable contributions.
Cardholders also get 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening, followed by 15.15% – 31.15% Variable APR. That makes the USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature® Credit Card an okay option for debt consolidation, but there are better balance transfer cards out there.
Best secured credit card for credit-building
USAA Secured Visa Platinum Credit Card
If you have poor credit or a very limited credit history, it’s possible you’ll need to apply for a secured credit card and build your score before you can get approved for an unsecured card. The USAA Secured Visa® Platinum Credit Card is the best option among USAA credit cards in this realm since it comes with no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no hidden fees.
This secured credit card also offers an initial credit limit of $250 to $5,000 based on your refundable security deposit amount, and it reports to the three credit bureaus to help you build credit over time.
This being said, other secured credit cards do the same thing, but offer more perks and rewards for your spending. With that in mind, you should compare the best secured credit cards available before you choose this offer.
USAA Credit Cards Frequently Asked Questions
Active duty military personnel, veterans, and eligible spouses and family members can join USAA and apply for the institution’s financial products.
USAA credit cards do not charge foreign transaction fees.
Paying your credit card statement balance in full each billing cycle can help you avoid paying interest on USAA credit cards.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best USAA Credit Cards
To come up with this list of the best USAA credit cards, we evaluated cards based on the following factors:
- Welcome bonus
- Annual fee
- Earning rewards
- Redeeming rewards
- Other benefits
We also consider how easy it is to take advantage of a card’s features—do you have to jump through many hoops to get maximum value, or is it straightforward to use?
You can read more about how we evaluate credit cards on our credit card rating methodology page.
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