How do I apply for a USAA credit card?

The USAA credit card requirements differ based on what card you want to apply for. So, for instance, their USAA Secured Visa Platinum card is accessible to people with bad credit. But they don't graduate and you have to reapply for another card when your credit improves. Their USAA® Rewards American Express card is only available to applicants with good credit, so a score of 700+ is required. They pull Equifax credit data and if you are denied they may give a counter offer.… read full answer

All 7 USAA credit cards that are available as of Feb. 2020 require good credit or better, so there is no “easiest” USAA credit card to get right now. They’re equally hard or easy to get, depending on how you look at it.

The USAA Secured Credit Card was once the easiest USAA card to get, but it was discontinued. In the “Credit Builder” section of the USAA website, the company says a new secured USAA card will be available soon. Reports online suggested the new secured card would be released in September of 2019, but those reports were incorrect.… read full answer

USAA only offers credit cards to members, and you must be in the military, family of military, or a veteran to become a member. Some USAA credit cards offer special military-focused spending rewards, like the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus Credit Card’s 5% back on the first $3,000 spent on military bases and gas (combined) annually.

The best USAA cash back credit card is the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card because it offers 5% cash back on up to $3,000 spent per year at gas stations and on military bases. It also gives 2% cash back on the first $3,000 spent at supermarkets each year, along with unlimited 1% cash back on everything else. The Cashback Rewards Plus Amex Card has a $0 annual fee and requires good credit for approval.… read full answer

For people who’d prefer to earn cash back rewards at one flat rate on all purchases, the best USAA cash back card is the Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card. It offers 1.5% cash back on everything. Plus, as a Visa card, it will be accepted by more merchants than an Amex card. The Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card also has a $0 and requires good credit.

Those are the only two USAA cash back credit cards on the market right now. And the choice really comes down to your spending habits.

Here are the USAA cash back credit cards:

• USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature: 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Good credit needed. $0 annual fee.
• USAA Cashback Rewards Plus Amex: 5% cash back on the first $3,000 spent per year on gas and military base purchases. 2% back on the first $3,000 per year at supermarkets and 1% on other purchases. Good credit needed. $0 annual fee.

The real question is whether the best USAA credit card for cash back is actually the best cash rewards card overall. There are a lot of great offers out there from other issuers. They’re at least worth a look. For example, Citi Double Cash offers 2% cash back on all purchases with a $0.

For big spenders, Amex Blue Cash Preferred offers 6% cash back on the first $6,000 spent per year at supermarkets, unlimited 3% back at gas stations and 1% everywhere else. It has a $0 1st yr, $95 after annual fee.