How do I apply for a USAA credit card?

You can only get pre-approved for a USAA credit card if you have received a pre-approved offer via mail. At the moment, there’s no way to check for pre-approval online.

What you should know before applying for a USAA credit card:

Even though USAA does not offer a pre-approval tool online, there are a few ways to gauge your approval odds before applying. First, make sure you’re actually eligible for … read full answerUSAA membership. In particular, you must be a member of the U.S. military, or an eligible family member of someone who has served in the armed forces.

If you’re eligible for USAA membership, you can move on to figuring out which card is the best fit. Fortunately, there are USAA credit cards are available to people of all credit levels, from bad to excellent. So, you should find an offer that will approve you.

Here’s what to do instead of USAA credit card pre-approval:

• Check your credit score: You can check your latest credit score for free on WalletHub. Your score will give you a good sense of which offers you’re likely to qualify for. Most USAA credit cards require good credit or better. If you have bad credit, USAA’s secured credit cards are your only options.
• Use an online tool: There are tools that match you with a card, based on your credit score as well as your expected monthly spending and payments. Getting a match isn’t the same thing as being approved, though. You can get a recommendation using WalletHub’s free CardAdvisor tool, which considers offers from other major issuers.
• Call customer service: USAA members may call (800) 531-8722, enter their member ID number, and ask to speak to a credit card specialist. You can ask the specialist for advice about which USAA card would be the best fit for you. They won’t be able to give you definitive answers, but they can point you in the right direction.
  
  If you aren’t a USAA member yet, you can find out whether you’re eligible and join online.
• Assess your own needs: If you have good or excellent credit and plan to pay your bill in full every month, focus on USAA’s rewards credit cards. If not, consider an offer with a 0% introductory APR, either on new purchases or balance transfers.

There’s no way to check for USAA credit card pre-approval. But if you’re eligible for USAA membership, you should be able to find a card that will approve you.

The main USAA credit card requirements are that an applicant must be at least 18 years old with a valid Social Security number. Applicants must also meet specific residency, income, and credit requirements. Some requirements may vary depending on the card.

USAA Credit Card Requirements

• 18+ years old
• Physical U.S. address (no P.O. boxes)… read full answer
• Proof of enough income to make the monthly minimum card payment
• Good credit or better
• Social Security number

If you apply for a USAA card, it’s important that you enter all required information completely and accurately. Knowingly reporting false or misleading information on a credit card application is a federal crime.

You can check your USAA credit card application status online or by phone at 1 (800) 531-8722. It should only take a few minutes to find out whether your USAA application is approved, denied, or pending.

How to Check Your USAA Credit Card Application Status Online

1. Create a USAA account if you don’t already have one, and log in to USAA’s website.… read full answer
2. Go to your Inbox.
3. Navigate to Message Center in My Alerts & Actions.
4. View your application status: approved, denied, or pending.

Typically, you’ll receive a decision on your USAA credit card application within 7 business days. And many applicants are approved much sooner than that. If you haven’t heard back within a reasonable time frame, you can always call customer service to ask about the delay. When calling, you’ll need to provide your USAA number and Social Security number so that USAA can match you to your application.

You may not like what you learn when you check your application status. But those who get denied can still ask USAA to reconsider by calling 1 (800) 531-8722.