USAA Rewards™ American Express® Card ReviewReviews, rates, fees, and rewards details for The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card. Compare to other cards and apply online in secondsJohn KiernanWalletHubNo membership fees0% intro APR on balance transfersHigh rewards rate2,500 points initial rewards bonusNo intro APR on purchasesBalance transfer feeRequires excellent credit
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Lower Cost of Existing Debt." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.
The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card has a $0 annual fee, a 0% foreign transaction fee and solid rewards in everyday spending categories. USAA Rewards Amex cardholders earn 3 points per $1 spent dining out as well as 2 points per $1 spent on gas and groceries, plus 1 point per $1 on everything else. USAA Rewards Amex points are worth a penny apiece on average, which means the card’s earning rates amount to 1% to 3% cash back. That also means the initial bonus of 2,500 points after your first purchase is worth about $25.Info about the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card has been collected by WalletHub to help consumers better compare cards. The financial institution did not provide the details.
WalletHub Rating Breakdown
User Reviews
3.8/5
258 reviewsRead and write reviews
Editor’s Review
3.7/5
John Kiernan, Credit Card EditorRead full review
Market Comparison
Market Comparison
3.1
The Market Comparison is a key component of the WalletHub Rating, as it measures how appealing the terms of a card are compared to a pool of over 1,500 credit card offers monitored by WalletHub. To ensure cards are evaluated for their most relevant purpose, we score each card across various cardholder needs and select the rating for the need with the highest score, which is “Lower Cost of Existing Debt” for this card.
Fees
5.0
Cost
2.5
APR
3.6
3.1/5
Compared against 1,500+ credit cards
KEY TERMS
Accepted Credit Scores
Accepted Credit Scores
Excellent Credit
Annual Fee
$0
APR on Purchases
15.15% - 31.15% (V)
Balance Transfer
0% intro APR for 15 months, 15.15% - 31.15% (V) APR after that
Balance Transfer Fee:5%
Rewards
Get 2,500 bonus points with your first purchase.
Earn 3X points per dollar spent on dining.
Earn 2X points per dollar spent on gas and groceries.
Earn 1X points for every dollar spent on all other purchases.
Redeem points for cash, merchandise, gift cards and more.
USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card's Additional Info
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USAA membership is available to active and former military and their eligible family members.
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Your Balance Transfer must post to your account within 90 days of account opening for the Introductory APR to apply to the transaction.
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Security Benefits: Chip card technology has added security when used at a chip-enabled terminal and greater acceptance worldwide. Zero liability coverage for unauthorized transactions if your card is lost or stolen. Collision damage waiver coverage pays for physical damage and theft to most rental vehicles. Get account balances and transaction history by sending a text message. Access your account on usaa.com or from a mobile device.
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Travel Benefits: Auto Rental Coverage, Travel Accident Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage, Baggage Delay and Reimbursement.
The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card has a $0 annual fee, a 0% foreign transaction fee and solid rewards in everyday spending categories. USAA Rewards Amex cardholders earn 3 points per $1 spent dining out as well as 2 points per $1 spent on gas and groceries, plus 1 point per $1 on everything else. USAA Rewards Amex points are worth a penny apiece on average, which means the card’s earning rates amount to 1% to 3% cash back. That also means the initial bonus of 2,500 points after your first purchase is worth about $25.
The USAA Rewards Amex card does not excel when it comes to financing, however. Its regular APR could be above average, depending on your creditworthiness when you apply. There is a 0% introductory offer for 15 months on balance transfer and a temporarily low rate available to eligible military personnel. You can learn more below, from our summary of the key things you should know before deciding whether or not to apply for the USAA Rewards Amex.
USAA Rewards American Express Review Highlights:
Initial bonus. The USAA Rewards American Express Card gives you 2,500 points after your first purchase. This bonus is below the market average of 30,381 points/miles, according to WalletHub’s latest Credit Card Landscape Report.
Best for dining, gas and groceries. The USAA Rewards Amex will give you 1 point per $1 spent on most purchases, which is disappointing considering that the average rewards card offers 1.25 points/miles per $1. Fortunately, not all purchases are subject to this paltry earning rate. You get 2 points per $1 spent on gas and groceries as well as, 3 points per $1 spent on dining - with no earning caps. That’s certainly better, allowing the card to be above average if you use it solely for dining, gas and groceries.
No annual fee. The USAA Rewards American Express Card will save you about $21.58 per year in annual fees compared to the average credit card but $0 relative to most other USAA cards. Besides, there are hundreds of no annual fee credit cards available, and many of them offer better rewards.
Potential for a very high APR. The USAA Rewards Amex Card’s regular APR depends on your overall creditworthiness. The low end of the advertised range is well below the average among credit cards for people with excellent credit, according to WalletHub research. However, the high end crushes the averages for cards that require good credit and fair credit, respectively. So you definitely don’t want to use the USAA Rewards American Express Card to carry a balance from month to month if you’re assigned a regular rate at the high end of the range.
Low military APR for a limited time. The one definitively attractive aspect of this card’s financing offer is the special 4% rate that military members get for a year during deployment or official relocation. Plus, if you have a balance on this card when you begin active duty, you’ll keep that 4% rate until one year after you finish. And if you serve in a “qualified military campaign,” you’re entitled to a rebate for all finance charges from that period. But none of that is unique to the USAA Rewards Amex. All USAA cards have the same offer, and the Rewards Amex is far from the best of the bunch.
Good credit or better required. More than 40% of potential applicants won’t be able to meet the USAA Rewards American Express Card’s minimum credit requirement. So you may want to double-check your credit score for free on WalletHub before applying. Even if you decide against this particular card, knowing where your credit stands will go a long way in helping you find the right credit card for your needs.
Must qualify for USAA. Not everyone can get a USAA credit card. You need to be a current or former member of the military or an immediate family member of such an individual. So don’t waste your time if you lack the armed-forces ties.
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Compare The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card vs. Popular Alternatives
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Lower Cost of Existing Debt." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.
Editor’s Rating
3.7
User Reviews
3.8
Market Comparison
3.1
fees: 5.0
cost: 2.5
APR: 3.6
4.1WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
4.1
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Finance New Purchases." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.
Editor’s Rating
4.2
User Reviews
3.6
Market Comparison
4.2
fees: 4.0
rewards: 5.0
cost: 4.3
APR: 3.8
(258)
(80)
annual fee$0
annual fee$0
Purchase Intro APRNot Offered
Purchase Intro APR0% for 15 months
transfer intro apr0% for 15 months|Transfer Fee:5%
transfer intro apr0% for 15 months|Transfer Fee:3% intro fee ($5 min) for each transfer in first 4 months, after that 5% ($5 min) for each transfer
Can't find what you are looking for? Submit your question about USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card to our community. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by the issuer of this card. In addition, WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.
The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card credit score requirement is 750 or better. That means people with excellent credit have a shot at getting approved for the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card.
You should note that while your credit score is an important factor, there are plenty of other things that will impact your chances of being approved for the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card, too. Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, recent credit inquiries, number of open accounts, housing status, and...
The USAA Rewards Amex minimum payment is the full balance if your balance is under $15 or 1% of your balance plus finance charges and fees if your balance is higher than $15.
You can get instantly approved for the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card. The best way to make sure your application is processed as quickly as possible is to apply online.
If the issuer requires more time to review your application, you should receive a decision within 7-10 business days. Meanwhile, you can call (800) 531-8722 to check on the status of your application.
The starting credit limit for the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card isn't disclosed. Each cardholder's credit limit is determined based on a number of financial factors such as their:
Credit score
Income
Amount of debt
You will find out your exact credit limit once you're approved for a new account.
There's no USAA Rewards Amex daily cash advance limit. You have a monthly cash advance limit though, which is the maximum amount of money you can withdraw using your Amex card, in a billing cycle.
You can find this on your monthly statement so you know when to stop. This cash advance limit is only part of your credit limit, and it is different for every cardholder. Don't withdraw too often though, because...
No, you do not get lounge access with the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card. The card does, however, offer other travel related benefits, such as:
Rental car insurance
Travel and emergency assistance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Travel accident insurance
Baggage delay reimbursement
If you're looking for a credit card that offers lounge access, check out the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card, instead. With this card, you can get access to 1,300+ airport lounges around...
Share your insights and review for the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card
5
19%
4
59%
3
13%
2
5%
1
5%
3.8
258 reviews
258 reviews
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Steven Donnelly @sjdonnelly
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1 Star Rating
Was in my 6th year as an USAA American Express Card Customer. Always paying my entire balance within the 30 day billing cycle never going over the limit. Not one late payment. Then after paying my bill and receiving multiple messages (email & text alerts) this week stating my credit limit was max and balance due ZERO I attempted to make a purchase and the transaction was declined. According to customer service USAA had put a "systematic" 10 day hold on my card with no explanation further as to any valid reason. I requested to escalate the issue and received the same "vague" information. My payment had been drawn from my banking account and USAA had my money but was freezing my account and did not ever notify me. The customer services reps did not apologize and acted like this was an OK thing to do. At that point I decided to close this account. This card never increases in credit limit and if this is how USAA treats long term customers that served in the US military I want nothing to do with them.
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1
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oladimej @oladimej
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1 Star Rating
RUN! The card takes 2 business days to be made and another 7-10 business to be shipped to you. If you are approved and order the card online, express and expedited shipping is not available. You will have to wait up to two weeks to receive the card. This information is not shared with you until after you approve and request the card to be shipped.
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Temple Davis @Templegriffin
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1 Star Rating
I've had this card 3 years now, never been late, never over charged until just recently my occurred interest pushed me over the limit, my statement comes out the 15th . That very day I went over the limit, they reported this to the credit bureau my credit tanked 28 points. I paid my balance off in full on the 28th (my bill isn't even due until the 9th). Here it is almost 2 months later and they still refuse to report my 0 balance! They tried passing the buck to the credit bureau but duh! How dumb do you think we are? You're company is responsible for reporting!!!! If you are that quick to report someone for going over the limit you should be that quick to report the consumer paying the balance! Be careful I would avoid this card and company! They definitely don't help or care about veterans or military!!
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0
0
Michelle Ragins @shellyragins
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1 Star Rating
An absolute scam of a card; very misleading. They say 0% on balances transfers for 18 months, BUT if you make any purchases on top of the transfer - they apply the payments you make to the balance transfer instead of the purchase you made and charge you interest on your new purchases even though you paid off your new purchases within 30 days. Avoid this card!
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Rhonda @teamlauren4eva
Its been my experience that nearly EVERY credit card does this. That's how they trap you by offering differing APRs on purchases and balance transfers(or differing time periods for the 0% promo to expire) and then if you use BOTH you have no control how the payment is allocated so you could be stuck paying interest on purchases indefinitely. I avoid mixing purchases with balance transfers - I try to have separate cards in order to avoid the fuzzy math that nearly all credit cards try to fool you with. This annoying practice is most common when a new balance transfer promo is offered on an existing card - the purchases and the balance transfer APR won't match, and then you are caught in an interest trap.
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Sandra @stgilliam
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5 Star Rating
Verified Customer
Great card from USAA. Used for travel. Great interest rates @ 9.9%. Cash advances and balance transfers are a one time charge of 3% and are charged 9.9 % interest rate. Award program is also very competitive. Can be used for all purchases.
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perenial44 @perenial44
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1 Star Rating
Verified Customer
"USAA internet a discombobulated , disorganised confused mess." From day ONE over a SIX YEAR PERIOD trying to use the internet to conduct transactions through the internet , about every 3 months has required me to after extraordinarily long wait times to contact USAA customer service. Is USAA american express run out Mexico or what. IS ANYONE SOBER BEHIND THE WHEEL at USAA ? "Near non existent customer service" ,[last time I contacted USAA , I talked to 3 different agents, 3 different times having to retrieve a email security code, 1 HOUR 37 MINUTE 9 SECOND HOLD TIME . only to be told USAA is only allowed to credit your account for USAA mistakes one time a year.
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davehuyett @davehuyett
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1 Star Rating
I would select ZERO STARS if I could. The worst credit card offer scam I ever fell for - my bad. I signed up for a good offer from USAA that was in reality too good to be true. The offer was for an extra 15,000 rewards points if I spent $500 in the first 3 months. I did that. Never got the credit. I called and was told it would be resolved within 1 - 2 billing cycles. I waited. Nothing. I called back, sorry sir, we have no record of you signing up for that offer. I called back again. They then responded that my application (submitted weeks before the deadline) had to be approved before 12/31/18. Mine was not approved until 1/3/19. Apparently they can take as long as they like and I have no recourse. Card is now shredded. Account closed.
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1
Johnny Mata @johnnym27
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1 Star Rating
Do not use it out of the USA to rent a car because you'll be on your own. My card was charged x 3 by an american rental car company after I returned a rented car, I reported it to this bank 3 mos ago and not even temporary credit has been issued while investigating the charges. When call this bank to find out result of the investigation each and every representative I have talked to play stupid and tell you they don't know anything about it and tell you they would write a note but yet when you call the following day, the next representative do not see the note written the day before. Shady business....PS..they would charge interests on the above charges which they are not supposed to while it's under investigation(dispute) no wonder why they wouldn't issue you the temporary credit. Always check your balances and payment deductions.
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TurkishGamer @turkishgamer
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4 Star Rating
I am generally happy with this credit card, but it doesn't really go above an beyond like my other credit card that I have. I would recommend it to others, but with the advice to try to pay everything off every month or else the charges will be a lot. The convenience charges on a few random thing is easily avoidable, so it is something people like me who want to keep a great credit and pay minimum for a credit card go for. The customer service on this is just OK. Not great, but doesn't give you such a hard time either like some companies.
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5
2
Mike You @mike.finneh
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5 Star Rating
Really love this card, I initially wanted it for the points. When I got it I was really surprised about how low the apr is. I love cards such as this that I own that offer you things back when you charge. This card overall is a win win. Love that you can redeem certain perks through this card, I don't leave home without this card.
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Review USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card
WalletHub is committed to transparency and editorial independence. The information about the following cards has been independently collected by WalletHub: USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card and PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
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