Best USAA Credit Cards for Military Members and Veterans

USAA has a long-standing reputation for serving military families with integrity, reliability, and customer-first service. While it isn’t as well-known for flashy rewards programs or large sign-up bonuses, USAA offers a solid lineup of credit cards designed with simplicity, low fees, and military-friendly policies in mind.

If you’re eligible for USAA membership, these cards can be a dependable part of your financial toolkit, especially for servicemembers and veterans who value straightforward benefits, strong customer service, and credit products built for military life.

In this guide, we’ll highlight the best USAA credit cards and help you decide which one might work best for your needs.

The Quicklist:

Top USAA Credit Cards for 2025

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Who Can Get a USAA Credit Card?

USAA membership is open to those with military ties, including:

• Active-duty, Guard, and Reserve servicemembers
• Veterans who received an honorable discharge
• Spouses and children of USAA members

If you’re eligible, you can apply for USAA membership online, then browse its full range of financial products, including credit cards, insurance, and banking services.

Related: Does USAA Offer Credit Monitoring?

Military-Friendly Benefits with USAA Credit Cards

SCRA Benefits

USAA offers Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protections, including:

• Reduced interest rates (as low as 4%) on pre-service balances
• Fee waivers during qualifying active duty periods

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Most USAA cards waive foreign transaction fees—ideal for deployments, overseas PCS, or international travel.

Exceptional Customer Support

Military life comes with unique challenges, and USAA’s support team is highly rated for helping with card management during deployments, PCS moves, or emergencies.

No Annual Fees

All USAA credit cards come with no annual fees for active-duty servicemembers, which keeps things simple and affordable.

A Note About USAA and the SCRA

USAA has long been known for honoring the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which entitles active-duty servicemembers to interest rate caps and fee reductions on credit products. For years, USAA automatically applied these benefits when members notified them of active-duty status.

However, in recent years, USAA has faced scrutiny for failing to consistently apply SCRA benefits or for mismanaging some members’ accounts. In 2019, the company settled with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) over violations related to credit reporting and SCRA protections. 

While the company took corrective action, it serves as a reminder to always double-check your interest rates and account terms, even with a military-friendly institution like USAA.

What You Can Do:

• After opening a card, notify USAA of your active-duty status (even if they already have it)
• Ask to confirm that SCRA protections are applied to any pre-service balances
• Monitor statements for accuracy and call support if anything seems off

USAA is still known for excellent customer service and responsiveness, but like with any financial institution, advocating for yourself matters, especially when you’re juggling deployments, PCS moves, or training schedules.

How USAA Credit Cards Compare to Other Military Card Options

Compared to other financial institutions that serve the military, like Navy Federal Credit Union or PenFed, USAA’s credit cards are more conservative. They don’t offer large welcome bonuses or premium perks, but they excel in simplicity, security, and ease of use.

You might consider pairing a USAA card with another rewards-heavy option like the American Express Platinum Card or Chase Sapphire Preferred to maximize benefits while still enjoying USAA’s customer-first service.

How USAA Credit Cards Compare to Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU)

USAA and NFCU are two of the most trusted names in military finance, but they approach credit cards differently. Here’s how they stack up:

Feature	USAA	Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU)
Rewards	Basic rewards, focused on simplicity	Offers stronger rewards programs with rotating categories, bonuses
Annual Fees	Mostly no-fee cards, except for Eagle Navigator ($95)	Mix of no-fee and premium cards with waived fees for military
SCRA/MLA Benefits	Offers protections, but history of inconsistent application	Proactive MLA enforcement, often waives all fees and interest
Travel Perks	Modest (Eagle Navigator offers some)	Decent point value for travel redemptions; light travel perks on Flagship® and GO REWARDS® cards
Card Variety	5 main personal cards	Broader mix, including business cards and co-branded options
Customer Service	Excellent mobile app and military-trained support staff	Consistently high service ratings and robust fraud resolution tools

Bottom Line:

• Choose USAA if you want to keep your finances under one roof, prefer simplicity, or already use USAA for insurance, banking, or loans.
• Choose NFCU if you’re looking for richer rewards, more competitive bonus offers, or if you’re willing to optimize with more than one card.

Many military families use USAA for insurance and banking, and supplement with an NFCU rewards card or an Amex or Chase travel card to round out their setup.

How USAA Credit Cards Compare to PenFed Credit Union Cards

Like USAA, PenFed Credit Union offers financial products tailored to military families and federal employees, but their approach to credit cards differs. PenFed offers stronger sign-up bonuses and competitive cash back categories, while USAA keeps things simple and service-driven.

Here’s how they stack up:

Feature	USAA	PenFed Credit Union
Rewards Programs	Straightforward (1.5% cash back or 2X points in key categories)	More competitive rewards, including 2%–5% cash back with some cards
Sign-Up Bonuses	Yes– between $200-$300 depending on the card and spend	Yes—often $100–$300 depending on card and spend
Annual Fees	Mostly $0 (except Eagle Navigator: $95)	$0–$95; some waived with PenFed Honors Advantage
Card Variety	5 core personal cards	5+ cards including premium, travel, and no-annual-fee options
Military Protections (SCRA/MLA)	Good protections, but check for consistent application	Waives fees under MLA, though less widely discussed
Eligibility	Military-affiliated individuals and families	Open to all, but military affiliation helps unlock extra perks
Travel Perks	Modest (Visa Signature or Amex protections)	Solid on premium cards like the Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature®
Customer Service	Highly rated, military-trained support	Generally strong, but less personalized than USAA’s military-focused model

Bottom Line:

• Choose USAA if you prioritize military-specific support, low-maintenance cards, and value in banking, insurance, and credit under one roof.
• Choose PenFed if you want stronger cash back or travel rewards, welcome bonuses, or if you don’t mind managing credit cards separately from your core bank.

Many servicemembers pair USAA for insurance and loans with PenFed or NFCU for more competitive credit card rewards, especially if they’re comfortable managing accounts across institutions.

Check out our guide to the best PenFed credit cards for military members to learn more.

How to Combine USAA Credit Cards for Maximum Benefit

While USAA’s credit card lineup is relatively small, you can strategically pair two cards to create a balanced setup that matches your lifestyle, without overcomplicating your finances.

Start With Your Spending Habits

Think about where your money goes each month:

• Gas and on-base spending? Make the Cashback Rewards Plus Amex your go-to card.
• Widespread everyday spending? Use the Preferred Cash Rewards Visa to earn 1.5% cash back on everything else.
• Carrying a balance or want a low-interest safety net? Add the Rate Advantage Visa Platinum as a backup.

You can use one card for everyday rewards and keep the low-APR card on standby for emergencies or big purchases.

Balance Benefits and Complexity

Many military members prefer to keep things simple, especially when deployed or managing finances from afar. Consider the following approach:

• 2-card strategy: Use one card for high-category spending (gas/groceries) and one for everything else.
• 3-card strategy: Add a low-interest card only if you carry a balance or want a backup emergency card.

There’s no need to over-rotate through cards or constantly chase the best category. USAA’s value is in long-term stability, not gaming the rewards system.

Credit and Deployment Readiness

Multiple cards can boost your overall available credit, improving your credit utilization ratio. But they also require more vigilance when you’re deployed or traveling.

Make sure to:

• Set up autopay and alerts
• Securely store login info
• Monitor for fraud (USAA is great at this, but it’s still good practice)

Time Your Applications Strategically

Even though USAA allows you to hold more than one credit card, it’s important to pace your applications. Submitting too many applications in a short period can hurt your credit score and reduce your chances of approval. Here’s why:

• Multiple hard inquiries: Each credit card application triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report. A few inquiries spread out over time is fine, but too many at once can signal risk to lenders and temporarily lower your credit score.
• Short-term credit score dip: Your score may drop a few points after each inquiry. While this drop is usually small and temporary, applying for several cards at once can amplify the effect, especially if you’re planning a large purchase like a car or home.
• Red flag to underwriters: Lenders may view multiple recent applications as a sign of credit-seeking behavior, which could make you appear overextended or desperate for credit—two things that could result in a denial.

Tip: For most people, applying for no more than 1–2 cards every six months is a safe rule of thumb. Before applying for a second USAA card, make sure your credit score is in good shape and your recent account activity is stable.

Being strategic about timing helps protect your credit and increases your chances of getting approved for the cards that truly fit your financial goals.

USAA’s Mobile App and Customer Service: Built for Military Life

USAA’s highly rated mobile app and customer service are often cited as two of the company’s biggest strengths—and they matter even more when you’re managing finances during PCS moves, deployments, or travel abroad.

The USAA Mobile App

USAA’s mobile app is consistently rated among the best in the financial services industry. It allows you to:

• Pay bills and manage credit card payments
• View and redeem rewards
• Lock/unlock cards instantly
• Report lost or stolen cards
• Set up spending alerts and autopay
• Contact support securely from anywhere in the world

At the time of writing, the app has a 4.6-star rating and over 360,000 reviews on the Google Play Store. 

Whether you’re overseas or stateside, the app gives you fast, secure control over your credit card and all your other USAA accounts.

World-Class Customer Service

USAA’s customer service is tailored to the needs of the military community. Members frequently report fast response times, empathetic service reps, and a strong understanding of military-specific situations.

Key support features include:

• 24/7 phone and online assistance
• Easy card management during deployment or PCS
• SCRA-trained staff who proactively apply military benefits when notified
• Robust fraud protection and resolution support

When you’re dealing with changing duty stations or tight schedules, having a support team that understands your lifestyle can make all the difference.

Final Thoughts: A Solid, Military-Friendly Option—But Know What You’re Getting

USAA credit cards may not come with big splashy sign-up bonuses or 5X travel rewards, but they offer simplicity, security, and military-aware service. That makes them a great fit for:

• Members who like having all their accounts under one institution
• Deployed service members who value low-maintenance financial tools
• Families looking for no-hassle, flat-rate rewards and low fees

That said, if you’re someone who’s looking to maximize travel rewards, chase big welcome bonuses, or fine-tune your spending across multiple cards, USAA probably shouldn’t be your only issuer. It’s a strong financial base, but you may want to supplement it with NFCU, PenFed, Amex, or Chase cards to fully optimize your rewards.

The good news? You don’t have to choose just one. Use USAA for the services they do best, and mix in other military-friendly cards that match your lifestyle, goals, and travel patterns.

Fact-checked by Ariana Arghandewal.

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