What is the average credit score needed to get approved for the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card?

The required credit score is not readily available for the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card. But, a good or excellent credit score is likely needed to get approved.

Does the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card report to all three credit bureaus?

Yes, the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card reports to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

Is theUSAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card application process lengthy? Can you prequalify?

To be eligible for the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card, you must be an active or retired service member or a family member. The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card application process also involves being a USAA member and submitting details about your military service, which takes a few minutes to complete.

What information is needed to apply for the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card?

Firstly, you need to become a member of USAA and enter details about your military service, plus submit personal details, your Social Security number and income details.

Does the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card have good customer service or satisfaction?

According to J.D. Power's 2021 US Credit Card Satisfaction Study , USAA ranks first, with an 860 out of 1,000 score. That demonstrates the company's excellent track record for customer service.

Does the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card have a mobile app or the option to pay or manage your account online?

Yes, USAA offers a mobile app for managing the Rewards American Express card account for iOS and Android customers in addition to an online account. Using the app and online portal, you can make payments, block or unblock your card, examine your statements, sign up for alerts and contact USAA customer service.

Does the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card raise credit limits automatically or charge for limit increases?

No. You must submit a request for a USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card credit limit increase via your USAA online account. The company considers account performance, credit bureau information, income before taxes and existing debt or obligations to determine whether to increase a credit limit.

Does the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card offer the option to freeze your credit/account or have other security features?

USAA offers the option to freeze or lock your credit card or credit account if you find your card is lost or stolen. You can do this through the online portal or mobile app. The card also has zero liability protection.

Does USAA Savings Bank offer other credit cards besides the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card?

USAA offers other credit cards like the Rewards Visa Signature Card, Cashback Rewards Plus American Express, Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature and Rate Advantage Visa Platinum card.

MoneyGeek’s Take

USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card Review

The no-annual-fee USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card for military members and families offers between one and three reward points per dollar spent on qualifying purchases. The MoneyGeek review of the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card also found it has a lucrative offer of 2,500 bonus points after your first purchase.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 1/20/2023

Reviewed By

Brett Holzhauer

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card doesn’t charge an annual fee and has great value for those who spend a lot in the categories where it gives the highest rewards. It gives three points for every dollar spent on dining, gas and groceries earn two points per dollar, and other eligible transactions earn one point. Because of its fee-free foreign transactions, you can continue to earn while abroad. MoneyGeek's USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card review covers the card's perks, drawbacks and other features to help you decide if it's the best fit for you.

Card Details to Know Up Front

Bonus, Fee or Feature
Has or Not
Has Annual Fee
Has Balance Transfer Offer
Has APR Offer
Cash Back Rewards
Travel Rewards
Hotel Benefits
Airline Benefits
Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
Has Foreign Transaction Fee
Recommended Credit
Excellent

Click to see this card’s rates, fees and how they compare to other cards in our dataset.

OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Credit Card Details at a Glance
Pros & Cons Explained
Bonuses & Rewards Explained
Our Verdict: Is This Card for You?

USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card at a Glance

The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card matches or gives bonus points by the dollar amount. Cardholders earn three points for dining, two points on gas and grocery expenses and one point for every other eligible transaction. For example, if you spend $20 on dinner, you earn 60 points. In addition, following your first eligible purchase, you receive 2,500 bonus points. There's also no annual fee or international transaction fees, and for the first 15 months, there's a 0% intro APR on balance transfers and convenience checks.

USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card
A good no-annual-fee rewards card with a balance transfer offer
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $0Annual Fee
- 1–3 pointsRewards Rate
- 15 monthsBalance Transfer Duration
Pros
No annual fees
0% APR offer on balance transfers and convenience checks
Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
Up to 3x points per dollar
No foreign transaction fees
Travel and purchase protection

Cons
Balance transfer fees
Cannot transfer points to other reward programs
No annual or foreign transaction fees
0% APR offer on balance transfers and convenience checks for the first 15 months, then a variable APR of 14.15% – 30.15% after that
Balance transfers and checks need to post to your account in the first 90 days for the 0% APR offer to apply
3% balance transfer fees
Earn 3x points per dollar on dining
Earn 2x points per dollar on groceries and gas
Earn 1x point per dollar on all other purchases
Earn 2,500 points after making your first qualifying purchase
Redeem points for cash, airline or cruise tickets, merchandise, to make a charitable contribution or for gift cards
Complimentary travel accident insurance, auto rental coverage, baggage delay and reimbursement, and trip cancellation and interruption coverage
Zero liability
Extended warranty
Access to a concierge service
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.

Pros & Cons Explained

The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card benefits are significant, but there are certain drawbacks that you should be aware of, too. That’s why we included the pros and cons of the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card in our review.

Pros

Benefits
Description
No annual fee
The no annual fee perk is very appealing for those who want to save on their purchases without any pesky fees.
Potentially high rewards
You can earn up to three reward points for every dollar spent on qualified transactions. There is no limit to the amount of reward points you may earn.
No foreign transaction fees
With no foreign transaction fees, you can make purchases abroad while earning the same benefits as you would in the United States, increasing your earning potential.
Welcome bonus
Each new cardholder earns 2,500 bonus points after making their first qualified transaction.
0% intro APR for balance transfers
During the first 15 months of card ownership, you do not pay interest on balance transfers or convenience checks that post to the account within 90 days of opening.

Cons

Drawbacks
Description
Not everyone is eligible
The card is not accessible to all; it’s only available to current and former military personnel and their family members.
Potentially high APR
The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card comes with an APR between 14.15% – 30.15%. That means you could pay a high APR, depending on your creditworthiness.
Balance transfer and cash advance fee
There is a 3% fee of the transaction amount on balance transfers and cash advances.
Late payment penalty
Every late or returned payment is subject to a fee of up to $35. The first late payment within six billing periods is charged a $25 late fee, and subsequent late payments incur a $35 late fee.

LOOKING FOR THE BEST CREDIT CARDS OF 2022?

Every month, MoneyGeek reviews credit cards to find the best in popular categories, like cash back and rewards and balance transfer offers. MoneyGeek's analysis found the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card is not among the best rewards cards for 2022. You can check out the cards on our best-of list of rewards cards or the top cash back cards.

Bonuses & Rewards Explained

The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card gives you points for every dollar spent, plus a bonus after your first qualifying purchase. You can earn one point per dollar of a purchase or double or triple the amount in bonus categories. Redeeming awards is easy, and there are many choices, including cash.

Bonus points

Each new cardholder earns 2,500 bonus points after making their first qualified transaction.

Earning rewards

The card assures you at least one reward point for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases. You earn the highest reward of 3x per dollar spent for dining out. For purchasing gas and groceries, you earn 2x per dollar spent, and one reward point for every dollar spent on other qualified purchases. Be aware that discount store grocery purchases do not earn reward points.

Multiple reward redemption options

You can use your reward points for airline travel or a cruise, to purchase merchandise or gift cards, donate them to charity, or get a cash reward as a statement credit or deposit to your USAA bank account.

Other Features Explained

There are other benefits of the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card that you may be interested in learning about aside from the rewards points.

Card Feature
Description
24/7 customer service
USAA offers online customer service that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Travel accident insurance
When you buy tickets for an airplane, ferry, cruise ship, train or bus transportation with your USAA Rewards American Express card, the travel accident insurance covers loss of life or limb.
Trip cancellation and interruption coverage
If your trip is canceled, you are reimbursed up to $1,500 per covered person for non-refundable prepaid passenger fare if you purchased the ticket using the card.
Auto rental coverage
The card's auto rental collision damage waiver provides 31 days of coverage worldwide, provided you pay for the rental car with your card.
Baggage delay reimbursement coverage
The baggage delay reimbursement benefit on the USAA Rewards American Express card reimburses you as much as $100 per day, up to three days, if your checked baggage is delayed, allowing you to purchase what you need, such as clothing and toiletries, while you wait for your baggage to arrive.
Travel emergency assistance
With travel emergency assistance, you can get customer support 24/7 for emergencies, including medical emergencies. Services include medical and legal referrals, prescription aid, and travel planning.
Shopping benefits
Shopping benefits help you get more out of the things you buy with your card. Extended warranty protection, for example, extends the duration of the manufacturer's warranty on items purchased with your card. Additionally, its concierge services provide assistance with restaurant, travel, hotel and entertainment bookings throughout the year.
Identity protection
Identity protection services include identity theft resolution solutions that offer a range of solutions if you’re the victim of identity theft. The personal identity theft coverage reimburses you up to $1,000 for covered expenses you incur to help recover your identity following a covered stolen identity incident.
Mobile app
The USAA mobile app works for iOS and Android users, providing services like accessing your credit card account, locking or unlocking your card, making payments, receiving alerts and automatic updates, reporting lost or stolen cards and contacting customer service.
Zero liability protection
You are not responsible for unauthorized transactions on your card if you report them.

MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP

The MoneyGeek review of the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card found it’s a great choice for military members and their families that want to save money on interest by transferring a high-interest credit card balance to take advantage of the 15-month no interest on balance transfers promo. If you plan your payments well, you could pay off the balance before the 0% interest period ends, saving a substantial amount of money.

Understanding the Fine Print

You must understand the benefits, fees, rates and other features associated with any credit card. Plus, know your rights as a credit card user. MoneyGeek covered the fine print details to help you evaluate whether theUSAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card is good for you.

Card Feature
Amount or Rate
APR
14.15% – 30.15% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Cash Back Rewards
Rewards Rate
1–3 points
Airline Benefits
Rewards Rate on Groceries
2x
Rewards Rate on Gas
2x
Rewards Rate on Dining
3x
Rewards Rate on Entertainment
1x
Rewards Rate on Online Shopping
1x
Rewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
1x
Rewards Rate on Air Travel
1x
Rewards Rate at Hotels
1x
Balance Transfer Fee
3%
Balance Transfer APR
14.15% – 30.15% variable
Late Fees
up to $35
Cash Advance Fee
3%
Cash Advance APR
14.15% – 30.15% variable
Foreign Transaction Fee
None

MoneyGeek's credit card glossary can assist you in becoming familiar with credit card terminology.

Annual Fee
There is no annual fee with the USAA Rewards American Express credit card.
Foreign Transaction Fee
The card charges no fees for international transactions.
Rewards Rate
Each qualifying purchase made with this card gets you a minimum of one reward point per dollar, up to a maximum of three points, depending on the purchase category.
Regular APR
The APR on purchases, balance transfers and cash advances ranges from 4.15% – 30.15%, based on your creditworthiness. The APR fluctuates in accordance with the market's prime rate.
Introductory APR for Balance Transfers and Convenience Checks
The APR on balance transfers and convenience checks is waived for the first 15 months for new cardholders if you post the transaction to your account within the first 90 days.
Balance Transfer and Cash Advance Fees
There is a 3% balance transfer or cash advance fee of the transaction amount.
Penalty Fee for Late or Returned Payments
You pay a fee of up to $35 for late or returned payments. The first late payment within six billing periods has a $25 late fee, and subsequent late payments get a $35 late fee.

WHERE TO FIND THIS INFORMATION?

When comparing credit cards to the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card, consider the annual fee, annual percentage rate (APR), rewards, bonuses and other important features. If you're comparing this credit card to another card you currently possess, your most recent credit card statement, the card issuer's website or mobile app should provide the information you need. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) credit card agreement database may also contain relevant information regarding the card issuer.

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card?

Other Considerations for USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card

Before you apply for a USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card, regardless of whether it is your only card or an additional card you are considering, take the following into account.

Things to Consider if This Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card

The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card is good as a first or only credit card; you’ll be happy with the no annual fee. But, you must be a military member or part of a military family to apply. Additionally, there is no cost for international transactions, so you can continue using it while abroad. Always make purchases in areas where the card can be particularly advantageous because it's best to align your expenses with the card's highly-rewarding categories like dining, gas and groceries. That ensures you can earn the most rewards out of the card.

However, if your frequent purchases don’t fit into one of the reward categories offered by the card, you should choose another card. Remember, the card may have a high APR, depending on your credit history, so if you carry a balance, you could pay a lot in interest.

Things to Consider if This Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet

The USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card may be a good addition to your wallet because of its good rewards in specific categories and no annual fee. You can use it for gas, groceries and eating out to get the high reward point earnings and another card for other categories if it gives better rewards than one point per dollar.

Also, the card's intro 15-month interest-free period on balance transfers and convenience checks is a bonus that may benefit cardholders who want to transfer a high-interest balance to the card and save money on interest.

In addition, if another card has foreign transaction fees, you can use the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card to pay for your expenses while abroad or to make online foreign transactions, avoiding fees.

WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS:

MoneyGeek conducts in-depth research on credit cards and card issuers using a comprehensive ranking system. The approach includes gathering data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau database, standardizing data points for card comparison, estimating average expenditure profiles, factoring in annual and initial bonuses for each card and calculating the three-year value of maintaining the card. Additionally, the methodology includes monthly re-ranking of the cards.

How USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card Compares to Other Cards

Although the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card's zero annual fee and significant rewards rates in specific categories did not make it one of the best-reviewed rewards cards, it did compare favorably to the majority of other cards. But you may find a higher reward rate on all purchases with another card.

Quick Comparison of the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card

USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card

Annual fee: None
Regular APR: 14.15% – 30.15% variable
Rewards rate: 1–3 points per dollar
Foreign transaction fee: None
Best for: Military members looking for a no-annual-fee card with significant rewards in categories they spend money in often

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Annual fee: None
Regular APR: 19.24% – 29.24% variable
Rewards rate: 1.5%
International transaction fee: None
Best for: Minimalist shoppers who want cash back for daily spending

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

If, after reading our review of the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card, you still have questions, have a look at the questions we answered below.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

If you're still debating applying for the USAA® Rewards™ American Express® Card, explore some of the other rewards cards available. If you prefer cash back rewards over points, explore no-annual-fee cash back cards with unlimited rewards on all purchase categories.

View All Credit Cards

Learn more about credit cards in general

sources

USAA. "USAA Rewards American Express® Credit Card." Accessed April 12, 2022.
USAA. "Rates and Fees." Accessed April 12, 2022.
USAA. "USAA American Express Rewards Program Terms and Conditions." Accessed April 12, 2022.
USAA. "Credit Card FAQs." Accessed April 13, 2022.
USAA. "Credit Cards Benefits Guide." Accessed April 13, 2022.

*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more aboutour editorial policies andexpert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.