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- USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card
A good balance transfer credit card with rewards and no annual fees
- Good – ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $0Annual Fee
- 1–2 pointsRewards Rate
- 15 monthsBalance Transfer Duration
MoneyGeek uses a comprehensive grading methodology to research credit cards and card companies. According to this method, we gather data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's database, standardize data points for comparison, estimate expenditure profiles, factor in annual or initial bonuses for each card and calculate a three-year value of using the card. Our methodology also includes regular and semi-annual updates and monthly re-rankings.
The USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card has no annual fee and can be a great bargain for people who spend frequently in the card's highest-earning categories. It earns two points for every dollar spent on dining out and gas expenses and one point per dollar for each qualifying transaction. You can also earn rewards while traveling outside the U.S. and don’t have to worry about paying foreign transaction fees.
Our MoneyGeek USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card review dives deep into the card's features, pros and cons to help you decide whether the card is the right one for you.
USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card Overview
Additional benefits and features, as explained below, are included in the Rewards Visa Signature Card from USAA.
Quick Take
- No annual or foreign transaction fees
- Intro 0% APR on balance transfers and convenience checks for the first 15 months, provided they post to your account in the first 90 days, then a variable APR of 14.90% – 30.90% after that
- Balance transfer fees of 3%
- Earn 2,500 points after making your first qualifying purchase
- Earn 2x points per dollar on dining and gas
- All other purchases come with 1x point per dollar
- Redeem points for cash, airline or cruise tickets, cruise, to make a charitable contribution, and for gift cards or merchandise
- Extended warranty
- Complimentary trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage delay and reimbursement, travel accident insurance and auto rental coverage
- Zero liability
- Free access to concierge services
Important Card Details
You should be aware of your credit card user rights to evaluate the pros and cons, fees, rates and other aspects of credit cards. The rates, fees and rewards rates for the USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card are shown in the table below.
Annual Fee
The card doesn’t have a yearly fee.
Foreign Transaction Fee
There is no fee involved for the transactions and purchases you make abroad.
Rewards Rate
Each eligible purchase you make with this card gets you one or two points per dollar based on the purchase category.
Regular APR
Based on how creditworthy you are, your purchases, balance transfers and cash advances will have an APR of between 14.90% – 30.90%.
Introductory APR for Balance Transfers and Convenience Checks
For new cards, the APR on balance transfers and convenience checks is waived for the first 15 months. Note that this is only applicable if the balance transfer or convenience check (cash advance) is made within 90 days of account opening.
Balance Transfer and Cash Advance Fee
All balance transfers and cash advances are subject to a 3% fee per transaction.
Penalty Fee
A fee of up to $35 will be levied if you pay late or if your payment is returned for any reason. A $25 late fee will be levied for the first late payment within six billing periods, and a $35 late fee will be assessed for consecutive late payments.
Additional Benefits
You may be interested in learning about some of the other USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card benefits, such as:
- 24/7 Customer Service: The company offers 24-hour online customer service to handle any concerns or questions you may have.
- Travel Accident Insurance: Using your USAA card to purchase air, ferry, cruise, train or bus tickets provides coverage for loss of life or limb in the event of an accident.
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage: For non-refundable pre-paid passenger tickets purchased using this card, you will receive reimbursement of up to $1,500 per covered person for canceled trips.
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: If you pay for your rental car using your card, the collision damage waiver on your card covers you for 31 days, anywhere in the world.
- Baggage Delay Reimbursement Coverage: The USAA card's baggage delay reimbursement benefit compensates up to $100 per day for up to three days for checked baggage delays, allowing you to purchase essential items, such as clothes and toiletries.
- Travel Emergency Assistance: Customer service is available around the clock for any type of emergency, including medical emergencies, due to the card's travel emergency assistance feature. Medical and legal referrals, prescription medication assistance and travel planning are all available to cardholders.
- Shopping Benefits: The card’s shopping benefits let you receive more from your card purchases. For example, the extended warranty protection extends the manufacturer's warranty on things purchased using your card. Its concierge services help with entertainment, restaurant, travel and hotel reservations.
- Identity Protection: The identity protection services included with the USAA credit card include an identity theft resolution solution that offers various solutions to victims of identity theft. After a covered identity theft incident, the card's personal identity theft coverage reimburses up to $1,000 for identity restoration services.
- Mobile App: The USAA mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices and allows you to access your credit card account, make payments, receive notifications and automatic updates, report lost or stolen cards and contact USAA customer support.
- Zero Liability Protection: You will not be held accountable for any fraudulent transactions made with your card if you report them to USAA immediately.
How the USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card Compares To Other Cards
While the USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card's no-annual-fee structure and competitive reward rates did not make it one of the best rewards cards, it did fare well in comparison to other cards. Before comparing the card to its competitors, consider the most important qualities to you in a credit card.
How the USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card Compares
USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card
- Annual fee: None
- Regular APR: 14.90% – 30.90%
- Rewards rate: 1–3 points per dollar
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Best for: Military members looking for a good balance transfer credit card with rewards and no annual fees
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Annual fee: None
- Regular APR: 20.24%–28.99%
- Rewards rate: 1.5%–5%
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%
- Best for: Minimalist deal-seeking shoppers looking for a no-annual-fee card
Frequently Asked Questions
sources
- USAA. "USAA Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card." Accessed April 13, 2022.
- USAA. "Rates and Fees." Accessed April 13, 2022.
- USAA. "USAA Rewards Credit Card Visa Program Terms and Conditions." Accessed April 13, 2022.
- USAA. "Credit Card FAQs." Accessed April 13, 2022.
- USAA. "Credit Cards Benefits Guide." Accessed April 13, 2022.
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