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USAA Credit Cards & Rewards Program – How To Earn & Redeem Points [2024]

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Table of Contents

What is usaa rewards, usaa rewards points cards, usaa cashback rewards cards, how to redeem usaa rewards points, how to redeem usaa cashback rewards, final thoughts.

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USAA is most famous for offering military members and their family members state-of-the-art financial products and services.

Oddly enough, however, USAA actually stands for United Services Automobile Association, which is somewhat of a misnomer (you might think this was some sort of credit union for car owners).

Founded in 1922, this San Antonio-headquartered company boasts a full suite of services, including banking, investment, and even insurance!

In this guide, we’ll be examining a sub-section of USAA’s banking services: its rewards credit cards.

Let’s begin!

As you can probably imagine, USAA Rewards is the name given to the bank’s loyalty program.

It’s important to note that you must be from a military family to become a free member of USAA and qualify for a USAA Rewards card, which includes:

• Active duty, National Guard and Reserve officers, and enlisted personnel
• Veterans with an Honorable discharge
• Spouses, former spouses/widows/widowers, and adult children of USAA members
• Officer candidates in commissioning programs and contracted cadets and midshipmen

The points you earn and redeem are called USAA points . As long as your account is open and in good standing, your USAA points will not expire. However, if your account is closed (either voluntarily or involuntarily), then you have 90 days to redeem your rewards before they are forfeited. You can also transfer USAA points to any other cardholder with a USAA Rewards credit card.

USAA uses both  Visa  and  American Express  cards within its portfolio of credit cards. You can earn rewards on all qualifying purchases, which excludes balance transfers, cash advances, ATM cash disbursements, money transfers, truck stop transactions, gaming transactions, tax payments, finance charges, fees, and cash equivalents.

Hot Tip: If you’re active military, see our guide to the best credit cards for active military as many issuers do not charge annual fees and you can use still use the benefits that come with those cards. The Platinum Card from American Express is the most popular choice for military members given the perks and benefits that come with it. See our in-depth guide on the American Express Platinum military benefits that are available.

USAA points can be earned with either of the 2 USAA Rewards credit cards. Both of them are personal credit cards — USAA doesn’t have a business credit card in this realm.

USAA Rewards™ American Express ® Card

The flagship USAA credit card is the USAA Rewards Amex card that offers big benefits with no annual fee .

This credit card usually comes with a small welcome bonus after your first purchase — to sweeten the deal, you’ll earn as per the following structure:

• 3x points per $1 spent on dining out
• 2x points per $1 spent on gas and groceries
• 1x points per $1 spent on all other purchases

Your earning is uncapped, which means that are no limits to the bonus spending you can earn points on.

This credit card offers primary rental car coverage if renting outside of your country of residence and secondary rental car coverage if renting within your country of residence; it also comes with trip cancellation and interruption insurance , baggage delay reimbursement , travel accident insurance , and travel/emergency assistance.

Furthermore, you’ll enjoy extended warranty coverage , identity theft resolution services, personal identity theft reimbursement, zero fraud liability, and access to a 24/7 concierge.

As we mentioned above, the USAA Rewards Amex card doesn’t have an annual fee and also doesn’t incur foreign transaction fees!

All information about the USAA Rewards™ American Express ® Card have been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature ® Card

The second (and last) USAA Rewards product is the USAA Rewards Visa card, which has plenty to love, too!

To start, you’ll almost always find an identical welcome bonus to what’s offered to new cardholders of the Amex version.

But you’ll notice that the rewards structure is reduced :

• 2x points per $1 spent on dining out
• 2x points per $1 spent on gas

In comparison to the USAA Rewards Amex card, this card will earn you 1 point per dollar less on dining out and groceries.

You’ll enjoy all of the same benefits, including rental car coverage (secondary if renting inside your country of residence, primary elsewhere), trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay reimbursement, travel accident insurance, a 24/7 concierge, extended warranty, and more.

Notably, this credit card also comes with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

Bottom Line: The USAA Rewards Amex card earns 1 more point per dollar spent on dining out and groceries, but the USAA Rewards Visa card is more widely accepted around the world. See our comparison of Amex vs. Visa for more details on the differences, acceptance, and perks.

USAA has a different set of credit cards for those interested in stable, cash-back rewards.

In total, there are 2 USAA credit cards that deliver cash-back, each with its own benefits and drawbacks.

Let’s take a look at our options.

Cashback Rewards Plus American Express ® Card

The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus card is the best cash-back credit card USAA offers.

Although you won’t typically get access to a welcome bonus, what you  will get is access to up to 5% cash-back in rewards:

• Earn 5% cash-back on your first $3,000 in combined gas station and military base purchases yearly
• Earn 2% cash-back on your first $3,000 in grocery purchases yearly
• Earn 1% cash-back on all other purchases

As you can see, this is our first credit card with bonus category limits , so just be sure you keep track of that when making purchases.

With the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus card, you’ll get all the same benefits as the USAA Rewards cards above, including rental car coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel accident insurance, baggage delay and reimbursement, identity theft resolution, zero fraud liability, and 24/7 concierge service.

There’s no annual fee or foreign transaction fees with the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus card.

All information about the Cashback Rewards Plus American Express ® Card have been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature ® Credit Card

Our last credit card product is the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card , which has a different appeal.

Just like the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus card above, you’ll rarely find an introductory welcome bonus on this card.

What’s special about this card, however, is that instead of bonus categories like military base purchases, you’ll earn a flat 1.5% cash-back on all qualifying purchases with no category restrictions.

Your potential rewards are infinite because there aren’t any caps on spending.

Of course, you’ll also get travel perks such as baggage delay coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel accident insurance, auto rental coverage, and more.

Just like every other card above, there are no annual fees or foreign transaction fees.

So after you’ve earned your points, the next thing to do is redeem them! You can currently redeem USAA points in the following ways:

• Airline travel
• Merchandise
• Charitable contributions
• Cruise travel

The most you’ll get from your redemptions will be 1 cent per point when booking cruises and airfare .

You’ll get around 0.9 cents per point when redeeming for cash-back, around 0.8 cents per point when redeeming for charity, and around 0.7 cents per point when redeeming for gift cards.

Sadly, this isn’t a competitive redemption rate. Nonetheless, you can redeem your points by logging into your online USAA account or calling the USAA Rewards Service Center at 800-980-8722 (to redeem points for a cruise, you’ll need to call 800-571-4208).

It’s much simpler to redeem your cash-back because there’s just 1 redemption option: cash-back!

You must redeem your cash-back in increments of $1.

To use or check your cash-back rewards balance, log into your online account or call 800-980-8722.

All in all, USAA offers a great incentive structure and schedule of fees, considering a total absence of any annual fees.

If you happen to be an eligible military member, you can enjoy no foreign transaction fees, annual fees, and a decent rewards structure on a few different bonus categories like dining and grocery.

Hopefully, you found this guide useful in learning more about USAA’s credit cards and rewards program.

The information regarding the USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature ® Card, Cashback Rewards Plus American Express ® Card, and Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature ® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

The information regarding the USAA Rewards™ American Express ® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best usaa credit card.

The best USAA Rewards Points card is the USAA Rewards Amex card, while the best USAA Cashback Rewards card is the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus card. 

Who is eligible for USAA credit cards?

You don’t have to be in the military to get a USAA credit card. If you fall under any of these categories, you are eligible for a USAA credit card:

Can I get a USAA credit card with bad credit?

Most likely, the best cards for you if you have bad credit or are looking to pay a low interest rate are the USAA Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card or the USAA Secured Visa Platinum® Credit Card.

Can you join USAA If you are not military?

Yes. However, you need to be affiliated in one of these ways to the military:

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UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are travel points.

Travel Points are a way for USAA members to pay the lowest prices guaranteed on cruise vacations and guided tours. When you are ready to make your purchase, online or over the phone, you can apply some a portion of your points and access prices not available to the public. In addition, you do not need to use Travel Points while booking a vacation rental as your travel benefit provides you with significant savings everyday, everywhere. Additionally, you cannot use points when you purchase a flight, however for every flight book you will earn $100 travel points. Travel Points have no actual cash value and may not be redeemed toward payment of any taxes, fees, travel insurance, shipping, or handling charges.

How do I earn more Travel Points?

On your initial visit to the Member Travel Privileges site, you will receive $1,000 travel points. If you spend a minimum of $2,500 within the calendar year, you will be credited with $1,000 Travel. In addition, when you opt-in to receive email marketing communications you will be credited with $100 Travel Points, and when you book your airfare through Member Travel Privileges you will also earn $100 Travel Points into your account. Lastly, when you rent a car through USAA’s Perks Car Rental program and submit your qualifying rental car receipt to MTP you will earn $50 travel points too.

What happens if I run out or do not have enough Travel Points?

MTP is committed to ensuring USAA members save on all their travel purchases. You can only use the amount of Travel Points you have on your account. Members earn more travel points every year with a minimum spend of $2,500 and earn on all air booked through Member Travel Privileges and car purchases booked through the USAA Perks Car Rental program. In addition, Travel Points are not used toward payment of any taxes, fees, travel insurance, shipping or handling charges. All applicable travel products specify the amount of Travel Points that may be redeemed towards partial payment. Member may redeem as many Travel Points as Member has available in Member’s account, up to the amount specified for any product or service.

USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature See note ® Credit Card

Earn points on purchases - and even more on gas and dining.

SPECIAL OFFER

• Get a 0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening. After this time, the variable regular APR of 15.15% to 29.15% will apply to these introductory balances. There is a fee of 5% of the amount of each balance transfer and convenience check from account opening. See note 1 See note , See note 2 View rates and fees for more details.*

Penalty APRs

Many banks make you pay more in interest charges when you've had a late payment or if your account goes over the credit limit. These charges can be more than double the interest you pay — and they can be charged indefinitely.

Our credit cards do not have penalty APRs.

Balance Transfer and Cash Advance Fee

There is a transaction fee of 5% of the amount of each Balance Transfer and each Cash Advance (including Convenience Checks). Cash Advance Fee is waived when you transfer funds electronically from your USAA credit card to your USAA Bank deposit account.

Redeem your rewards.

Your total points increase with every Qualifying Purchase. Redeem them your way, on your schedule.

Step 1:  Earn

Enjoy rewards points that never expire, with extra earnings in select spending categories.

Step 2:  Track

Keep tabs on your rewards. Points for posted transactions are usually added within 48 hours. Check your total on usaa.com or the mobile app.

Step 3:  Redeem

Choose from a range of exciting redemption options. Redeem some or all of your points.

Benefits and Features

Carry a credit card that's easy to use and manage, with peace of mind built in.

Bank products offered by USAA Federal Savings Bank, Member FDIC. Credit card, mortgage and other lending products not FDIC-insured.

USAA Eagle Navigator Credit Card review: Solid rewards for military and their family members

USAA Eagle Navigator Credit Card overview

The USAA Eagle Navigator™ Credit Card is a solid card option for current and former military members and their spouses and dependents. The card has reasonable earning rates and some perks to help justify its price tag, making it a smart choice for military members looking for easy points on their travel spending. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

With a recommended credit score of 670 and a low $95 annual fee (see rates and fees ), the USAA Eagle Navigator can offer decent value for military members and their families. That's the case even though the card has somewhat limited benefits.

However, if you're not a USAA member (and are ineligible to become one), this card isn't for you, as it's only open to current and past military plus their spouses and children.

Keep reading to learn more about the USAA Eagle Navigator to see if it deserves a spot in your wallet.

USAA Eagle Navigator Welcome Offer

The USAA Eagle Navigator does currently offer 30,000 bonus points ($300 travel value) after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases within 90 days of account opening.

USAA Eagle Navigator benefits

The USAA Eagle Navigator offers solid travel and shopping protections , such as travel accident insurance and extended warranty protection on U.S. manufacturers' warranties; plus, it does not charge foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees ). You'll also get cellphone protection of up to $500 per claim if you charge your monthly bill to the card and a phone on the account is damaged or stolen. Finally, you'll enjoy trip cancellation and interruption coverage along with baggage delay reimbursement when you purchase your tickets with the card.

Other benefits include an up-to-$100 TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® credit every four years as well as an annual bonus of 10,000 points (equal to $100 in travel) after booking an eligible hotel or car through the USAA Rewards Center.

These perks won't blow anyone away, but they do more than justify the card's price tag, making it a solid value proposition. However, remember that hotels and rental cars booked through third-party platforms rather than directly with the merchant generally aren't eligible for elite status perks, nor will they earn rewards in the provider's own program.

Related: Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?

Earning cash back on the USAA Eagle Navigator

The USAA Eagle Navigator offers unlimited 3 points per dollar on travel, including air, hotel, car and vacation rentals. You'll also get an unlimited 2 points per dollar on other purchases.

If you're a current or former military member or a family member of someone who serves, those are more than serviceable rates; they can serve as a nice starter in the world of cash-back cards, especially since the base earning rate is 2 points per dollar. While that certainly makes this easier, it can impact your ability to enjoy higher rewards for certain purchases — which is common on mid-tier cards like this.

Read more: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category

Redeeming cash back on The USAA Eagle Navigator

The USAA Eagle Navigator is effectively a cash-back credit card , though the points you earn on the USAA Eagle Navigator card can be redeemed for a variety of items. This includes travel through the USAA Rewards Center, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits or even direct deposits into a USAA checking or savings account.

The exact redemption value can vary, but your best bet is likely a travel redemption, as 10,000 points equals $100 toward a travel purchase when used in this way. However, opting for a cash-back redemption option can lower your redemption value significantly.

That said, points earned with the USAA Eagle Navigator don't expire, so you can redeem them on your own time. Just be sure to crunch the numbers to ensure you're getting the most value for your points.

Which cards compete with the USAA Eagle Navigator?

There are a handful of other simplified travel cards on the market that compete with the USAA Eagle Navigator :

• If you want better earning rates: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best travel cards on the market, earning 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal and Lyft purchases, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and more. That's all for a $95 annual fee. For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
• If you want transfer partners : The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has valuable earnings rates and 15+ valuable airline and hotel transfer partners. The modest $95 annual fee (see rates and fees ) and solid return on everyday spending (at least 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases) make this card much more flexible than the USAA Eagle Navigator. For more information, read our full review of the Venture Rewards .

For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel credit cards .

Related: Redeeming Capital One miles for maximum value

Is the USAA Eagle Navigator worth it?

For military members — including current and former personnel, as well as their spouses and dependents — the USAA Eagle Navigator can be a solid choice for starter travel rewards. Its flexible earnings rates and benefits can justify its annual fee.

However, there is a limit to the value you can get from the card, and if you'd prefer the ability to transfer points to partner programs or want a larger sign-up bonus, go with another option.

Bottom line

The straightforward perks of the USAA Eagle Navigator make it a decent choice for military members and their families who want to earn easy cash back on purchases. However, it's only available to USAA members, which is limited to current and former military plus their spouses and dependents. Since there are many other similar cards out there that don't have this restriction, you may want to go with one of them.

Apply here: USAA Eagle Navigator Credit Card

For rates and fees of the USAA Eagle Navigator, click here .