The USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card is an ideal choice for those with military connections, offering versatile benefits for everyday use and travel. It provides unlimited cash back on purchases without category restrictions, making it suitable for varied spending. Notable for travelers, it waives foreign transaction fees and includes comprehensive travel protections. No annual fee and an attractive introductory APR offer enhance the card's appeal. With robust security features ensuring transaction safety, this card stands out as a secure and rewarding option for USAA members, seamlessly integrating daily spending with travel benefits.
USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card Review
The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card is a no-annual-fee credit card with 1.5% cash back and an introductory 0% APR, exclusively tailored for the financial needs of USAA members and military families.
Updated: October 21, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies.
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
- PROS
- Unlimited cash back on purchases
- No annual fees
- No foreign transaction fees
- Introductory APR offer
- Offers travel and purchase protections
CONS- USAA membership required
- No welcome bonus
- High variable APR post-introductory period
- Eligibility requires USAA membership, available to current and former military members, their spouses and dependents
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases without category restrictions or cash back limits
- No annual or foreign transaction fees
- Features a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases, followed by a variable regular APR of 17.15% – 29.15%
- Incurs a fee of 5% for each balance transfer, cash advance and convenience check
- Cash back rewards do not expire and can be redeemed flexibly
- Provides robust security features, including secure logins and zero liability for unauthorized transactions
- Offers mobile alerts for enhanced account monitoring
- Lost or stolen cards can be reported online or via the app
- Comes with travel benefits such as auto rental coverage, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption coverage, plus baggage delay and reimbursement
USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card Overview
Evaluating a credit card's primary features may help narrow your selection in a wide field of cash back options. The USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card comes with the following highlights:
- Rewards Rate: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases without category restrictions or cash back limits
- Welcome Offer: None
- Regular APR: 17.15%–31.15% (variable)
- Annual Fee: $0
- Intro APR Offer: None
Consider how this card's terms complement your current spending habits and future financial goals.
Important Card Details
In this analysis, we delve into the nuanced features of the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card, examining how its specific offerings align with its exclusive user base's needs and financial strategies. From its unique welcome offer to its eligibility criteria, this card presents a mix of benefits and considerations, each tailored to suit the distinctive lifestyle and financial scenarios of military families and USAA members.
Cash Back
The USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card stands out with its unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. This feature is particularly advantageous for consumers who prefer straightforward rewards without the hassle of tracking spending categories or worrying about rewards caps. It's an excellent choice for everyday spending, offering consistent value back on your purchases, from groceries to gas, making it a practical option for a wide range of consumers.
Welcome Offer
This card distinguishes itself with a 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months on purchases, a notable benefit for cardholders planning significant expenditures or looking to manage cash flow efficiently in the short term. Remember to plan ahead, as the variable APR, ranging from 17.15%–31.15%, kicks in after the introductory period. This feature is best leveraged by consumers who can pay off their balances before the introductory period ends to avoid higher interest rates later.
Annual Fee
One of the most appealing aspects of the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card is the absence of an annual fee. This bonus makes the card accessible and cost-effective for a broader audience, ensuring cardholders can enjoy the benefits and rewards without worrying about offsetting a yearly charge. It's particularly beneficial for those who prefer a low-maintenance credit card that still offers valuable rewards.
Eligibility
Eligibility for the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card is exclusive, catering specifically to USAA members, which includes current and former military members, their spouses and dependents. This exclusivity adds value for eligible members, offering a card that acknowledges and rewards their service. It's a significant consideration for those within the military community looking for a card tailored to their unique lifestyle and financial needs.
Other Perks
This card comes packed with additional perks, including no foreign transaction fees, robust security features like zero liability for unauthorized transactions and mobile alerts for account monitoring. The travel benefits, like auto rental coverage and travel accident insurance, add substantial value, especially for cardholders who travel frequently. The ability to report lost or stolen cards online or via the app enhances user convenience and security. These features collectively make the card a well-rounded financial tool, offering peace of mind and practical benefits beyond just monetary rewards.
How the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card Compares
In our side-by-side comparison, we examine the distinct features and benefits of two popular credit cards, providing insights to help you determine which aligns best with your financial goals and spending habits.
How This Card Compares
USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- Rewards Rate: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases without category restrictions or cash back limits
- Welcome Offer: None
- Regular APR: 17.15%–31.15% (variable)
- Annual Fee: $0
- Intro APR Offer: None
- Best For: Military families seeking 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no annual fees or category restrictions.
Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards card
- Rewards Rate: Earn 3X points on travel and 2X points on everything else
- Welcome Offer: Earn 40,000 bonus points (a $400 value) when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of opening an account
- Regular APR: 10.74%–18.00% (variable)
- Annual Fee: $49 ($0 intro annual fee for the first year)
- Intro APR Offer: None
- Best For: Frequent travelers and consumers with a diverse range of expenses seeking a unique rewards structure
All USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Card Comparisons
- USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card vs. USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card
- USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card vs. Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard
- USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card vs. PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card
- USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card vs. Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
- USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card vs. Credit One Bank Platinum Rewards Visa With No Annual Fee
- USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card vs. Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature cashRewards Card
About Grace Pilling
Grace Pilling was the Senior Content Manager for Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. She previously led personal finance teams at Bankrate, CreditCards.com and MoneyUnder30.
Pilling has a bachelor's degree in English from Western Sydney University and a diploma in book editing, proofreading and publishing. She is focused on empowering readers to make informed financial choices that support their best lives, not a company’s bottom line.
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 about our editorial policies and expert 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.