Review of the USAA Military Affiliate Visa Signature
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USAA offers the USAA Military Affiliate Visa Signature to members of the military, active or honorably discharged, as well as certain members of their family. Click here for details on USAA eligibility.
This credit card offers some small rewards, but also lets you pick a military affiliate when you’re approved. USAA will make donations to that organization when you open the account, make purchases, and keep the card active. Some example organizations are listed below.
Keep reading to learn what the card offers, and if this might be a good credit card for you.
Write a ReviewMilitary Affiliates
USAA will make donations to the military affiliate of your choice. When you open your account, you’ll be able to choose an affiliate from several different branches of the military, along with veteran organizations.
Some of your choices include:
| Air Force | Army | Coast Guard | Marines | Navy | Veteran Groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force Association (AFA) | 101st Airborne Division Association (101st) | Coast Guard Exchange (CGX) | 1st Marine Division Association (FMDA) | Association of the United States Navy (AUSN) | The American Legion |
| Blue Star Families (BSF) | Army Athletics (AA) | Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) | Marine Corps Association & Foundation | USNA Alumni Association & Navy Athletics | American Veterans (AMVETS) |
| Civil Air Patrol (CAP) | Disabled American Veterans (DAV) | Naval Aviation Museum Foundation (NAMF) | Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) | Norwich University Alumni Association (NUAA) | Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) |
| Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) | Society of the First Infantry Division | U.S. Naval Institute (USNI) | The United States Navy Memorial (USNM) | Virginia Military Institute Alumni Association (VMIAA) | The Sons of the American Legions |
The Rewards
This card earns:
- 1 point per dollar on all purchases
- 2,500 bonus points when you make your first purchase
Each point can be redeemed for 1 cent of statement credit, so you get 1% cash back. You can also redeem the points for travel, gift cards, or a donation to your favorite military affiliate group. The bonus points with your first purchase are a nice addition, but overall this card doesn’t earn as many rewards as some other rewards cards.
The Benefits
This card offers additional benefits, but what you receive may differ from what you see here. Check your Guide to Benefits to learn the benefits you have and how to access them.
Perks
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Concierge Service
Call to get personal help with all sorts of tasks, like travel planning, making restaurant reservations, finding hard-to-find items, and finding convenient services nearby, wherever you may happen to be.
Military Benefits
You may or may not qualify for some of these benefits; click here to learn more and see if you qualify.
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Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
The SCRA provides help to active-duty service members, and includes benefits like protection for life insurance policies and reduced interest rates on debts incurred before beginning active duty. USAA will provide an interest rate of 4% for pre-existing USAA credit card debt and loans, and a rate of 6% for other debts like credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, and others.
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Deployment Discount
Members of the military who are deployed or deploying can have the interest rate on their USAA card reduced to 4% for current balances, new purchases, and cash advances.
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Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
Active-duty members with permanent change of station can have the interest rate on their USAA card reduced to 4% for current balances, new purchases, and cash advances.
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Qualifying Campaign Level
Members who receive a qualifying campaign medal can receive a rebate for all of the interest incurred during their campaign. The qualifying campaign medals include the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
Shopping Protections
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Price Protection
If you find an item you bought being advertised for a lower price within 120 days of the purchase, you could be reimbursed for the price difference (up to $250 per claim, up to 4 claims per year).
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Extended Warranty
Doubles the manufacturer’s original warranty, up to a maximum of 2 years for most items.
Travel Protections
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Travel Assistance Services
Available when traveling 100 miles or more from home, provides help like information on travel requirements, locating documents or lost items, or arranging emergency money transfers.
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Worldwide Automatic Travel Accident, Baggage Delay and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
Provides insurance in case of a tragic accident, funds to reimburse purchases if your bags are delayed, and reimbursement if your trip is interrupted for eligible reasons.
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Rental Car Insurance
Provides coverage against damage and theft of rental vehicles, as long as the rental company’s own insurance is declined.
Security Benefits
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Identity Theft Resolution Services
If you become a victim of identity theft, this service provides help with contacting the credit bureaus, getting a new credit card, and going through the proper legal proceedings.
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Identity Fraud Expense Reimbursement
You won’t be held liable for unauthorized charges as a result of identity fraud.
The Costs & Fees
| Annual Fee | Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | 12.15–27.15% Variable | 12.15–27.15% Variable | 12.15–27.15% Variable |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|
| See Terms | See Terms | See Terms |
| Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
|---|---|---|
| See Terms | See Terms | See Terms |
The Bottom Line
The USAA Military Affiliate Visa Signature could be a way to support your favorite military organization or earn some rewards for cash back on your everyday spending.
This isn’t a highly rewarding card, but you’ll have access to quite a few nice benefits. You can also get a very low APR if your credit is good enough (though you could wind up with a fairly high APR if your credit is not very good). And, if you’re an active member of the military, you may be eligible to have your rates drastically reduced on your card as well as on other debts.
Want to apply for or learn more about this card? Just click the card’s name below.
If you’re looking for USAA cards that offer more cash back (but don’t donate to military affiliates) check out the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus Credit Cards.
How do you like your USAA Military Affiliate credit card? Leave a review on this page. We’d love to hear from you!
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by bank advertisers. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by bank advertisers. It is not the bank advertisers' responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Brenda Vandyke
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John Ganotis
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