Editorial take: American Express Green Card
Hard to justify vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred at $95 with stronger earning. The CLEAR credit is nice but only useful if your airport has CLEAR lines. Most people are better off with Sapphire or Amex Gold.
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Side-by-side
American Express Green Card vs USAA Preferred Cash Rewards
Both are well-respected travel cards. The American Express Green Card comes from American Express at $150/yr; the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards from USAA at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.
| Feature | American Express Green Card | USAA Preferred Cash Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | 40,000 Membership Rewards points | $250 cash bonus |
| Bonus value (est.) | $720 | $250 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $1,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | USAA |
| Card category | travel | cashback |
| Best earning category (Travel) | 3x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
American Express Green Card
$150/yr · 40,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
USAA Preferred Cash Rewards
$0/yr · $250 cash bonus
Editorial take: USAA Preferred Cash Rewards
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Green Card or USAA Preferred Cash Rewards?
- The American Express Green Card has the bigger bonus, 40,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $720, versus $250 cash bonus (~$250) on the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards.
- Is the American Express Green Card's $150 annual fee worth it compared to the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards?
- At $150/yr, the American Express Green Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the American Express Green Card and USAA Preferred Cash Rewards?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and USAA) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the American Express Green Card or the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Green Card: $3,000 spend in 3 months. USAA Preferred Cash Rewards: $1,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.