USAA Preferred Cash Rewards

Earning Rates

Key Benefits

All Benefits

• Issued on the Visa Signature network (despite some legacy references calling it a Mastercard, USAA issues this as a Visa Signature product per usaa.com, U.S. News, NerdWallet, and FinanceBuzz)
• Membership-gated: must be a USAA member to apply. USAA membership is restricted to current and former U.S. military servicemembers, their spouses, and their dependents
• Welcome offer: $250 cash bonus after $1,000 in qualifying purchases in the first 90 days (effective ~25% return on the spend requirement)
• Flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases — no categories to track, no enrollment, no quarterly activation, no caps
• No annual fee ($0)
• No foreign transaction fees — earn the same 1.5% on international purchases
• Cash rewards never expire as long as the account remains open and in good standing
• Flexible redemption: redeem as a statement credit, electronic deposit to an eligible USAA bank account, toward travel, for gift cards, merchandise, or charitable contributions
• Variable purchase APR ~15.40%-27.40% (subject to change with the Prime Rate)
• Active-duty servicemembers receive USAA's SCRA benefits, including a 4% APR cap during qualifying military service
• Visa Signature benefits: auto rental CDW (secondary U.S., primary abroad), travel accident insurance, trip cancellation / interruption protection, baggage delay reimbursement, Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection
• Zero-liability fraud protection on unauthorized transactions
• Not Offered: no category bonuses (a flat 1.5% earner; Citi Double Cash, Wells Fargo Active Cash, and Capital One Quicksilver match or beat with 2% earn rates)
• Not Offered: no 0% intro APR on purchases or balance transfers
• Not Offered: no cell phone protection (the USAA Eagle Navigator and USAA Rewards Visa include it; this card does not)
• Not Offered: no airline / hotel transfer partners — cash back is the only redemption ladder