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USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card

Written by Aug. 29, 2022 Aug. 29, 2022

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Snapshot

2.4 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon Bottom line Best for military members and their families to earn steady cash back. , the basics of this USAA offering is fairly middle-of-the-road.

Earning rewards

You'll get 1 percent cash back on general purchases, putting the card in line with most cash back cards. But cardholders also get 2 percent cash back on grocery purchases (up to $3,000 in purchases per year) along with 5 percent cash back on gas station and military base spending (also up to $3,000 in purchases per year). While your cash back goes down to 1 percent in these categories when you reach the spending threshold, they reset annually.

Redeeming rewards

Redeeming rewards is simple-just log into your account at USAA.com or through your mobile app and check your cash back amount, then choose the amount you'd like to redeem. According to the , cash can be redeemed for any amount in $1 increments starting at as little as $1. Your available cash back amount for any posted transactions is typically available within 48 hours after purchase.

Other cardholder perks

The USAA Cashback Rewards card offers numerous benefits for military members and their families.

Auto rental coverage

Rent a vehicle with your USAA credit card and enjoy complimentary coverage along with travel accident insurance.

24 7 USAA customer service

Connect with USAA customer service 24/7 for questions about your card or help redeeming your cash back.

Baggage delay and reimbursement

The last thing military members on leave or military families on vacation want to deal with is lost luggage. USAA offers peace of mind with baggage delay and reimbursement coverage.

Security and protection

Card members also have no liability for unauthorized transactions as well as security alerts when the account has strange activity.

Rates and fees

The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express card has , no penalty APR and no foreign transaction fees. It does, however, have a 3 percent balance transfer and cash advance fee for each cash advance along with an up to $35 fee for late or returned payments.

How the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express compares to other cash back cards

While the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express card offers solid cash back options for current and former military members and their families, how does it stack up against more traditional ?

USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card

star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon Bankrate Score Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. Annual fee Intro offer Intro offer is not available to this USAA credit card Rewards rate Earn 5% cash back on your first $3,000 in gas and military purchases annually on these categories combined. Earn 2% cash back on your first $3,000 on supermarket purchases per year. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

on Chase's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! Rewards rate Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service 1.5% on all other purchases Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Citi® Double Cash Card

on Citi's secure site Annual fee Intro offer For a limited time, earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. Rewards rate Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express vs

Consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, which offers a 0 percent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (17.99 percent to 26.74 percent variable APR thereafter) along with welcome bonus worth up to $300 cash back- earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express vs

The Citi® Double Cash Card is another good option that comes with 18 months of intro 0 percent APR on balance transfers (17.74 percent to 27.74 percent variable APR after intro period) plus up to 2 percent cash back-1 percent when you buy and 1 percent as you pay off your purchases. While the USAA card can't compete when it comes to 0 percent intro APR for purchases or balance transfers on either of these cards, it can come out ahead on extra cash back, especially if you're currently stationed at a military base.

Best cards to pair with USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express credit card

If you're looking to partner up your USAA card, consider a for big trips or a offer for large purchases. While the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus card is a great choice for everyday spending, you'll often get bigger benefits from travel-specific cards when booking flights and hotels-and if you've got a plan to pay down your balance, it's worth considering an intro APR card to reduce your total interest.

Bankrate s Take-Is the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus card worth it

If you're looking for the , USAA cards are a solid choice. But is the Cashback Rewards Plus the best USAA credit card option available? If steady cash back with the added bonus of gas station and military multipliers is your preference, the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus card is a great choice that offers no annual fee, solid APR for well-qualified applicants and cash multipliers that roll over every year. The information about the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

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Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. * See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.