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The United Services Automobile Association, more commonly known as simply USAA, is frequently lauded by U.S. servicemembers and their families for their world-wide accessibility and commitment to excellent customer service. Founded in 1922 by 25 Army officers who sought to insure one another’s vehicles, USAA has since grown its membership to over 13 million and seeks to be the military community’s financial services provider of choice. This article will help you determine whether or not you are eligible for USAA membership, and what benefits are entailed.
JOIN USAA
USAA: Earned through service, shared for generations.
If you’ve severed, or your spouse, a parent or grandparent are members, you may be eligible to join USAA.
What is USAA?
USAA is a member-owned insurance and financial services company that serves predominantly military servicemembers and their families. This means that all members are part owners, which ensures member buy-in in company decision-making and the receipt of annual distributions from surpluses in collected insurance premiums. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA employs more than 35,000 worldwide, including a large proportion of military spouses and veterans.
With more than $200 billion in assets, USAA is a Fortune 500® company (though it has retained a local, customer service-oriented vibe, reflected by some of the best customer satisfaction ratings in the insurance and financial services industries and a nearly 96% member retention rating). Unlike other financial services companies, USAA is membership-based and has eligibility criteria that must be met in order to participate.
USAA’s major offerings include:
- Insurance Products – Auto insurance, homeowner’s insurance, life insurance, renter’s insurance, and more.
- Banking products – Checking and Savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages and VA Loans, auto loans, and more.
- Investment services – Offered in partnership with other financial services affiliates such as Charles Schwab and VictoryCapital, USAA offers options for brokerage and trading, mutual funds, IRAs and rollovers, 529 education plans, automated investing, and financial planning.
Does USAA Offer the Best Military Banking Service?
USAA is one of the premier military financial institutions, along with Navy Federal Credit Union, PenFed, and several others. We have an overview of the best military banks and credit unions where you can learn more about your options for banking with a military financial institution.
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Overview of USAA Member Benefits
If you ask any USAA member what are the primary ‘perks’ of membership, they’ll likely rattle off the following: low interest rates, low insurance premiums, free checking, excellent customer service, and no ATM fees (if using a non-USAA ATM, the bank reimburses up to $15 per billing cycle, which is a good deal since USAA has relatively few brick-and-mortar locations).
USAA members can also utilize their bill pay and online transfer features for free (yes, even to non-USAA banks). Also, USAA offers credit cards with cash rewards, some of which unlock special benefits for military members. Beyond traditional banking services, USAA offers a host of insurance products, including its signature auto insurance, life, property, renters, and umbrella policies.
USAA members can get especially low rates if they bundle USAA insurance products. And for deployed personnel, USAA will even adjust auto insurance rates if your vehicle is garaged, and offers special APR for up to a year during a deployment.
Who is Eligible to Join USAA?
Broadly speaking, U.S. uniformed personnel — including retirees — and their family members are all eligible for USAA membership. This includes:
- Active Duty Military: Members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserves are eligible to join USAA.
- Veterans: Individuals who have retired or been honorably discharged from the U.S. military have eligibility.
- Pre-commissioned Officers: Cadets and midshipmen at U.S. service academies, in advanced ROTC or on ROTC scholarship, and officer candidates within 24 months of commissioning are eligible.
- Family Members: Eligibility extends to family members of both current USAA members and those who have served in the U.S. military. Specifically, this includes:
- Spouses of USAA members.
- Widows, widowers, and un-remarried former spouses of USAA members who had USAA auto or property insurance while married.
- Individuals whose parents joined USAA.
Once a person becomes a member of USAA, their children are also eligible to become members, and this eligibility continues down the line. Thus, USAA membership can span generations within families connected to the military community.
These guidelines have been designed to ensure that the services and benefits of USAA are closely held within the U.S. military community, respecting the organization’s origins and its mission to serve those who have served the country.
Can You Join USAA If You Are Not in the Military?
Although USAA’s mission is to provide high-quality financial and insurance services to military personnel, membership is not restricted to servicemembers. In fact, many civilians can benefit from USAA membership as well. The key determining factor as to whether or not an individual is eligible for USAA membership is their relationship to another USAA member.
Tip: If you are a spouse, unmarried former spouse, or child of a USAA member, you are likely eligible for your own USAA membership.
USAA membership works a bit like a hierarchical branching function. For example, a good friend of mine and her husband are USAA members despite the fact that neither has ever served in the U.S. military. However, my friend’s father is an Army veteran and became a USAA member 20+ years ago. Since she is the daughter of a USAA member, my friend became eligible for membership and joined. Later, when she got married, her husband became eligible for USAA due to his wife’s existing membership. In the future, their children will also become eligible for USAA membership.
Aside from becoming a member, it is also possible to lose eligibility for USAA membership. For example, if an eligible servicemember separates with a less-than-honorable discharge or if a former spouse remarries they lose eligibility. However, if either of these individuals obtained membership before this status change they can retain membership.
USAA membership eligibility cannot ‘pass on’ posthumously, meaning that if parents who were eligible for USAA membership are deceased, but were not members, their children are no longer eligible for USAA membership.
Tip: Membership passes down, but not up; therefore, a current USAA member cannot pass eligibility ‘up’ to his parents, nor ‘across’ to his siblings.
Unfortunately, there are no comprehensive resources on the USAA website that spell-out all of the many ways in which membership can be attained. Therefore, if you think that you may be eligible for membership and wish to apply, it is highly recommended that you contact the USAA New Member Team at 800-531-8722 and outline your personal situation.
What Information or Documentation Is Needed to Join USAA?
If you’re a servicemember or an eligible family member who wishes to become a USAA member, you’ll need some documentation to get started.
Personal and Military Verification
First and foremost, every applicant needs to provide their Social Security Number (SSN), a fundamental requirement for any financial institution in the U.S. Additionally, a valid government-issued ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or state-issued ID card is necessary to verify identity.
For those directly associated with the military—whether you’re active duty, a veteran, or a pre-commissioned officer—proof of military service is crucial. Active duty military members are typically asked for their current military ID or orders, while veterans might need to submit a copy of their DD Form 214, a document that is issued upon a military service member’s retirement, separation, or discharge from active duty. Pre-commissioned officers should be ready to show proof of commissioning status, such as a statement from their commanding officer or current orders if they are within 24 months of commissioning.
Family Member Documentation
Eligibility for family members depends on proving a familial relationship to someone who has served. Spouses need to present a marriage certificate. Similarly, children of USAA members must provide a birth certificate that lists the name of the parent who is the USAA member. For widowed or divorced spouses seeking to maintain or initiate membership, a marriage certificate along with a death certificate of the USAA member, or a divorce decree that mentions USAA insurance coverage during the marriage, may be necessary.
Contact and Financial Information
Beyond identification and proof of military connection, contact details such as home address, email address, and phone number are required to set up an account. Those applying for banking services might also need to provide financial information like proof of income or credit history, depending on the specific products they are interested in.
Consent and Additional Verification
USAA may also ask for consent to perform a credit check or other types of background checks as part of the application process for certain services. Depending on specific circumstances or the services being applied for, additional documents or information might be requested to comply with federal regulations.
The application process can generally be completed online or over the phone, where applicants will likely be instructed to upload, email, or mail copies of the necessary documents. Having all the required information at hand before starting the application will ensure a smoother and quicker membership confirmation.
Learn More
Visit the USAA Website to learn more about USAA eligibility.
Comments:
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Scott.D.Smith says
I’m a Canadian Military Vet,
Now living in Texas with my family. Would I qualify to join USAA ?
Thanks,
Scott.D.Smith
Ryan Guina says
Scott, USAA’s membership eligibility page references service in the U.S. military. Best wishes!
Cliff says
My wife’s father was in the military years ago, he was honorably discharged and still living. He is not a member of USAA is she still eligible to join. Or does her father need to be a member before she can join.
Ryan Guina says
Cliff, I believe your father-in-law would need to be a member in order for your wife to join USAA. But the USAA customer service office can clarify eligibility.
Aiden says
I am a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol and have heard that cadets and senior members can qualify for USAA memberships. I am not sure if this id true. Do you have any info on this?
Ryan Guina says
Aiden, I’m not certain. I recommend contacting the USAA customer service department. Best wishes!
Barbara R Valentine says
My father was killed in 1943. He was in the army air corp. at the time of his death. I’m his daughter. I have no idea if he was a member at the time of his death. I can’t find his social security # . I was told I have to have same in order to confirm his membership. How do I find out his S.S. number?
Ryan Guina says
Barbara, I recommend contacting the Social Security Administration. You could also try contacting the National Archives in St Louis for his military records, if they still exist. Best wishes!
Sam Alberto says
I had a father and a grandfather in the service both are deceased would they have had to sign up prior to passing or would my family be eligible?
Ryan Guina says
Sam, my understanding is non-military members can only become eligible for USAA membership through their parents if their parent was a member.