Table of Contents
- Who is Eligible to Join USAA?
- Can you join USAA if you are not in the military?
- When are you not eligibile or lose eligibility for USAA membership?
- What Documentation Do You Need to Join USAA?
- USAA Member Benefits
- What Products Does USAA Offer?
- Does USAA Offer the Best Military Banking Service?
- Full-service Banking
- Insurance Products
- Competitive Loan Rates
- Top-rated Credit Cards
- A Few Things to Consider About USAA
- How to Join
Expert Reviewed by: Mike Hunsberger, ChFC®, CFP®, CCFC
The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) is an insurance and financial services that consistently earns high praise from U.S. servicemembers and their families for worldwide accessibility, benefits and excellent customer service.
The best part is that once you join, you’re a member for life! Plus, you can pass on membership to your spouse and children. One of the biggest benefits of USAA membership is each member gets a voice in company decisions and receives annual distributions from surpluses in collected insurance premiums.
Here’s what you need to know to determine whether you’re eligible for membership and what benefits you’ll enjoy.
Who is Eligible to Join USAA?
Eligibility guidelines ensure that USAA services and benefits are closely held within the U.S. military community, respecting the organization’s origins and mission to serve those who have served the United States.
In most cases, active duty U.S. uniformed personnel, retirees, and their family members are 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.
- Veterans who have retired or have been honorably discharged from the U.S. military.
- Pre-commissioned officers such as cadets and midshipmen at U.S. service academies, in advanced ROTC or on ROTC scholarship, and officer candidates within 24 months of commissioning.
- Family members of current USAA members and those who have served in the U.S. military, including:
- 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.
Can you join USAA if you are not in the military?
Although USAA is designed to serve military personnel, membership isn’t limited to servicemembers as many civilians may also qualify.
Note: The key to determining if a civilian is eligible is their relationship to another USAA member.
Here’s a breakdown of USAA eligibilty scenarios:
| Status | Eligible / Not Eligible |
|---|---|
| Child of a USAA member (former servicemember) | Eligible |
| Spouse of a USAA member | Eligible |
| Unmarried former spouse of a USAA member | Eligible |
| Unmarried former spouse who was previously not a USAA member prior to divorce | Not Eligible |
| New spouse of a USAA current member | Eligible |
| Spouse of eligible servicemember who chooses to not be a USAA member | Not Eligible |
| Former spouse with USAA current membership remarrying someone who is ineligible | Eligible |
| Formerly eligible spouse with no USAA membership remarrying someone who is ineligible | Not Eligible |
| Children of USAA-eligible individuals who chose not to be members | Not Eligible |
| Siblings of USAA members | Not Eligible |
| Parents of USAA members | Not Eligible |
If your parent served in the military and is a USAA member, you likely qualify for membership as their child. The same is likely true If you are a spouse, unmarried former spouse, or child of a USAA member. USAA members who later get married have their eligibility expand to their new spouse and future children.
However, if an eligible servicemember chooses not to join USAA, their spouse cannot join either. Additionally, if a USAA member and their spouse divorce, the former spouse will lose their eligibility unless they were already a member.
When are you not eligibile or lose eligibility for USAA membership?
It’s also possible to lose USAA membership eligibility. For example, an eligible servicemember who separates with a less-than-honorable discharge or a former spouse who remarries loses eligibility.
Note: 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 eligible for USAA membership are deceased but not members, their children are no longer eligible for USAA membership.
Also, membership passes down but not up. That means a current USAA member cannot pass eligibility ‘up’ to their parents or ‘across’ to their siblings.
If you think you may be eligible for membership but are unsure if you qualify, contact the USAA New Member Team and ask about your personal situation.
What Documentation Do You Need to Join USAA?
If you’re a servicemember or an eligible family member who wants to become a USAA member, you’ll need some documentation to get started.
The application process is usually completed online or over the phone. Applicants must upload, email, or mail copies of the necessary documents.
Personal and Military Verification
You must supply a Social Security number and a valid government-issued ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or state-issued ID card.
Proof of military service is crucial for those directly associated with the military. 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.
If they are within 24 months of commissioning, pre-commissioned officers can provide proof of commissioning status, such as a statement from their commanding officer or current orders.
If you apply for banking services, you may need to provide financial information such as proof of income or credit history, depending on the specific products you’re interested in.
USAA may also ask for consent to perform credit or other background checks as part of the application process for certain services. Additional documents or information might be requested to comply with federal regulations depending on specific circumstances or the services you apply for.
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.
Children of USAA members must provide a birth certificate that lists the name of the parent who is a 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.
USAA Member Benefits
There is a lot to like about the USAA member benefits. You’ll enjoy low interest rates and insurance premiums, free checking, highly-reviewed customer service, and no ATM fees.
USAA members can use free bill pay and online transfer features, including those for non-USAA banks. The bank also offers credit cards with cash rewards, some unlocking unique benefits for military members.
Beyond traditional banking services, USAA offers various insurance products, including its signature auto insurance, life, property, renters, and umbrella policies.
Additionally, because they only support military-affiliated members, their employees typically understand military life. Many are former military members or military spouses. This means you probably won’t need to explain PCS, TDY, or deployments to their agents. This can be a benefit when trying to get your financial needs addressed.
USAA members can get especially low rates if they bundle USAA insurance products. USAA will adjust auto insurance rates for deployed personnel if your vehicle is garaged and offer special APR for up to a year during deployment.
What Products Does USAA Offer?
USAA has a diversified portfolio of insurance and financial products and services which include the following:
- Insurance products include auto insurance, homeowner’s insurance, life insurance, renter’s insurance, and more.
- Banking products include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, VA Loans, auto loans, and more.
- Investment services with other financial services affiliates such as Charles Schwab and Victory Capital. 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.
Let’s take a more in-depth look at some of the services USAA offers.
Full-service Banking
USAA offers many premium services as a standard feature for all accounts. These include free checking and savings accounts with no minimum balance fees, free checks, free rewards debit cards, free overdraft protection, free web bill pay, and much more.
In addition to checking and savings accounts, USAA offers Certificates of Deposit (CDs) that may pay more interest.
USAA also offers:
No ATM Fees. One of my favorite benefits USAA provides is no ATM fees. USAA doesn’t have many local branches, so they don’t charge fees for members to use non-USAA ATMs, and they refund the fees other banks charge. This applies to the first ten ATM withdrawals and refunds up to $15 in other banks’ ATM usage fees each month).
Investment Products, Services, and Advice.
Note: USAA sold its investment services business to Charles Schwab several years ago. They still list investment services on the website, but you will be directed to Schwab for your investment needs.
Internet, Smartphone, tablet, telephone, and mail banking. USAA has only a few physical locations, but it makes it easy to bank online or with a smartphone or tablet, a telephone, or the postal service.
Deposit checks from your phone or your home. You can deposit a check by taking a picture of it with your phone and uploading it to USAA. They have apps for iPhone, Android, Microsoft, and Amazon, or you can do the same thing with a scanner from your home. You can also mail your checks to USAA with postage-paid envelopes USAA provides members free of charge.
One especially nice perk is if you use a non-USAA ATM, the bank will reimburse you up to $15 per billing cycle. That’s worth noting since USAA has relatively few brick-and-mortar locations.
USAA members can access online tools to help them understand their options and make financial decisions. These include free credit scores through USAA, financial health tools, and more.
Insurance Products
USAA currently offers:
- Auto Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Homeowners Insurance
- Renters Insurance
- Motorcycle, RV & Boat Insurance
- Rental Property Insurance
- and much more.
Rates tend to be competitive, but it pays to shop around since costs vary by location, personal circumstances, and more. USAA has also typically offered insurance for member’s primary homes even in higher risk areas if members were sent there on military orders. This can alleviate fears of not being able to get coverage because of hurricane or wildfire risk.
Here are some tips for saving money on military auto insurance.
Competitive Loan Rates
USAA offers mortgages, VA loans, home equity loans, auto loans, and more. This lender doesn’t always have the best rates, but they are usually competitive, so it pays to shop around. However, the USAA is worth checking in all cases.
Top-rated Credit Cards
USAA has multiple credit card options, including cards for people who are just starting to build or rebuild their credit ranging up to those with excellent credit. Many cards offer low interest rates, travel rewards, and cash-back credit cards.
Deployed servicemembers also will enjoy cards with no foreign transaction fees and reduced interest rates while overseas.
A Few Things to Consider About USAA
USAA touts its highly-rated customer service and is competitive for many products and services. They make it easy to integrate most aspects of your finances, but in some cases, you may be better served going elsewhere to save money.
There are a few drawbacks you should be aware of, including:
Few Local Branches. USAA keeps its costs down by handling transactions from centralized locations. This results in lower overhead costs, enabling them to provide better deals to their members. However, this can be a hassle if you are used to banking in person.
You will need to do your banking over the Internet, telephone, or by mail. If you have concerns, a good way to augment a USAA account is to also open an account with a local bank, so you have another option if you need access to a physical banking location.
Insurance Rates Vary By Location. You may do well when you’re stationed overseas, but when you return to the US, it’s a good idea to shop rates competitively. Some people find that USAA may not offer the best insurance where they live, and they may not offer some types of insurance in all locations.
Savings Account Interest Rates. USAA’s current savings account interest rates leave something to be desired. The highest interest rates at USAA are in the USAA Performance First Savings, which requires a minimum of $10,000 to open, and the highest rates don’t kick in until you have $50,000 in savings. You would likely do better opening a high-yield savings account at an online bank.
Recent Lawsuits. USAA has struggled in the last few years with several high profile lawsuits and a Cease and Desist Order from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regarding deficiencies in USAAs operations and requires them to take comprehensive action to improve in numerous areas.
How to Join
Be sure to check out more of our pages on The Military Wallet for more information, or call USAA to discuss options for opening an account!
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These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
william T Baker Jr says
Can adult children and grandchildren of veteran members of USAA become members?
Ryan Guina says
Hello William, yes, USAA will generally extend membership to the adult children of USAA members who served in the military. Please contact USAA customer service for more information.
Frank Nitte says
If a Father served in WWII as an enlisted soldier and passed away prior to enlisted members not being able to be a USAA member can his children qualify to join USAA?
Ryan Guina says
Hello Frank, My understanding is that USAA only extends membership to the adult children of USAA members who served in the military. You can also gain USAA membership by serving in the military or by marrying a USAA member. I am not aware of other methods to gain USAA membership. Please contact USAA for additional information. Best wishes!
Patrick Keegan says
Having a problem obtaining a copy of my DD214,
My last conversation with a person from USAA, I completed a form online to obtain a copy of my DD214. That was somewhere about 6 to 8 months ago, I think was the approximate time span.
Been trying again recently, but just seems to be running in circles.
I have my Honorable Discharge on hand, but for unknown reasons, I am missing the DD 214. I had it at one time when I joined Lowes for a military discount.
I wish to apply for Homeowners and Auto Insurance. Please advise. Thank you, Patrick Keegan
Ryan Guina says
Hello Patrick, The best place to get a copy of your DD 214 is through your branch of service if you recently separated from the military. Otherwise, you should contact the National Archives. They are the official repository of military documents and records. Best wishes!
Gene Dikeman says
Two uncles were navy commanders and one was in the army during WWII. Do I qualify for USSA benefits and products?
Ryan Guina says
Hello Gene, My understanding is that you can only gain USAA membership as the child of a USAA member. Please contact USAA for further questions. Best wishes!
Michael S. Kreindler, M.D. says
I have been a USAA member since 1968. I have a question about the subscriber savings program. I received a notice today (2/1/25) indicating what the cash balance in my account was after USAA deposited money for 2024 and after the 2024 payments had been distributed to me. In addition, USAA provided two barcodes showing every mid-December cash allocation to me and every one of my mid-February Senior bonus distributions. For me, the mid December distributions began in December 1995 and the senior bonus distributions started in February 2011. How can I find out how much cash was deposited in my Subscriber Savings account initially.
Ryan Guina says
Michael, Thank you for your question. You will need to contact the USAA customer service department for more information. Best wishes!