How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
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How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

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USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card Review

USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card Review

Extra Perks
Rental Car Insurance, Concierge Services, Purchase Protection, & more
Rewards Rate
Earn 5% cash back on your first $3,000 in gas and military base purchases annually on these categories combined. Earn 2% on your first $3,000 on supermarket purchases per year. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Ongoing APR
11.90% - 25.90% Variable
Edited by
Julie Sherrier
Reviewed by
Tracy Brackman
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

Who is the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card best for?

If you are an active or former member of the military, or an eligible family member, you can earn a generous cash back rate on everyday purchases with the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card.

Cardholders earn 5% cash back on your first $3,000 in gas and military base purchases annually on these categories combined. Earn 2% on your first $3,000 on supermarket purchases per year. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Additionally, the card offers a $0 annual fee and a very reasonable ongoing APR.

We highlight the pros and cons of the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card, and show how it compares to similar cash back credit cards and cards designed for military members.

USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card overview

    • Earn 5% cash back on your first $3,000 in gas and military base purchases annually on these categories combined
    • Earn 2% on your first $3,000 on supermarket purchases per year
    • Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
    • USAA membership is available to active and former military and their eligible family members
  • Credit needed:
    680 850
    Excellent/Good
  • Concierge service
  • Extended warranty protection
  • 24/7 customer service
  • Foreign transaction fees: None

*Terms apply

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

11.90% - 25.90% Variable

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

11.90% - 25.90% Variable

Annual Fee

$0

Cash Advance Fee

3% on balance transfers and cash advances

Foreign Transaction Fee

None

Balance Transfer Fee

3% on balance transfers and cash advances

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Cash back rewards
  • Reasonable ongoing APR
  • $0 annual fee

Cons

  • Cap on the higher earning rate
  • No welcome offer
  • No intro APR on purchases or balance transfers
  • Eligibility requirements to apply

What we like about the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card

  • Cash back rewards

    The USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card offers cash back rewards in popular, everyday spending categories. Cardholders earn 5% cash back on your first $3,000 in gas and military base purchases annually on these categories combined. Earn 2% on your first $3,000 on supermarket purchases per year. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

    Rewards can be redeemed for cash that can either be applied as a credit to your account or deposited into your USAA checking or savings account.

  • Reasonable ongoing APR

    If you need to carry a balance on your card from month to month, you have the opportunity to qualify for a low ongoing APR on purchases with the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card. The card has an APR of 11.90% - 25.90% variable.

  • Annual fee

    The USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card charges a $0 annual fee.

What to look out for with the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card

  • Cap on the higher earning rate

    While cardholders can earn a generous cash back rate with the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card, know that the accelerated rewards rate on gas and military base purchases is capped at $3,000 in combined purchases each year. Similarly, the rate on supermarket purchases is capped at $3,000 per year.

    Still, if you max out each of the spending caps, you have the potential to earn more than $200 cash back each year on those purchases alone.

  • No welcome offer

    Rewards credit cards typically offer a bonus when you open the account and spend a certain amount within a specified time period.

    For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express lets cardholders earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

    The USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card, however, does not provide a welcome offer.

  • No intro APR

    The USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card does not offer an intro APR on purchases or balance transfers. So if you plan to carry a balance on your card month over month, or if you want to transfer high interest debt from another card, you will be subject to interest charges at an APR of 11.90% - 25.90% variable.

  • Eligibility requirements to apply

    To apply for the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card, you must first become a USAA member. The following individuals are eligible for membership:

    • U.S. military members and veterans
    • Precommissioned officers
    • Spouse and children of military members and veterans

Alternative rewards card to the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card

Compare it to the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

| Disclosures
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
on American Express's secure site
Terms Apply
0% on purchases for 12 months
16.24%-26.24% Variable
$95
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year
  • Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a fixed monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
  • Low intro APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.24% to 26.24%.
  • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
  • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
  • $95 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
720 850

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

 

If you want the opportunity to earn an even higher cash back rate in everyday categories from a card that also offers a welcome offer and intro APR on purchases, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a great alternative.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express members 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply.

Plus, cardholders earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Cash back is received in the form of Rewards Dollars, which can be redeemed as statement credits.

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months. After that, a regular APR of 16.24%-26.24% variable applies.

Unlike the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card, there are no military or credit union membership requirements to apply for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

That said, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express does come with a $95 annual fee. However, if you’re an eligible active duty service member, American Express will waive its annual membership fee upon request.

To see rates & fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please click here.

Compare the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card to similar cards

Comparison of four different credit cards
USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card Blue Cash Preferred<sup>®</sup> Card from American Express Wells Fargo Reflect® Card Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card
USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Wells Fargo Reflect® Card Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card
Read Review
Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Terms Apply
Apply Now
on Wells Fargo's secure site
Read Review
Welcome Offer
None Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. N/A No bonus
Rewards Rate
Earn 5% cash back on your first $3,000 in gas and military base purchases annually on these categories combined. Earn 2% on your first $3,000 on supermarket purchases per year. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply. None No rewards
Annual Fee
$0 $95 $0 $0
Intro Purchase APR
N/A 0% on purchases for 12 months 0% intro APR up to 21 months from account opening N/A
Regular APR
11.90% - 25.90% Variable 16.24%-26.24% Variable 15.24% - 27.24% variable APR 6.74% to 18.00% (variable)
Regular Balance Transfer Rate
11.90% - 25.90% Variable N/A 15.24% - 27.24% variable APR 6.74% to 18.00% (variable)
Recommended Credit
Excellent/Good Excellent/Good Excellent/Good Excellent/Good/Fair
Card Details
USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Wells Fargo Reflect® Card Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card

The information related to the Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Is the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card right for you?

The USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card is a great option for current or former military members (and eligible family members) who are in the market for a $0 annual fee card with a generous cash back rate on gas, military base purchases and groceries.

But if you want to earn a higher cash back rate at U.S. supermarkets, as well as cash back on U.S. streaming subscriptions, U.S. gas station purchases and transit, or if you want to finance a large purchase without incurring interest charges for a year, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a better option.

To see rates & fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please click here.

The information related to the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.