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USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card – Full Review [2024]

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Carissa Rawson
Carissa Rawson's image

Carissa Rawson

Senior Content Contributor

319 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 51U.S. States Visited: 36

Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business ...
Edited by: Jessica Merritt
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Jessica Merritt

Senior Editor & Content Contributor

119 Published Articles 579 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 4U.S. States Visited: 23

A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little ca...

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USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card
Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
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Learn More(at USAA's secure site. Must be a USAA member, or become a member, to apply.)
  • Low intro APR for 15 months

  • $0

  • 11.65% to 25.65% variable

  • Good to Excellent (670-850)

USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card

The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card offers no annual fee, a low APR rate, and no penalty APR.

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
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Learn More(at USAA's secure site. Must be a USAA member, or become a member, to apply.)
Card Details

Card Snapshot

Welcome Bonus & Info

  • Must be a USAA® member, or become a member, to apply. USAA proudly offers membership to current and former military, as well as their spouses and dependents.
  • Intro Offer: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post within 90 days of account opening. After this time, the variable regular APR of 11.65% to 25.65% will apply to introductory balances.
  • A fee of 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, cash advance and convenience check applies. If you transfer a balance or write a convenience check to take advantage of the introductory rate offer, you will immediately incur interest on purchases until you pay your balance in full, including any transferred balances.
  • No annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • See Rates and Fees for details.
Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Low variable APR on purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • Does not earn rewards
  • No welcome bonus
  • Charges a fee for balance transfers, cash advances, and convenience checks

Upgraded Points: Expertise You Can Trust

Our seasoned and experienced team brings years of expertise in the credit card and travel sectors. Committed to integrity, we offer data-driven guides to help you find the card(s) that best fit your requirements. See details on our intensive editorial policies and card rating methodologies.

  • Content by Leading Industry Experts
  • Routine Updates and Fact-Checks
  • First-Hand Credit Card Experience
  • Shared Across 200+ Top Outlets
  • Methodical “U.P. Rating” System
  • 1087+ Expert Credit Card Guides

Great Card If

  • You’re a USAA member
  • You want to take advantage of a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post within 90 days of account opening. After this time, the variable regular APR of 11.65% to 25.65% will apply to introductory balances (rates & fees)
  • You’ll use your card internationally
  • You don’t want to pay an annual fee (rates & fees)
  • You want travel protections

Don’t Get If

  • You want to earn rewards
  • You carry a balance on your card
  • You’d like to earn a welcome bonus

What Benefits Do You Get With the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card?

The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card is only available to USAA members. If you’re eligible for the card, it may be worth looking into.

While it doesn’t earn rewards, there are quite a few benefits associated with this card, including some limited travel benefits. These tend to be reserved for cards that charge an annual fee, so it’s nice to see travel benefits on a card that costs nothing to hold.

  • Rental car coverage
  • Travel accident insurance
  • Trip cancellation and interruption coverage
  • Baggage delay reimbursement
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

Other protections on the card include cell phone insurance (up to $500), 90-day purchase security, and an extended warranty on items you purchase.

Refer to the Credit Card Benefits Guide for the most up-to-date information on all benefits and protections.

Alternative Cards to the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card

The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card may be a good option for you if you’re planning to travel or need a 0% APR balance transfer, but there are other options that may be more suitable. This is especially true if you’d like to earn rewards.

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, for example, is also a no-annual-fee credit card that offers travel protections (rates & fees).

Although it charges a higher minimum interest rate, it also earns rewards on your purchases. This includes 1.25x Capital One Miles per dollar spent on all purchases, plus 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked via the Capital One travel portal.

USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card — Should You Get This Card?

While not everyone will love this card, it does offer some benefits and has no annual fee. This means it won’t be a drain on your finances but will still offer you protections when traveling and shopping.

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About Carissa Rawson

Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business Insider, Forbes, and more.

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