[Expired] USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Card Launches New Welcome Offer: 3% First-Year Cash-Back for Members

Updated: March 2, 2026, 11:41am CST

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Eligibility and Details of the New USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card Welcome Offer
Final Thoughts

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Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.

USAA recently introduced a limited-time welcome offer on its USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature^® Credit Card, increasing first-year cash-back earnings for eligible members.

The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card now earns 3% cash-back during your first year on up to $15,000 in purchases, which is a nice earning rate if you favor earning cash back over travel rewards.

Here is everything you need to know!

Eligibility and Details of the New USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card Welcome Offer

For starters, not everyone is eligible for the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card. Eligibility requirements are that you must be a USAA member to apply — or become one.

Membership is open to current and former U.S. military members, including those on active duty, in the National Guard, or veterans, as well as their spouses and dependent children. Those without a qualifying military connection aren’t eligible for USAA membership and therefore can’t apply for the card.

Army Father In Uniform Home On Leave With Children Using Digital Tablet — The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card is available exclusively to military members, veterans, and their families. Image Credit: Monkey Business via Adobe Stock

For eligible members, the card’s new welcome offer is simple but lucrative:

Cash back match – earn 3% cash-back on the first $15,000 spent in your first year.
Then, earn an unlimited 1.5% back on all purchases after that.
$0 annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no bonus categories to manage.

This card doesn’t earn transferable travel rewards such as Chase Ultimate Rewards or Citi ThankYou Rewards. Still, its straightforward flat-rate structure makes it ideal for those who value simplicity and consistent returns on everyday spending.

Whether you’re buying groceries, paying for gas, or booking travel, you’ll always earn the same rate — 3% cash-back on the first $15,000 spent in your first year, then an unlimited 1.5% back on all purchases with this new welcome offer.

Other perks include USAA’s fraud protection tools, mobile banking integration, and the company’s signature military-focused customer service.

Hot Tip:

Not eligible for a USAA membership? Consider alternatives like the Chase Freedom Unlimited^® or Citi Double Cash^® Card, both excellent no-annual-fee cards that offer strong everyday cash-back earning potential.

Final Thoughts

For a limited time, eligible USAA members (and their immediate families) can take advantage of the new 3% cash-back match, first-year welcome offer on the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card. While it won’t rival some of the best travel rewards credit cards with transferable rewards in the market, it delivers what many USAA members value most — simplicity, reliability, and solid cash-back returns without an annual fee.