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The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: BankAmericard® Credit Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card could be a good option for USAA members who want the chance to consolidate and pay down high-interest debt. Since its intro 0% APR offer (then 12.15% - 26.15% variable APR) applies to balance transfers as well as convenience checks, this card can also work well for cardmembers who want to access a short-term, interest-free loan. That said, using credit card convenience checks that arrive in the mail will still trigger a cash advance fee, and keep in mind that this card doesn't earn rewards.
USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card On USAA’s website. You must be or become a USAA member to apply. Insider’s RatingInsider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.Perks 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening, then 12.15% to 26.15% variable regular APR.
Annual Fee Intro APR0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening
Regular APR 12.15% - 26.15% variable Intro Offer Recommended Credit Good, ExcellentThe USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card could be a good option for USAA members who want the chance to consolidate and pay down high-interest debt. Since its intro APR offer applies to balance transfers as well as convenience checks, this card can also work well for cardmembers who want to access a short-term, interest-free loan. That said, using credit card convenience checks that arrive in the mail will still trigger a cash advance fee, and keep in mind that this card doesn't earn rewards.
If you're a member of the military, a veteran, or an eligible family member of one, you may know all about USAA Bank already. If not, you should know this financial institution offers financial products and insurance solutions for military members, including various loans, retirement accounts, credit cards, and more.
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card is one of the card options from USAA that doesn't offer rewards. Instead, this card offers a truly unique 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening, then 12.15% - 26.15% variable APR.
That makes the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card one of the best USAA credit cards if you have high-interest debt to pay down, or if you need to access some cash in the short-term and pay it down without interest for a while. However, you should know upfront that the 0% intro offer does not apply to purchases.
If you want a credit card that offers rewards for spending, you'll need to look elsewhere. The same is true if you want a credit card with a ton of perks, or one that has 0% APR for purchases for a limited time.
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card really only has one major benefit, and that's the fact new cardmembers get 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening (followed by 12.15% - 26.15% variable APR).
Note that a fee of 5% of the amount of each balance transfer applies to your account if you use this card for debt consolidation. A cash advance fee also applies to paper credit card convenience checks, even though you do get the intro APR on funds accessed with these checks for 15 months.
Interestingly, the fine print from USAA says you can get the cash advance fee waived when you transfer cash advance funds electronically to your USAA Bank deposit account.
This is all pretty confusing, and it's worth noting that there are better balance transfers out there without the confusing fees and fine print. As an example, the BankAmericard comes with no annual fee as well as 0% intro APR for the first 21 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening (followed by 15.74% - 25.74% Variable APR).
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card doesn't offer any rewards, which is another one of its downsides. You'll want to know that some cards with rewards offer better intro APR offers as well.
As an example, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card lets cardmembers earn a flat 2% cash back on purchases with no annual fee. Plus, new cardholders can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. The card comes with 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening (followed by 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR).
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card is light on benefits, but there are a few perks to be aware of.
As we mentioned already, the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card comes with 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening (followed by 12.15% - 26.15% variable APR).
This intro APR does not apply to purchases.
The card comes with some pretty standard security features, including mobile alerts, and the ability to report a lost or stolen card with the USAA app or your online account management page.
This card comes with 24/7 customer support online from USAA, extended warranties on eligible items that come with a manufacturer's warranty and the ability to use your card for payments in a mobile wallet.
A few travel benefits apply when you use this card to pay for travel purchases. However, we wouldn't recommend it since this isn't a travel rewards credit card and it does not offer notable travel benefits (other than insurance coverage).
Either way, the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card comes with auto rental coverage, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and baggage delay reimbursement.
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card doesn't charge an annual fee, nor does it charge any foreign transaction fees. You can also get the cash advance fee waived if you automatically transfer funds accessed this way to your USAA bank deposit account.
That said, there are some other fees to be aware of:
If you want to save as much money as possible on interest while consolidating high interest debt from other cards, you'll want the longest intro APR offer you can find. In the meantime, you might also want an intro offer that applies to purchases in case you want to pay down new spending without interest as well.
Either way, the BankAmericard® Credit Card
is worth checking out since it comes with no annual fee and 0% intro APR for the first 21 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening (followed by 15.74% - 25.74% Variable APR). Note a balance transfer fee also applies if you use this card to consolidate debt.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is also worth checking out if you want an intro APR for balance transfers. After all, new cardholders automatically get 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening (followed by 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR).
This card also comes with the benefit of an exceptional rewards rate. In fact, members earn 2% cash rewards on purchases and $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. There's no annual fee for this card, either.
Is the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card a good balance transfer card? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card does have an intro APR offer for balance transfers, but there are better cards out there. We suggest looking at the best balance transfer credit cards that offer 0% APR for balance transfers (and potentially even purchases) for up to 21 months.
Does the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card charge foreign transaction fees? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card does not charge foreign transaction fees.
Do you earn rewards with the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card does not offer any rewards, so you'll want to look elsewhere if you want to earn cash back or other types of rewards. For example, you can consider cash-back credit cards and general rewards credit cards.
Does the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card charge any fees for a cash advance? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card charges a fee for cash advances. However, this fee can be waived if you utilize a cash advance online and have the money automatically transferred to your USAA Bank deposit account.
Do you have to be military to get the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
You have to meet certain requirements to join USAA and qualify for its financial products. These include being a member of the military, a veteran, a precommissioned officer, or a spouse or child of someone who qualifies.
When evaluating a credit card, we use our credit card rating methodology to assign it a star rating and compare it to other cards. The main factors we look at are the card's welcome bonus, annual fee, rewards rates, options for using rewards, and other benefits and features. Each of these accounts for 20% of the card's total rating.
Holly Johnson is a credit card expert, award-winning writer, and mother of two who is obsessed with frugality, budgeting, and travel. In addition to serving as contributing editor for The Simple Dollar and writing for publications such as Bankrate, U.S. News and World Report Travel, and Travel Pulse, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love."
Read more Read lessAngela Fung is the Compliance Manager for Business Insider's Personal Finance division, overseeing a team that ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers are always getting up-to-date and objective financial advice. The compliance team's mission is to maintain reader trust by confirming stories are fact-checked and current so that readers can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by maintaining clear, precise language that is compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team.
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