USAA Rate Advantage Review: An Extra-Low APR for a Select Few
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3.5
This card's value rests with its potential to give you an interest rate in the single digits, but not everyone will qualify for the card or its lowest rate. And if you always pay in full, look for rewards rather than a low rate.
Pros
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fee
Cons
No rewards
Compare to Other Cards
Annual fee$0 | Annual fee$0 |
Intro APR0% Intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers and 12 months on Purchases | Intro APR0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers |
Recommended Credit Score |
Recommended Credit Score |
Detailed review: USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card
The primary selling point of the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card is right there in its name: a potentially low interest rate.
0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months that post to your account within 90 days of account opening, then an ongoing APR of 11.15%-28.15% Variable. That looks enticing if you're in the habit of carrying a credit card balance (and if you're eligible for USAA membership).
But keep in mind that not every applicant will qualify for the low end of that range. Your actual APR will depend on your creditworthiness and other factors, and you won't know your rate until you're approved. Even if you're confident that you'll qualify for a low APR, only active and former members of the military and their family members are eligible to apply.
If it's a low ongoing interest rate you're looking for, you may find better options elsewhere.
USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card: Basics
Card type: Low interest.
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: None.
Rewards: None.
APR: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months that post to your account within 90 days of account opening, then an ongoing APR of 11.15%-28.15% Variable. Active duty service members may qualify for slightly lower rates. More on that below.
Foreign transaction fees: None.
Balance transfer fee: 3%.
Visa benefits: Travel accident insurance and baggage delay insurance, among others. Terms apply.
Benefits and perks
A potentially low ongoing APR, if you qualify
As of November, 2022, the average APR charged for credit card accounts that incurred interest was 19.07%, according to the Federal Reserve. That's far higher than the lower end of the APR advertised by the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card. Again, though, there's no guarantee you'll qualify for the card's lowest rate.
The USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card currently offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months on new purchases.
Low or no fees
The USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card has an annual fee of $0, it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, and while there is a balance transfer fee, it's in line with what you would find on other cards. For those who are forgetful, you also won't face a penalty APR should you fail to pay your bill on time (although you may be subject to a late fee and potential damage to your credit scores).
Drawbacks and considerations
There's no guarantee you'll get a low rate
If you know you'll carry a balance and you want a card with a clearer value proposition, consider the Lake Michigan Credit Union Prime Platinum Card. Its ongoing APR is phrased by the issuer this way: The ongoing APR is 11.50%, Variable. There are membership eligibility requirements, but anyone can join with a $5 donation to the ALS Association. The annual fee is $0.
Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), if you have an existing balance on any credit card upon entering active military duty, you can qualify for a 6% APR on that existing balance until one year after you complete active duty.
Only USAA members qualify
Becoming a member of USAA isn’t as easy as it is for credit unions that offer shortcuts to join. Membership is generally limited to active military members, retired or honorably discharged service members, service academy students and eligible family members such as spouses or children.
No rewards
If you pay your bill off in full every month, the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card has little benefit for you. You’ll get more value from a rewards credit card like the Citi® Double Cash Card. It offers a flat rate of 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you spend and 1% when you pay your bill.
There's no 0% APR offer on new purchases
Although the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card offers a potentially low ongoing interest rate, it doesn’t offer a 0% introductory APR period for new purchases. If you're looking to finance a large purchase, you could instead consider the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card. It offers an intro 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 18.74%-29.74% Variable APR.
If you don't carry a balance from month to month, a low interest rate doesn't provide any benefit, and you're better off with a card that offers rewards for spending. The Citi® Double Cash Card offers 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you buy something and 1% when you pay if off. The annual fee is $0.
How to decide if it's right for you
If you keep an ongoing balance on your credit card, you could perhaps benefit from a potentially low ongoing APR offered by the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card — but that's assuming you qualify for both a USAA card in general and this card's low rate specifically.
If you just need temporary breathing room on interest for a new purchase or an existing balance, a 0% intro APR card may be a better fit. And if you already pay off your credit card bill in full every month to avoid interest, you’re better off with a credit card that can reward you for that good habit.