All information about the USAA Eagle Navigator® Credit Card has been collected independently by CardCritics™
USAA Eagle Navigator® Credit Card Review
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Written by
Dawn Allcot
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
For frequent travelers and USAA credit union members, the USAA Eagle Navigator® Credit Card offers generous rewards and valuable perks, including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver coverage, which can save you money when you rent a car.
Rewards never expire, making this card perfect if you want to let points accrue and eventually save money on a big trip.
Although there’s a $95 annual fee, you can easily recoup that cost by earning just 9,500 in points each year and using them on travel bookings or by booking any trip or car through the USAA Rewards Center.
Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
19.15% to 27.40% variable regular APR
Intro Bonus
Earn 30,000 bonus points ($300 travel value) after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases within 90 days of account opening.
Rewards
3X points on travel purchases.
2X points on everyday purchases. 3X points on travel purchases – triple your points on tolls, rideshares, hotels, vacation rentals, flights and more.
2X points on everyday purchases – double your points on groceries, gas, dining, bills and more.
Recommended Credit Score
Good – Excellent
670 – 850
Annual Fee
$95
CardCritics™ Opinion
In spite of its relatively high APR and annual fee, this card represents a good option for frequent travelers. With benefits such as no foreign transaction fees and a TSA PreCheck® / Global Entry® credit, this card is best for international travelers. Other cards, with more broad-based benefits, might be better if you don’t spend a lot of money traveling. As part of the Visa Signature® line of cards, the Eagle Navigator Card comes with additional benefits like first access to shows and concerts and exclusive access to special events. The biggest drawback to this card is that it is only available to USAA® members.
Our Critical Analysis:
USAA Eagle Navigator® Credit Card
- Generous bonus offer
- 3X points on travel, 2X points on everything else
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- Points never expire
PROS
- $95 annual fee
- High Variable APR
- Only available to USAA credit union members
- No points transfer to partners
CONS
Rewards
The Eagle Navigator Card has a straightforward rewards program with no points limits. Earn 3X points on travel, including:
- Airfare
- Hotels
- Car and vacation rentals
- Rideshares
- Tolls
Plus, get 2X points on all other purchases.
Points never expire. You also earn 10,000 bonus points each year that you book a hotel or rental car through the USAA Rewards Center.
Welcome Bonus
The USAA welcome bonus is better than many cards out there and is relatively easy to attain.
Earn 30,000 bonus points ($300 travel value) after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases within 90 days of account opening. You can get the $300 in value from these points when you book travel through USAA’s rewards portal.
Important Fees to Consider
The Eagle Navigator Card has a $95 annual fee, however the 10,000 points you receive each year after making an eligible hotel or car booking covers the cost of your annual fee (plus $5) since 10,000 points are worth $100 when redeemed for travel. You can also receive a statement credit for up to $120 every four years when you use your card to apply for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
The card has no foreign transaction fees and does not increase your APR if you miss a payment. Expect to pay 5% of the transaction amount for balance transfers or cash advances.
Rewards Redemption Options
The Eagle Navigator Card offers an array of redemption options for your points. You can:
- Redeem points as a statement credit to your account or a direct deposit into your USAA account
- Cash them in for gift cards, merchandise or travel through the Rewards Center
- Redeem points to make charitable contributions to participating charities
- Combine points with any of your other USAA credit card accounts
Additional Benefits
The Eagle Navigator Card offers additional benefits best suited for travelers. These include:
- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage
- Auto rental collision damage waiver coverage
- Travel accident insurance
- Baggage delay reimbursement coverage
What Sets This Card Apart?
For USAA members looking for a straightforward travel rewards card, the Eagle Navigator Card is a good pick. You can maximize your benefits by cashing them in through the USAA Rewards Center, where 10,000 points are worth $100 in travel.
But the card also has the flexibility of cashing in rewards for statement credits, charitable contributions and more. Also noteworthy: points never expire and there’s no limit to points you can earn in any category.
Is It the Right Card For You?
The Eagle Navigator Card may be the right fit for you if any of the following apply:
- You travel internationally and want a card with no foreign transaction fees.
- You are willing to book travel through USAA to get the most value for your points.
- You want a card with extensive travel benefits.
- You qualify for USAA membership.
Card Details From USAA
- 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: Earn 30,000 bonus points ($300 travel value) after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases within 90 days of account opening.
- 3X points on travel purchases – triple your points on tolls, rideshares, hotels, vacation rentals, flights and more.
- 2X points on everyday purchases – double your points on groceries, gas, dining, bills and more.
- Earn 10,000 bonus points every year – applies after you complete eligible hotel or car booking. That’s equal to a $100 travel value.
- Up to $120 credit towards TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® fee every four years.
- Enjoy valuable travel benefits and protection, including Auto Rental Coverage, Travel Accident Coverage, Trip Interruption Coverage, Baggage Delay Reimbursement, Purchase Security and Cell Phone Protection.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Points never expire for the life of the account and there are no spend caps on point earning.
- Redeem points your way, on your schedule.
- A fee of 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, cash advance and convenience check applies.
- 19.15% to 27.40% variable regular APR.
- $95 annual fee.
- See Rates and Fees for details.
- Terms and Restrictions apply. See the Guide to Benefits and Reward Terms and Conditions on USAA’s website for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Eagle Navigator Card takes a straightforward approach to earning and redeeming rewards. These answers to some frequently asked questions will help you decide if it’s the right card for you.
What credit score is needed for the Eagle Navigator Card?
The Eagle Navigator Card requires good to excellent credit. Typically a FICO credit score of 670 or above meets this criteria. However, having a credit score of 670 or above does not guarantee approval since other factors are taken into consideration.
Does the Eagle Navigator Card charge an annual fee?
Yes. The Eagle Navigator Card charges an annual fee of $95. However, the travel benefits can easily save you more than $95.
Does the Eagle Navigator Card charge a foreign transaction fee?
No. The Eagle Navigator Card does not charge a foreign transaction fee, making it a great option for spending abroad.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.
