All information about the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card has been collected independently by CardCritics™
USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card Review
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Written by
Dawn Allcot
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
The USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card is a phenomenal choice for USAA® members looking to transfer balances from higher interest cards. With an introductory APR for on balance transfers and convenience checks that post within the first 90 days of opening the account, you’ll have plenty of time to pay down debt without accruing interest. Plus, if you can’t erase all your debt in that time, you could snag a low variable APR after that if you have excellent credit. With no annual fee, this credit card could save you money.
Intro Bonus
N/A
Rewards
N/A
Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
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 11.15% to 25.15% variable regular APR will apply to introductory balances. A 11.15% to 25.15% variable regular APR will apply for purchases.
Recommended Credit Score
Good – Excellent
600 – 850
Annual Fee
$0
CardCritics™ Opinion
If you carry balances on high-interest credit cards, the USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card could be your get-out-of-debt (almost) free card. You’ll need to be aware that if you transfer balances and then use the card to make purchases, you’ll immediately begin incurring interest on purchases until you pay the card’s entire balance – including transfers – in full. It’s best to use this low intro APR card for balance transfers or convenience checks only until you pay off that initial debt incurred in the first 90 days and keep a rewards card on hand for regular purchases so that you can earn cashback. This card also offers a tremendous range of travel and shopping benefits, including cell phone coverage.
Our Critical Analysis:
USAA Rate Advantage Credit Card
- Intro APR on balance transfers and convenience checks
- Pay down higher interest debt by transferring to this card
- No annual fee
- No foreign transfer fees
- No over-the-credit limit fees
PROS
- 5% of the amount of each balance transfer and convenience check
- No grace period on purchases if you carry any balance
- No rewards
- Late fee of up to $35
- USAA credit union membership required
CONS
Intro-APR Benefits
This straightforward Visa card offers 15 months of 0% interest on balance transfers. After the intro APR period, the interest rate for balance transfers and purchases is 11.15% to 25.15% variable regular APR, depending on your creditworthiness.Important Fees To Consider
This card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. You’ll pay a 5% fee for:
- Cash advances
- Balance transfers
- Convenience check
If you use these services within the first 90 days, though, those fees could be offset by low interest for 15 months. Late fees for a missed or returned payment could be as high as $35. There is no penalty APR rate for missed payments.
The Rate Advantage Card includes travel benefits such as:
- Auto rental coverage and collision damage waiver
- Travel accident insurance
- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage
- Baggage delay coverage and reimbursement
The Rate Advantage Card also has cell phone protection of up to $500 if your phone is stolen or damaged in a month where you charged your cell phone bill to your USAA credit card. You’ll also get purchase security against theft of damage for 90 days after any purchase made with your card. Plus, you can extend the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by up to one year on items purchased with your card.
What Makes This Card Stand Out
The Rate Advantage Card is one of the best you’ll find for those looking for a high-quality, low-intro APR balance transfer card with a host of other benefits. If you apply for a USAA Visa Platinum credit card and qualify for a credit limit over $3,000, the bank may issue you Visa Signature card with additional exclusive benefits with the same rate and terms.
Is It the Right Card For You?
The Rate Advantage Card may be the right fit for you if any of the following apply:
- You have balances on high-interest credit cards that you expect to pay off within 15 months.
- You want purchase protection, cell phone protection and other perks.
- You don’t want to pay an annual fee.
- You aren’t looking for a cashback rewards credit card.
- You qualify for USAA credit union 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: 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 11.15% to 25.15% 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.
- 11.15% to 25.15% variable regular APR.
- See Rates and Fees for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Rate Advantage Card worth it?
With a intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, plus no annual fee and plentiful perks, the Rate Advantage Card is worth it for people looking to pay down high interest credit card debt and don’t care as much about credit card rewards..
What is the credit score for Rate Advantage Card?
You can obtain a Rate Advantage Card with a credit score of at least 600. If you don’t qualify for the Visa Signature version of the card, with a credit limit of $3,000 or greater, you may qualify for the Visa Platinum version of the card.
What is the interest rate for Rate Advantage Card?
The Rate Advantage Card carries a 11.15% to 25.15% variable regular APR, depending on your creditworthiness and other factors.
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.
