Bank accounts

Capt MJ said:
crazyride said:
I was wondering the same thing. We go out next week for the appointee tour and was thinking about going into the branch office to open up an account. Maybe with the appointee letter they will?
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With the appointee letter the USAA financial center (branch) should be able to open the account. There are branches in Colo Springs, Annapolis, Highland Falls.

USAA is closing many of its financial centers (branches) this spring, emphasizing digital platforms. The three above will stay open.

Check here for a location, and don't delay
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/usaa_financial_center?akredirect=true

I don't think it can be done online, since the SSN cannot be verified as a military member yet. Hard to set up a log-in without that critical first step.

I am awaiting feedback on the specific USAA number to call. They can usually get creative and take a scanned or photo version of the appointee letter. I hope to have that number this week. My USAA contact, a USMA grad, understands it all.
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Thank you. We will be in COS next week to take care of this at the branch location if the number doesn't come through first. Thanks again.
 
crazyride said:
We plan on going to the branch in COS. Thank you for the information!!
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Also, we had the form 1199A, Direct Deposit Sign-up Form, they will fill that out for you. The way it was set up in NC, we sat down in a private room with a big screen computer and FaceTime with the bank Representative. He walks you through the online set up and prints the 1199A. You will need to make a deposit, my DS used his ATM card to initiate this process or I think you can give them a checking account number, everything is done online. And as a parent you can open a joint account with your DS or DD, separate from his cadet account. This makes it easier to transfer money to him if needed. This also makes you a USAA member too, with benefits!! Hope this helps and you get the same great service.
 
Also, we did not have the appointee letter when we opened the USAA account. My DS had his 1199A form that specified "Cadet" and all the other personal identification information needed to open a checking account. However, I'm not saying that it is not needed. (we had everything else, including the instruction booklet :)
 
We've been with USAA forever (husband ex-Navy) and have been very pleased. We use them for everything - insurance for cars and home, car finance, etc. Excellent rates and phenomenal customer service if you need it.
 
sa2021 said:
Also, we did not have the appointee letter when we opened the USAA account. My DS had his 1199A form that specified "Cadet" and all the other personal identification information needed to open a checking account. However, I'm not saying that it is not needed. (we had everything else, including the instruction booklet :)
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Thank you for the great information!
 
sa2021 said:
Also, we did not have the appointee letter when we opened the USAA account. My DS had his 1199A form that specified "Cadet" and all the other personal identification information needed to open a checking account. However, I'm not saying that it is not needed. (we had everything else, including the instruction booklet :)
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@sa2021 Does DS need to be present to open a checking account at the branch ? We are in COS for a one day tour. Schedule is very tight. Thanks in advance
 
Another plug for USAA. As a member of the military you will be faced with insurance issues that other insurance companies don't know how to handle.
As an example. I am a TX resident as my wife was once based at Ft Bliss. For tax purposes, a military member and his/her spouse can keep state residency of any location where you have been based, or keep your home state.
We once were based at Ft Campbell, KY. So I have a KY address on my TX driver license.
We are now based in NY.
So yes- I have a TX driver's license with a KY address (that technically was located in TN), but live in NY. I found that most insurance companies can't deal with this. Their heads explode. With USAA this is a non-issue.
 
tex2021 said:
@sa2021 Does DS need to be present to open a checking account at the branch ? We are in COS for a one day tour. Schedule is very tight. Thanks in advance
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Yes, as the account holder.

I am still trying to get a phone number USAFA appointees can call. All my key contacts at USAA are taking PTO due to school spring breaks.
 
Capt MJ said:
tex2021 said:
@sa2021 Does DS need to be present to open a checking account at the branch ? We are in COS for a one day tour. Schedule is very tight. Thanks in advance
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Yes, as the account holder.

I am still trying to get a phone number USAFA appointees can call. All my key contacts at USAA are taking PTO due to school spring breaks.
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We have a full schedule for today's tour and will not have time to stop at a branch before our flight. Will wait for the telephone. Thanks
 
tex2021 said:
We have a full schedule for today's tour and will not have time to stop at a branch before our flight. Will wait for the telephone. Thanks
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The USAA branch in NC required my DS to be there. He will need to confirm and answer to accepting that he is a candidate Cadet. Paperwork will require his signature and other pertinent information he will need to answer to set up an account. Not sure if other locations are like that but he would need to answer legally to his status as eligible to have a USAA account. (sorry for delay answering, I was in the hospital) Also, not sure how it is confirmed online at home, you may can do FaceTime on your home computer with USAA representative.
 
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Just talked with USAA in COS. In order to sign up call 800-531-8722 and when prompted indicate "new checking".
When you get a person indicate you want to open a New Recruit account. There is no money needed to open this account (checking/savings). Your DS/DD will need to be on the phone. They will need a copy of their appointment letter and government ID (ie. Drivers license, passport etc.) sent. USAA will walk them through the process on the phone. Be by a computer to access the proper forms. Hope this might help.
 
I just confirmed with my USAA POC/West Point grad at their main office - use the 800-571-8722 number. Ensure the phone rep understands it's Service Academy appointee. Same deal on opening the checking, but the cadet or mid will get coded that way in terms of USAA eligibility category, not as enlisted member, which will make a difference down the road for auto and property quotes. The account holder is the mid or cadet, so they should gather the paperwork noted in various posts and prepare for a telephone business conversation.
 
Upnorth said:
Just talked with USAA in COS. In order to sign up call 800-531-8722 and when prompted indicate "new checking".
When you get a person indicate you want to open a New Recruit account. There is no money needed to open this account (checking/savings). Your DS/DD will need to be on the phone. They will need a copy of their appointment letter and government ID (ie. Drivers license, passport etc.) sent. USAA will walk them through the process on the phone. Be by a computer to access the proper forms. Hope this might help.
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DS did precisely as you described. :)
 
Capt MJ said:
I just confirmed with my USAA POC/West Point grad at their main office - use the 800-571-8722 number. Ensure the phone rep understands it's Service Academy appointee. Same deal on opening the checking, but the cadet or mid will get coded that way in terms of USAA eligibility category, not as enlisted member, which will make a difference down the road for auto and property quotes. The account holder is the mid or cadet, so they should gather the paperwork noted in various posts and prepare for a telephone business conversation.
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Typo, sorry 531-8722
 
Great, glad to hear you can do this at home, too, with your computer to upload necessary information. However, my DS's USAA branch visit required a deposit. Hope my DS is in the correct eligibility category, although, it was strongly communicated by both DS and USAA Rep it was for "Cadet". May have DS check this, Thanks for information @Capt MJ and @Upnorth
 
To add, USAA must have caught their mistake, today, my DS received a letter requesting him to upload his appointee letter and DL, (not sure why the DL again.) Anyway, it did confirm also, that it is a "Cadet" account.
 
sa2021 said:
To add, USAA must have caught their mistake, today, my DS received a letter requesting him to upload his appointee letter and DL, (not sure why the DL again.) Anyway, it did confirm also, that it is a "Cadet" account.
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Updates: DS opened an USAA account at the COS branch via video conference while at the 3/21 Tour. DS uploaded Appointment letter and DL. Rep informed him a review board will issue their decision within 48 hours. DS informed me that USAA has requested via additional docs to upload for verification. Is anyone having the same issue ? Suggestions ? Thanks in advance.
 
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