Setting up USAA banking (and other services)

T

t.reohr

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Joined
Nov 8, 2018
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35
Hey all,

I just turned 18 last month and am now eligible to setup my own USAA account. I started the process today, and got my account completed. The thing I'm unsure about is how to proceed with making a checking/savings account on the site. Before doing anything with banking services, I am required to verify my military affiliation. The document required for verification for those in a program for enlistment (including service academies) is a DD 4 form. I am not yet attending the academy, and so do not yet have this form. Part of the appointee kit requires that I put down my checking account for cadet pay, and the appointee kit has to be done before leaving. I called USAA and the representative said that uploading my acceptance letter would suffice as verification, however when I uploaded that they requested me to re-upload with the same message as the first request. Does anyone know the best way to resolve this? Or what document they are looking for? I've read on the forums that people have used USAA while at the academy, and from context, it seemed like several of those who did set up the account before attending the academy, so I'm pretty sure it's possible, I'm just trying to figure out exactly how to do it.

Thanks in advance!
 
Call back. Ask to be elevated to a supervisor. Tell them what you’ve done so far and ask for the status of your application to be checked. The latest notice may be an automatic response.

This seems to happen every year, because the system is geared to people already in the military, as USAA is an association whose charter allows them to set eligibility parameters. They have to do a manual override.

If you upload again, add a memo or note describing your situation as an incoming Air Force Academy cadet, reporting on X date. Then list the dates, actions taken and results.

Be firm, polite and clear on the phone in asking for immediate resolution, names and call-back extensions, which should be a five digit number that you can enter after calling the main USAA number.

Once you do get into the system, it’s a step-wise process to create your profile and open accounts. You’ll be able to print out a sheet at the end with USAA’s bank routing number and your checking account number, which you’ll need for your pay form.

This is the USAA routing number:
https://www.usaa.com/inet/wc/faq_BankWS_ABATransit_Routing_Number_BankFaqL1_index

Did you use the number in this link?

https://mobile.usaa.com/inet/wc/ent_academy_mobile_landing_mkt?akredirect=true
 
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We had the same issues and DS just ended up opening an account with AAFCU. We were able to do it online and had account numbers in a couple of days. He can change it over to USAA later once he is out of basic if he wants.
 
My DS tried to set up AAFCU acct online and received an email back that they could not set up because they did not a list of the c/o 2023 from AFA. He hasn't had the time to call them yet. Hopefully will not be too much of a hassle to get done. Still slowly working through all the paperwork requirements.
 
t.reohr said:
Hey all,

I just turned 18 last month and am now eligible to setup my own USAA account. I started the process today, and got my account completed. The thing I'm unsure about is how to proceed with making a checking/savings account on the site. Before doing anything with banking services, I am required to verify my military affiliation. The document required for verification for those in a program for enlistment (including service academies) is a DD 4 form. I am not yet attending the academy, and so do not yet have this form. Part of the appointee kit requires that I put down my checking account for cadet pay, and the appointee kit has to be done before leaving. I called USAA and the representative said that uploading my acceptance letter would suffice as verification, however when I uploaded that they requested me to re-upload with the same message as the first request. Does anyone know the best way to resolve this? Or what document they are looking for? I've read on the forums that people have used USAA while at the academy, and from context, it seemed like several of those who did set up the account before attending the academy, so I'm pretty sure it's possible, I'm just trying to figure out exactly how to do it.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I am in the same boat. When I substituted my forms I submitted the wrong form of appointment. Once I submitted grant and back of my drivers license and the form that confirmed me accepting the offer of appointed I received an email that confirmed my account. Hope this helps.
 
AFem201 said:
t.reohr said:
Hey all,

I just turned 18 last month and am now eligible to setup my own USAA account. I started the process today, and got my account completed. The thing I'm unsure about is how to proceed with making a checking/savings account on the site. Before doing anything with banking services, I am required to verify my military affiliation. The document required for verification for those in a program for enlistment (including service academies) is a DD 4 form. I am not yet attending the academy, and so do not yet have this form. Part of the appointee kit requires that I put down my checking account for cadet pay, and the appointee kit has to be done before leaving. I called USAA and the representative said that uploading my acceptance letter would suffice as verification, however when I uploaded that they requested me to re-upload with the same message as the first request. Does anyone know the best way to resolve this? Or what document they are looking for? I've read on the forums that people have used USAA while at the academy, and from context, it seemed like several of those who did set up the account before attending the academy, so I'm pretty sure it's possible, I'm just trying to figure out exactly how to do it.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I am in the same boat. When I substituted my forms I submitted the wrong form of appointment. Once I submitted grant and back of my drivers license and the form that confirmed me accepting the offer of appointed I received an email that confirmed my account. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by grant? The representative for me told me my acceptance letter should be good, but I uploaded that and they denied it
 
Capt MJ said:
Call back. Ask to be elevated to a supervisor. Tell them what you’ve done so far and ask for the status of your application to be checked. The latest notice may be an automatic response.

This seems to happen every year, because the system is geared to people already in the military, as USAA is an association whose charter allows them to set eligibility parameters. They have to do a manual override.

If you upload again, add a memo or note describing your situation as an incoming Air Force Academy cadet, reporting on X date. Then list the dates, actions taken and results.

Be firm, polite and clear on the phone in asking for immediate resolution, names and call-back extensions, which should be a five digit number that you can enter after calling the main USAA number.

Once you do get into the system, it’s a step-wise process to create your profile and open accounts. You’ll be able to print out a sheet at the end with USAA’s bank routing number and your checking account number, which you’ll need for your pay form.

This is the USAA routing number:
https://www.usaa.com/inet/wc/faq_BankWS_ABATransit_Routing_Number_BankFaqL1_index

Did you use the number in this link?

https://mobile.usaa.com/inet/wc/ent_academy_mobile_landing_mkt?akredirect=true
Click to expand...

Alright, I'll try this now, thanks!
 
Capt MJ said:
Call back. Ask to be elevated to a supervisor. Tell them what you’ve done so far and ask for the status of your application to be checked. The latest notice may be an automatic response.

This seems to happen every year, because the system is geared to people already in the military, as USAA is an association whose charter allows them to set eligibility parameters. They have to do a manual override.

If you upload again, add a memo or note describing your situation as an incoming Air Force Academy cadet, reporting on X date. Then list the dates, actions taken and results.

Be firm, polite and clear on the phone in asking for immediate resolution, names and call-back extensions, which should be a five digit number that you can enter after calling the main USAA number.

Once you do get into the system, it’s a step-wise process to create your profile and open accounts. You’ll be able to print out a sheet at the end with USAA’s bank routing number and your checking account number, which you’ll need for your pay form.

This is the USAA routing number:
https://www.usaa.com/inet/wc/faq_BankWS_ABATransit_Routing_Number_BankFaqL1_index

Did you use the number in this link?

https://mobile.usaa.com/inet/wc/ent_academy_mobile_landing_mkt?akredirect=true
Click to expand...
The link that you attached with the number doesn't seem to work. I keep getting a message from USAA telling me to enable cookies (I have all cookies for all sites enabled by default on my Chromebook, it's easy to reset if something goes wrong). Do you have the number you could PM me or something? Because I know that they have a lot of numbers for different departments with each one having a different extension, etc.
 
@t.reohr


I had found a good USAA Academy page, but clearly the link I copied from that page is broken.

Okay - Try this: the USAA office in Highland Falls outside the Thayer Gate. The local phone number is actually posted, which surprised me. If you can get to someone there, they will totally understand your situation as an incoming plebe.

Tel: 845-839-7021

https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/financial-center-west-point?akredirect=true
 
@t.reohr

Sorry - I know you’re going to USAFA. I found the USAA office there and local phone.
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/financial-center-colorado-springs-co

Try that one first. The West Point branch would still help anyway- they may be able to get your application through. They deal with the same thing and know how to work with cadets regardless of service.

I think USAA has gone back to just having offices near the Big Three SAs.
 
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Just a PSA for appointees like me that are not yet 18: if you are appointed to an SA and are within 45 days of your 18th birthday you can set up a USAA checking account for your cadet pay. Just be prepared to spend a couple hours on the phone with USAA convincing them to look for that rule, of the three phone calls I've made, only 1 seemed to be aware of it! Fingers crossed this next call will be my last!
 
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