USAA Bank for new AFROTC Cadet (vs. competition)

SoonerLater

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Jul 10, 2019
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I've seen several posts on the forum in which various posters have suggested that banking with USAA Bank is better for a Cadet than the competition. Is that true? Why?

I'm a USAA member, but I don't bank with USAA. I see that they give "free" checking account and have a network of ATMs which can be used with no fee. But lots of other banks do the same. Is there something about USAA Bank which is particularly better for a Cadet?
 
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Like you, I am a USAA member but do not have my bank account with them, but I also do not move around. Both my son's bank account are with USAA, they said they find it convenient because it doesn't matter where they are, they can still do their banking. Both transferred their accounts to USAA when they while they were in college and just kept it when they graduated. They said it made things easier when they went to BOLC and then when they did their PCS. my older son has had 3 PCS and the younger one is coming up on his 3rd, the USAA bank account simply follows them around. I'm sure there are other options out their, but so far they have been happy with USAA.
 
...Both my son's bank account are with USAA, they said they find it convenient because it doesn't matter where they are, they can still do their banking. Both transferred their accounts to USAA when they while they were in college and just kept it when they graduated. They said it made things easier when they went to BOLC and then when they did their PCS. my older son has had 3 PCS and the younger one is coming up on his 3rd, the USAA bank account simply follows them around....

All good reasons. Thank you.
 
I’ve been a USAA member for 30 years. The bank portion is great. One thing I like about it is there are no ATM fees anywhere. They refund the transaction fees if you incur them. As for the other services we have auto and home insurance and had a mortgage with them (until paid off). One quick story, I lived in the Sandy strike zone and a few days before, they called me to review my homeowners policy to make sure I had the right coverage. They suggested a change to my wind damage deductible which ended up saving me about $9K. The only negative I’ve seen is that one of my kids got a bunch of tickets and they dropped her lickity split for her driving record.
 
Military-friendly banks and CUs:
- offer free ATMs or cover ATM fees anywhere, by reimbursing on a monthly basis, typically more than enough to cover
- offer credit cards with very low or no fees, especially in foreign countries
- completely get it when a military person calls and talks about deployments and combat zones. These banks and CUs will go through a deployment checklist, ensuring no bill payments are missed, they have the right people approved for access to their account, who has a power of attorney, marking accounts as “deployed” so in case of a problem, they will cover the issue until they can get ahold of the account holder (who may be in harm’s way and not thinking about an email from a bank)
- robust mobile platforms that operate well in small bandwidth situations (at sea, in remote areas)
- strong info security
- commitment to serving the military member

If you use the SAF Search function on “banks or banking,” you’ll see two companies pop up regularly. The military is their focus.
 
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Do they still have the Career Starter Loan for newly commissioned officers?
 
Do they still have the Career Starter Loan for newly commissioned officers?
Yes. My son's career starter loan is with USAA. I think that puppy will be paid off in less than a year now. The starter loans are great.
 
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