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1. USAA Unlimited Cash back rewards - 2.5% cash back on all purchases - all the time - no revolving categories
2. USAA Cashback rewards plus - 5% on all gas - all the time
Are there better cards out there then the USAA cards regarding cash back on general spend (2.5% on all purchases - no revolving categories) and cash back on gas (5% on gas all the time) for long term use - not bonus sign up chasing?
For me, a cash back card and churning airline FT bonus cards is what works best. I don’t see a cash back card better than 1.5% for USAA and I’m not military so I wouldn’t qualify. I use CitiBank DoubleCash 2% on everything for domestic purchases and a CapitalOne 1 1/2% cash back card for international. I churned a United card last year for 50,000 miles and an American card recently for another 50,000 miles.
If they grandfathered you in to the 2.5%, be happy. They've done away with it for new applications.
This is true. Thankfully, I've been grandfathered in myself. The card really is a great one and I haven't seen anything as generous on the whole.
For the purposes of this debate, however--given that the card is no longer being offered even for USAA members--I think the card should be taken out of the equation. I'm curious to know some of the other good deals out there.
I use the Fidelity Visa- 2% cash back on everything. Not crazy about rotating categories- too complicated.
When out of the country I use my AA MasterCard because it doesn't levy FX fees. I use it in the US for the bonus miles on restaurants, gas stations and travel on AA.
I use the Fidelity Visa- 2% cash back on everything. Not crazy about rotating categories- too complicated.
When out of the country I use my AA MasterCard because it doesn't levy FX fees. I use it in the US for the bonus miles on restaurants, gas stations and travel on AA.
If you have credit card rewards OCD, you can do slightly better using the card with the highest amount of cash back for the transaction. I looked at it and with my use, it’s not enough gain to bother with. I’m fine just using my 2% cash back card for everything.
Am happy with AMEX Blue Cash that is 6% back on groceries ($6000 limit annually then 1%), gas 3% and 1% everything else. $95 annual fee. Always looking for a better card deal but every time I run numbers it still comes out top. Groceries are our biggest purchases.
My USAA cash back rewards card pays 1.5 percent on everything and no annual fee. I don't know how the OP got a 2.5 per cent rewards card, maybe special offer a long time ago? Most important, my card is compatible with chip and pin security in other countries, and there is no foreign transaction fee. Those two things are a big deal to me because I spend three months during the summer in Germany. I don't know of any other no fee cash rewards cards with no foreign transaction fee, and that are compatible with international chip and pin security.
You're not going to beat 2.5% cash back on everything; that's as good as it gets. But if you don't mind adding a bit of complexity to your shopping, you can look and see what other categories besides gas get most of your spending, then see if there are any cards that offer more cash back for just those specific categories (like the 5% cash back Amazon card if you shop a lot at Amazon, or the American Express Blue Cash Preferred for 6% cash back on groceries) and whether it would make sense to apply for those and use them just on those items.
But whatever you do, hang onto that 2.5% cash back USAA card!
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