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Hi all...
I've looked at the USAA site a few times because lots of people speak so highly of them. We are not military and would join in the "other" category. Have a couple of questions:
1) What does "joining" mean? I'm not actually apping for anything when I join, am I?
2) Is membership based on the individual? In other words, would both my husband and I join if we eventually wanted to use some of their products?
3) Do they do a hard pull when you join?
We may eventually want to get one of their credit cards...probably this fall. Is there benefit to becoming a member now and perhaps opening a savings/checking/investment-type account with them? From reading here, it seems they reward those who have multiple products with them. I know we can't do some of the insurances, so I didn't know what might help us as being non-military and not eligible for the full meal deal.
I just opened a limited membership and tried to apply for a secured credit card, but they said, as a limited member, I didn't have access to loans or insurance products. I believe I only have access to checking, savings, and investment products.
When I joined, I didn't have to make a deposit. I just joined. I'm not sure if they pulled credit. Haven't checked yet. My wife and I both joined.
Thanks ScottsdaleDad. I'll have to go back to the site and check. I thought it said that individuals (non-military) were eligible for credit cards. I don't have a problem doing some savings or checking, but if I'm not eligible for much else, then I hate to spread things out again. I end up with a bit of savings here...a bit of savings there...and then if you start counting the 401s, etc....I'm spread out even more.
Off to check it out...
I’m a limited member and just got the secured cc + so have other limited members. Limited members can also get the unsecured ccs. There seems to be some conflicting responses from USAA regarding the secured cc as it’s still a pilot program. Limited members can get- cds, auto loans, ccs, + many other things...insurance seems to be the only thing 'off limits' to me.
I joined usaa 4-6 years ago and they did not pull a hard @ joining (I opened ckg/savings @ that time), but that may have changed. Give them a call- they are VERY friendly + can answer all of your questions.
Creditreformer...thanks for the info.
keep trying scottsdale...it took me 2 emails through usaa's site + 1 phone call to get them to say they'd mail me the app. first i got told 'no secured cc exists'...then i got told 'a pilot program/not open to non military'...then i emailed 1 more time + got told something like 'while it's a pilot program, as a commitment to service, we'll send you an app.' i think it helped that i've banked w/usaa (also have had cds + investment accts) for 4-6 years. i also think it helped that i sent in the max (1.5k) deposit so they could see i was serious about this cc.
once usaa got my $ (wired) + app, the cc/cd showed up in my usaa acct within 1 day.
i've read of some other non-military members getting the secured cc, so i guess it depends on which rep you get + also maybe how long you've been w/usaa. i've also read of some non-military members being told they'd get the secured cc + then after they sent their app in, they were told they're not getting the cc. not sure why there's a conflict, but maybe usaa hasn't worked out all of the kinks
btw, another option is a secured cc loan w/usaa...2.5k minimum deposit + reports on your credit reports
Thanks Lexa.