USAA membership

[llecs]

....hopefully. OK, I never served nor worked for the government. I keep seeing conflicting membership qualifications in here but had to check:

Would there be any way for DW to join if her sister is a member? Specifically, her sister didn't serve but is a member via her hubby who is in the Reserves.

[DI]

USAA allowed me to register, but I have no access to any products. 

[Anonymous]

USAA's banking products did have open membership (call them!) however unless you were a full member you could not get insurance or investment products

[DI]

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@Anonymous wrote:
USAA's banking products did have open membership (call them!) however unless you were a full member you could not get insurance or investment products

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+1.  I was able to become a member, but have no access to products.  I may be able to apply for a credit card with them. There was a number listed to call when I clicked on the link.  

[hemi961]

I opened checking and savings accounts about 6 months ago but only qualify for a limited membership as I was never in the military.  My daughter and son-in-law are full members through his father who was in the Air Force.  I called to inquire about the possibility of getting a full membership through them but was told that it only flows from parents to children and not back up from children to parents. 

So to answer your question, I honestly don't know but I doubt that it would be possible to join through a sibling.  They are a lot tighter than NFCU with eligibility requirements.  Of course it is like everything else, if I were to talk to a different CSR I might get a different answer.

I knew going in that I would not be able to have their insurance and would be limited to a mastercard with a higher interest rate and no rewards but I still felt it was worth it for their totally free checking.  I've been very happy with them, when I transfer funds from my BofA checking account the funds show up and are available immediately.  All checks are free and they send postage paid envelopes with deposit slips.  They are a first class organization.  

[TangMeister]

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@llecs wrote:

....hopefully. OK, I never served nor worked for the government. I keep seeing conflicting membership qualifications in here but had to check:

Would there be any way for DW to join if her sister is a member? Specifically, her sister didn't serve but is a member via her hubby who is in the Reserves.

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You can join and become a "red-headed stepchild" of USAA as many of us are.  Meaning...limited membership benefits such as a non-rewards mastercard, checking/savings/cds, and a few other things.  No insurance, no really cool offers, well...not much period, except the fading hope that one day you'll become a full member with the benefits bestowed therein if they decide to change their policy and upgrade memberships.  I am not holding my breath on it, though.     Having said that, they are a GREAT organization if one qualifies for full membership, as many will attest to.  

Message Edited by TangMeister on 10-19-2009 02:04 PM

[armywifey85]

My brother tried and they said siblings don't count for full membership. So that means you can't join through your brother /sister uncle/aunt etc it has to be a parent/stepparent to get full membership.

[creditwherecreditisdue]

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@armywifey85 wrote:

My brother tried and they said siblings don't count for full membership. So that means you can't join through your brother /sister uncle/aunt etc it has to be a parent/stepparent to get full membership.

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That and the parent has to have an insurance product!

[llecs]

Thanks for the responses guys. Just short of enlisting or getting new parents, I guess my options are limited. If only they'd join NFCU.....

[Anonymous]

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@llecs wrote:
Thanks for the responses guys. Just short of enlisting or getting new parents, I guess my options are limited. If only they'd join NFCU.....

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I'm a full USAA member (through my wife who was through her dad) and we use a lot of their products. We did this years ago and really didn't know how restrictive they were. Wonder if I can the father-in-law to join NFCU too?

 Hmmmmmmmmm