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Adalen wrote:

I have the Classic Amex with USAA but have only had it for a month, so I'm not sure about any upgrading or graduation.  It does have a $39 annual fee, though.  I do think it is just a sort of rebuilder, even though they gave me a limit of $1K.  NFCU approved me for the cashRewards at $7K on the same day.  So NFCU > USAA if you're considering going unsecured.

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Were the scores in your sig that are listed as current, the same as what you had when you were approved for those cards?

 

Firsttimemama: I'd greatly appreciate a PM or post on anything you find out about the card, I've never heard of it before and maybe I need to be talking to them come end of the year about it in my case.

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Revelate wrote:

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Adalen wrote:

I have the Classic Amex with USAA but have only had it for a month, so I'm not sure about any upgrading or graduation.  It does have a $39 annual fee, though.  I do think it is just a sort of rebuilder, even though they gave me a limit of $1K.  NFCU approved me for the cashRewards at $7K on the same day.  So NFCU > USAA if you're considering going unsecured.

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Were the scores in your sig that are listed as current, the same as what you had when you were approved for those cards?

 

Firsttimemama: I'd greatly appreciate a PM or post on anything you find out about the card, I've never heard of it before and maybe I need to be talking to them come end of the year about it in my case.

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I'll either PM or post a thread as soon as I find out more info!

I called USAA this evening and got some info on the Classic card. The Classic card is an unsecured card that's counteroffered by USAA if you don't qualify for their AmEx or Mastercard. Interestingly, it's either an AmEx, Mastercard, or Visa. It's got a higher APR (between 13-18% depending on your credit history, etc). There are no rewards. The limit is between $500-$2000 (or $2500).  Now, I can't remember whether or not there's an annual fee... You have to qualify for pnc? Not sure exactly what that is, but when the CSR asked if I had auto insurance through USAA, she said that I was pnc qualified when I told her I was. I'm trying to think of what else. Sorry, I can't remember all of the tiny details, I was on my way home from picking up my daughter from daycare and couldn't write it down.

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firsttimemama wrote:

I called USAA this evening and got some info on the Classic card. The Classic card is an unsecured card that's counteroffered by USAA if you don't qualify for their AmEx or Mastercard. Interestingly, it's either an AmEx, Mastercard, or Visa. It's got a higher APR (between 13-18% depending on your credit history, etc). There are no rewards. The limit is between $500-$2000 (or $2500).  Now, I can't remember whether or not there's an annual fee... You have to qualify for pnc? Not sure exactly what that is, but when the CSR asked if I had auto insurance through USAA, she said that I was pnc qualified when I told her I was. I'm trying to think of what else. Sorry, I can't remember all of the tiny details, I was on my way home from picking up my daughter from daycare and couldn't write it down.

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Thank you again!

You're welcome! Oh and btw - I want to say that there isn't an annual fee on the classic card. I know there's one on their secured CC & I'm pretty sure the CSR said that was one of the differences between the two. And one of the purposes of the classic card is to help rebuild credit.

Late response but yes, the scores in my signature are current and what I had when approved.  I know my Classic is not secured but it was a counter offer and I also received the paperwork that states there is a $39 AF.

 

I think it's great to have both USAA and NFCU, I have my DD, renter's insurance, life insurance, etc. with USAA and I love the UI of their website and mobile app.  However, NFCU is definitely more generous and pretty much saved my summer with that CL.  I won't have to stress about saving up more than enough money to cover my travel in cash this summer.

I have about the same with USAA. I like their customer service a lot. They've always been extremely helpful. Having said that, when I'm ready to get a CC - whether secured or unsecured - I'm going to with NFCU & start building a relationship with them as well.

Thanks for the info on the AF. I couldn't remember for the life of me what the CSR said about it on the phone yesterday. I just remembered what the one on Saturday told me about the secured card. Good to know!

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Adalen wrote:

Late response but yes, the scores in my signature are current and what I had when approved.  I know my Classic is not secured but it was a counter offer and I also received the paperwork that states there is a $39 AF.

 

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No worries re: late response; the information is very much appreciated!  I had figured needing to wait a while before applying for an unsecured USAA card; however, if they counter with the Classic, perhaps I can obtain it at the end of the year.

 

Thanks again!

Firsttimemama:

 

FYI - If you wish, you can also first open a shared-secured loan then after a couple days when funds are released to your savings account, you can use those same funds and open the secured credit card, thus, having two open accounts (installment and revolving) using same funds. Good luck.

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TATATA wrote:

Firsttimemama:

 

FYI - If you wish, you can also first open a shared-secured loan then after a couple days when funds are released to your savings account, you can use those same funds and open the secured credit card, thus, having two open accounts (installment and revolving) using same funds. Good luck.

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Thanks so much! That's a great idea. My hope is to qualify for the mortgage loan by next month (keeping my fingers crossed) and then from there start rebuilding my credit even more.