Can I join USAA or NFCU?

[CreditWorld2013]

I've seen many people say great things about both USAA and especially NFCU...so it got me thinking. My grandfather was in the Army a long time ago and even received the purple heart. The issue is he passed away about 3-4 years after I was born and I don't believe he ever had any of these banks. His wife/my grandmother passed away a few years after as well. How can I find out if he was ever a member? I'm curious to know if I would be eligible even if he wasn't a member as it says grandchildren? Thanks!

[jsickz32]

Call them!

[MountainHiker]

Try to find out how your grands was discharged from the military and check to see if he was on retirement benefits.Also call NFCU and give them your grand pop's name,city and SS if you have it.They should be able to give you info if its on file. Do you have a family member or inlaw that was in the military? Could be a way to join just have to look for it.

[Swapmeet]

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@MountainHiker wrote:

Try to find out how your grands was discharged from the military and check to see if he was on retirement benefits.Also call NFCU and give them your grand pop's name,city and SS if you have it.They should be able to give you info if its on file. Do you have a family member or inlaw that was in the military? Could be a way to join just have to look for it.

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Anyone can join USAA now. Having a relative that was in the Army is good enough for them -- they don't make you prove it or anything. NFCU is much more strict.

[tcburks3]

You can check with your parents and see if they were members through your grandad.  If neither your grandad or parents were not members then becoming a full member would be tough.  Someone in the family bloodline must have at some point had insurance with them.  Even if your parents were not in the military then they could have been members through your grandads association had he been a member.  Was your grandad an officer or enlisted?  They just recently changed in the last 4-5yrs taking honorably discharged enlisted as members.  Prior to that you had to have been an officer to join.  If not eligiable for insurance you would be eligiable for banking services through them.. You cal either call them or go to their website.  usaa.com and check to see if you are eligiable or not.  Good Luck hope this helps.

[tcburks3]

Not anyone can join USAA now.  Only banking products are available to non members.  Insurance is still member only.

[MountainHiker]

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@Swapmeet wrote:

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@MountainHiker wrote:

Try to find out how your grands was discharged from the military and check to see if he was on retirement benefits.Also call NFCU and give them your grand pop's name,city and SS if you have it.They should be able to give you info if its on file. Do you have a family member or inlaw that was in the military? Could be a way to join just have to look for it.

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Anyone can join USAA now. Having a relative that was in the Army is good enough for them -- they don't make you prove it or anything. NFCU is much more strict.

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Good point about USAA.

[jsucool76]

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@Swapmeet wrote:

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@MountainHiker wrote:

Try to find out how your grands was discharged from the military and check to see if he was on retirement benefits.Also call NFCU and give them your grand pop's name,city and SS if you have it.They should be able to give you info if its on file. Do you have a family member or inlaw that was in the military? Could be a way to join just have to look for it.

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Anyone can join USAA now. Having a relative that was in the Army is good enough for them -- they don't make you prove it or anything. NFCU is much more strict.

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I hope that doesn't make people start lying xD 

[HoldingOntoHope]

Well anyone can join USAA as an associate member. What that means is you are not eligible for their insurance products or certain credit products. If you have any type of prior service you can join as a full member. If a family member has any type of prior service they can join as a full member but they must have an insurance product through USAA to qualify their relatives for full membership. A deceased family member will not qualify you unless they were full members with an insurance product.

I qualified as a full member through an enlistment in the USN. I am not retired or disabled pension. Just the information on my service dates was enough for them to verify me. Their insurance products are extremely competitive for me and I have all my insurance through them (home / auto/ umbrella). I gather from the information on here that associate members may also not get the best interest rates or the highest credit lines on their credit cards but it is unproven if this is a USAA policy or just conjecture by the forum members.

[ccnewcc]

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@jsucool76 wrote:

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@Swapmeet wrote:

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@MountainHiker wrote:

Try to find out how your grands was discharged from the military and check to see if he was on retirement benefits.Also call NFCU and give them your grand pop's name,city and SS if you have it.They should be able to give you info if its on file. Do you have a family member or inlaw that was in the military? Could be a way to join just have to look for it.

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Anyone can join USAA now. Having a relative that was in the Army is good enough for them -- they don't make you prove it or anything. NFCU is much more strict.

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I hope that doesn't make people start lying xD 

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Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do.

I think that civilians should be greatful that USAA has laxed some of its membership requirements over the recent years.  Then they should be remember by who and for who USAA was created.  Then they should be so disgraced by themselves for even thinking about lying.