For those who couldn't get into USAA

[Anonymous]

After opening a checking account with USAA, I was told I need to have one of their credit cards to utilize the "scan deposit" feature (or whatever they call it).  They said I needed a 680 to qualify.  I got a current EQ FICO through ScoreWatch, which was 695.  I confidently applied for my USAA MasterCard and was promptly auto-rejected.... "insufficient credit history".  I tried calling and the rep went to bat for me through underwriting, but no go.  BK 8 years ago, everything current since.  Oh well!  They're still a great company to do business with and I'll try again in 3-6 months.

EQ FICO 695,  EX FICO 713,  TU ???

[MercedesV]

Both my parents are retired Air Force.  They retired six months apart in 1994.  My mother joined USAA about 5 years ago.  I joined at the same time for a savings account.  Evidently she was only eligible for "non-military" products such as checking, savings, non-rewards credit cards. I didn't know this until about six months ago when I wanted their insurance.  I was told I was not eligible.  I verified that they had my mother in their system as retired military and that I was her child.  They said that she was not eligible for certain products. 

Last Monday I signed my dad up and he was immediately eligible for everything.  He signed up for insurance with me and my mom on policy and now we can get all products as well.  A bunch of features are available on our account pages now, such as the deposit at home, financial advisor and my offers.  Before when I clicked on these links I was told I was not able to use those features.

[haulingthescoreup]

That's so interesting! I wonder if there was just one level of benefits when I came in? Because I'm definitely eligible for it all, and I seem to have most, lol.

In addition, both of my daughters joined through me, and they do have rewards cards in addition to banking and investments. Very confusing.

[Anonymous]

In fairness to USAA: After I took BK in 2000, I went "cold turkey" with credit for over 7 years... not a single credit card, car loan, department store card... nada.  If I didn't have cash, I went without.  (I thought that was how us BK's were supposed to do it.)  I began rebuilding my credit in 2008 with the typical Zale's card,  then Credit One ($200), Orchard Bank ($300) and finally a Jupiter Bank/Racetrack ($700)... and leased a 2009 Toyota Corola via Toyota Financial.  I got turned down a few times along the way, so a total of 8 inquiries / 4 open accounts... all within the last 5 months.  USAA's reason for rejecting was that my credit was too new, too small of balances and too many recent inquiries.  Understandable.  I've had my auto  and renter's insurance with them for 2 years. 

Sooooo... I've had my mother make me an authorized user on her USAA Platinum Visa card.  She's had the card almost 30 years, credit line is $20,000, balance owing $234.  (Her credit score is in the 800's.)

Anyone have any idea of what impact this might have on my FICO scores?  I pulled all three FICO (not FAKO) scores and have 692 TU, 684 Experian and 692 EQ.  My EQ dropped from 695 to 692 due to the USAA hard pull.  I'm again sitting on the sidelines and going to let what little I have "age" before applying for anything... but just curious what impact the "authorized user" on my mother's card might have on my scores? 

Six months from now I'll knock on USAA's door again and hope!  This forum is unbelievably beneficial.  Kudos to all who share!

Sooner, or later... 750!!!!!

FICOs: 692TU / 692EQ / 684EX