USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card
A no-annual-fee cash back card from USAA.
Rates, fees, and full terms are set by USAA and can change. See current rates & fees on the issuer’s site, and always confirm the latest terms before applying.
Our review
The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus Amex is a strong gas card for the military community: 5% back on gas and on-base purchases, plus 2% at grocery stores. If you fill up a lot, that 5% is one of the best gas rates around.
The limits are a $3,000 annual cap on the 5% category, no standing welcome bonus, and USAA membership, which requires a military affiliation. For members who drive, though, it is a genuinely good free card.
Think twice if: you cannot join USAA, or you drive so much that the $3,000 annual 5% cap runs out quickly.
Our 7.3 out of 10 rating
Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.
Earning rates at a glance
Rewards: how it earns
You earn 5% on gas and military-base purchases on the first $3,000 a year combined, 2% at grocery stores on the first $3,000 a year, and 1% on everything else, with no annual fee. The 5% gas rate is excellent, though the $3,000 cap means it is a supporting gas card rather than an unlimited one.
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 5x | Bonus category |
| Groceries | 2x | Bonus category |
| Dining and restaurants | 1x | Base rate |
| Travel | 1x | Base rate |
| Streaming | 1x | Base rate |
| Everything else | 1x | Everything else |
The fine print on rates: Earns 5% on gas and military-base purchases on the first $3,000 per year combined, and 2% at grocery stores on the first $3,000 per year, then 1%. REQUIRES USAA membership (military, veterans, and their families).
Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.
Best ways to earn & redeem
Put your gas and groceries spending on this card to earn at its highest rates, and let a different card handle the categories it does not bonus. Its gas rate is among the stronger ones you will find in that category.
When you cash in, take the rewards as cash back or a statement credit, worth a flat 1 cent each. We value every point at a flat 1 cent, so treat any transfer upside as a bonus rather than the baseline — see what your points are really worth.
Pros and cons
- No annual fee
- 5% on gas and military-base purchases (to $3,000/yr)
- 2% at grocery stores (to $3,000/yr)
- No foreign transaction fee
- Requires USAA membership (military affiliation)
- 5% gas is capped at $3,000 per year
- No standing welcome bonus
The welcome bonus
There is no standing welcome bonus, which is a knock compared to most free cards. The value is in the ongoing 5% gas earning.
First-year value vs ongoing value
| Welcome bonus | No standing welcome bonus |
| To earn it | No minimum spend |
| Est. first-year value* | $438 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $438 |
There is no lump-sum welcome bonus, so first-year and ongoing value are about the same, roughly $438 a year on typical spending after the fee. What you see is what you get from day one.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent, on average spending.
Benefits and protections
Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:
- Requires USAA membership (military affiliation)
Statement credits
This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.
Who should get it, and who should skip it
If you are a USAA member who spends a lot on gas, this card is a strong free earner, 5% on fuel is hard to beat, and the on-base bonus is handy for the military community.
The membership requirement and the $3,000 cap are the limits. If you qualify and want a top gas rate, it is a solid pick, ideally paired with a flat card for everything past the cap.
Alternatives to the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card
Pairs well with
The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card earns the most in its bonus categories, so pair it with a no-fee flat-rate card to cover everything it only earns a base rate on.
Frequently asked questions
Best-card guides featuring this card
Learn more
How does it rank for your spending?
Every card is ranked by what it actually returns on the way you spend. Run your numbers and see where the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card lands.
Calculate My CardOffer details verified against issuer sources as of October 2026. Editorial opinions are our own. Cardocrat values all points at a flat 1 cent and never inflates redemptions.
