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How to prequalify for USAA credit cards

If you're a member, you can easily view preselected offers online.

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Kevin Joey Chen

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USAA exclusively offers prequalification to its members. Before you can receive preapproval offers in the mail or check your prequalification opportunities, you’ll need to be eligible for membership and go through the membership signup process. Once that’s out of the way though, checking your prequalified offers is easy.

How to prequalify for USAA credit cards

Prequalify online

So long as you’re a USAA member, checking out your prequalification opportunities is simple:

  • Log in to your USAA account
  • On the far right of the second navigation bar, click on My offers.
  • In the new section below, you’ll see a list of various offers available to you. This can include special reward offers on existing accounts, as well as prequalification offers.

Since most USAA credit cards require good or excellent credit to qualify, you’ll need at least a good credit score of 670 to prequalify for USAA credit cards.

USAA preapproval credit cards

If you’re a USAA member, USAA may also send you preapproval card offers in the mail. These are cards that USAA is confident you’ll qualify for if you choose to apply. You stand a good chance of obtaining these cards if you apply for them, but examine the card terms and features carefully — preapproval offers aren’t necessarily going to be the best fit for your financial needs.

Who is eligible for the USAA?

You’re eligible to join the USAA if:

  • You’re an active, retired or separated veteran with an honorable discharge from the U.S. military.
  • You’re an eligible family member of a USAA member. This including spouses, widowers, un-remarried former spouses and children/step-children.

You can start the USAA membership application by visiting their website and clicking “Join USAA” on the top navigation bar of the homepage.

USAA prequalification vs. preapproval

A prequalification offer means USAA has checked your credit with a soft pull and believes you might be a fit for select number of cards. This isn’t a guarantee of approval, but receiving such an offer through your account means that USAA believes you have a good chance of qualifying.

Preapproval on the other hand is a card offer USAA will send to you in the mail. While still not guaranteed, you’re very likely to qualify for the preapproved USAA card offer, as preapproval offers are sent only after a more thorough review of your credit score and finances.

USAA prequalified credit cards alternatives

If you’re not a USAA member and don’t expect to become one anytime soon, you still have a few options for checking your prequalified credit card offers. Several major providers, including Citi, American Express, and Chase offer prequalification on select credit card products.

What credit score do I need to prequalify?

You’ll need at least a good credit score of 640 or higher to prequalify for USAA’s credit card options. Like other providers, the cards that USAA offers you during prequalification comes down to the credit score of the card versus your financial and credit history.

Bottom line

While USAA prequalification offers won’t fall in your lap if you’re not a member, it couldn’t be simpler to check once you have an account up and running.

If prequalification is important to you but you don’t wish to become a USAA member, check out other providers to find one that fits your needs.

Images: Shutterstock

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Writer

Kevin Chen is a personal finance expert and a former writer at Finder. His expertise has been featured in CNN, U.S. News and World Report, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com, among other top media. See full bio

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