AMEX
USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card
- Annual Fee
- $0
- cash back · Welcome Bonus
- $200
- Top Rate
- 5%
Terms checked against the issuer on October 10, 2026
At a Glance
- Annual Fee
- $0
- Authorized User Fee
- $0
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- $0
- Network
- —
- Rewards Currency
- Cash
- Point Valuation
- 1¢ (cash back)
- Credit Required
- Good to Excellent
Welcome Offer
Bonus: $200 cash back
Spend: $1,000
Period: 3 months
Earning Rates
- 5%
Gas Stations
5% cash back on your first $3,000 in gas station purchases yearly
Cap: $3,000/annual
- 5%
Military Base
5% cash back on your first $5,000 in military base purchases yearly
Cap: $5,000/annual
- 3%
Grocery Stores
3% cash back on your first $3,000 in grocery purchases yearly
Cap: $3,000/annual
- 1%
All Other
1% cash back on all other purchases
Reviews & Analysis
Pros and Cons
Pros
- +5% cash back on your first $3,000 in gas station purchases yearly
- +5% cash back on your first $5,000 in military base purchases yearly
- +3% cash back on your first $3,000 in grocery purchases yearly
- +$200 reward bonus after $1,000 in qualifying purchases by January 31, 2027
- +No annual fee
- +No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- -Restricted to USAA-eligible military members and families
- -American Express network less widely accepted than Visa/Mastercard
- -Only 1% on non-category purchases
Who It's Best For
Best For
- Military families who shop at commissaries and base exchanges for 5% back
- Drivers seeking 5% back on gas with no annual fee
- Military households with high grocery spending for 3% back
Not Ideal For
- Non-military individuals (USAA membership required)
- International travelers (American Express is less widely accepted abroad)
- Those who prefer a widely accepted network (Amex has smaller merchant footprint)
The Math: Is $0 Worth It?
First-year value includes $200 welcome bonus
Welcome bonus$200
Annual credits (60% utilization)$0
Annual fee-$0
Net first-year value+$200
Credit Utilization (60%)
Annual credits$0
Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status
Total Value Captured
$0
Annual Fee
-$0
Net Annual Value
+$0
Details & Terms
Payment Terms
| Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 |
| Authorized User Fee | $0 |
Media & Resources
Evidence Sources
| Source | Verified | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Usaa Issuer | — | Usaa Issuer |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page |