USAA Eagle Navigator Visa Credit Card review: Solid rewards for military and their family members
Editor's Note
USAA Eagle Navigator Visa Signature Credit Card overview
The USAA Eagle Navigator® Visa Signature® Credit Card is a solid card option for current and former military members and their spouses and dependents. The card has reasonable earning rates and some perks to help justify its price tag, making it a smart choice for military members looking for easy points on their travel spending. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
With a recommended credit score of 670 and a low $95 annual fee, the USAA Eagle Navigator® Visa Signature® Credit Card can offer decent value for military members and their families. That's the case even though the card has somewhat limited benefits.
However, if you're not a USAA member (and are ineligible to become one), this card isn't for you, as it's only open to current and past military plus their spouses and children.
Keep reading to learn more about the USAA Eagle Navigator® Visa Signature® Credit Card to see if it deserves a spot in your wallet.
The information for the USAA Eagle Navigator® Visa Signature® Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
USAA Eagle Navigator Visa Signature Credit Card Welcome Offer
The USAA Eagle Navigator® Visa Signature® Credit Card does currently offer 30,000 bonus points ($300 travel value) after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases within 90 days of account opening.
USAA Eagle Navigator Visa Signature Credit Card benefits
The USAA Eagle Navigator® Visa Signature® Credit Card offers solid travel and shopping protections, such as travel accident insurance and extended warranty protection on U.S. manufacturers' warranties; plus, it does not charge foreign transaction fees. You'll also get cellphone protection of up to $500 per claim if you charge your monthly bill to the card and a phone on the account is damaged or stolen. Finally, you'll enjoy trip cancellation and interruption coverage along with baggage delay reimbursement when you purchase your tickets with the card.
Other benefits include an up-to-$120 TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® credit every four years and an annual bonus of 10,000 points (equal to $100 in travel) after booking an eligible hotel or car through the USAA Rewards Center.
These perks won't blow anyone away, but they do more than justify the card's price tag, making it a solid value proposition. However, remember that hotels and rental cars booked through third-party platforms rather than directly with the merchant generally aren't eligible for elite status perks, nor will they earn rewards in the provider's own program.
Related: Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?
Earning cash back on the USAA Eagle Navigator Visa Signature Credit Card
The USAA Eagle Navigator® Visa Signature® Credit Card offers unlimited 3 points per dollar on travel, including air, hotel, car and vacation rentals. You'll also get an unlimited 2 points per dollar on other purchases.
If you're a current or former military member or a family member of someone who serves, those are more than serviceable rates; they can serve as a nice starter in the world of cash-back cards, especially since the base earning rate is 2 points per dollar. While that certainly makes this easier, it can impact your ability to enjoy higher rewards for certain purchases — which is common on mid-tier cards like this.
Read more: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category
Redeeming cash back on The USAA Eagle Navigator Visa Signature Credit Card
The USAA Eagle Navigator® Visa Signature® Credit Card is effectively a cash-back credit card, though the points you earn on the card can be redeemed for a variety of items. This includes travel through the USAA Rewards Center, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits or even direct deposits into a USAA checking or savings account.
The exact redemption value can vary, but your best bet is likely a travel redemption, as 10,000 points equals $100 toward a travel purchase when used in this way. However, opting for a cash-back redemption option can lower your redemption value significantly.
That said, points earned with the USAA Eagle Navigator® Visa Signature® Credit Card don't expire, so you can redeem them on your own time. Just be sure to crunch the numbers to ensure you're getting the most value for your points.
Which cards compete with the USAA Eagle Navigator Visa Signature Credit Card?
There are a handful of other simplified travel cards on the market that compete with the USAA Eagle Navigator® Visa Signature® Credit Card:
- If you want better earning rates: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is one of the best travel cards on the market, earning 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal and Lyft purchases (Lyft through Dec. 31, 2027), 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and more. That's all for a $95 annual fee. For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
- If you want transfer partners: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has valuable earnings rates and 15+ valuable airline and hotel transfer partners. The modest $95 annual fee and solid return on everyday spending (at least 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases) make this card much more flexible than the USAA Eagle Navigator. For more information, read our full review of the Venture Rewards.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel credit cards.
Related: Redeeming Capital One miles for maximum value
Is the USAA Eagle Navigator Visa signature credit card worth it?
For military members — including current and former personnel, as well as their spouses and dependents — the USAA Eagle Navigator® Visa Signature® Credit Card can be a solid choice for starter travel rewards. Its flexible earnings rates and benefits can justify its annual fee.
However, there is a limit to the value you can get from the card, and if you'd prefer the ability to transfer points to partner programs or want a larger sign-up bonus, go with another option.
Bottom line
The straightforward perks of the USAA Eagle Navigator® Visa Signature® Credit Card make it a decent choice for military members and their families who want to earn easy cash back on purchases. However, it's only available to USAA members, which is limited to current and former military plus their spouses and dependents. Since there are many other similar cards out there that don't have this restriction, you may want to go with one of them.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.