Logo by USAA Bank; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate
USAA is a members’ association, and many of its products — including USAA savings accounts — are only open to those with military ties.
USAA offers an ultra-low APY on its basic savings account that’s much less than what you can find at top-yielding banks. The account doesn’t charge monthly fees or require a minimum balance. You can get higher rates at USAA by opening a Performance First savings account, but you’ll need at least $10,000 to open one.
USAA earned a 4.1 out of 5 in Bankrate’s review, and its savings accounts earned 2.6 out of 5.
USAA savings interest rates
Here’s a breakdown of USAA’s savings account rates.
| Account name | APY | Minimum deposit |
|---|---|---|
| USAA Savings | 0.01% | $25 |
These are the tiered savings account interest rates for USAA Performance First, an account that offers higher rates for balances of over $10,000.
| Account name | APY | Daily collected balance to earn APY |
|---|---|---|
| USAA Performance First | 0.05% | Under $10,000 |
| USAA Performance First | 0.10% | $10,000 – $24,999 |
| USAA Performance First | 0.10% | $25,000 – $49,999 |
| USAA Performance First | 1.00% | $50,000 – $99,999 |
| USAA Performance First | 1.10% | $100,000 – $249,999 |
| USAA Performance First | 1.20% | $250,000 – $499,999 |
| USAA Performance First | 1.60% | $500,000 – $999,999 |
| USAA Performance First | 1.60% | $1,000,000 or more |
Note: The annual percentage yields (APYs) shown above are as of June 17, 2024.
How USAA compares to top-yielding banks
The USAA savings account is only available to members and requires having a connection to the armed forces. The USAA Savings account can be opened with just $25 but pays a much lower interest rate than the national average. Savings account interest rates for USAA Performance First are tiered, and balances of more than $50,000 earn a higher APY than the national average.
Compare APYs and other terms before choosing a savings product. Many top-yielding banks have savings accounts that earn the same yield on all balances.
The USAA savings account comes with an ATM card (upon request) that can be used at more than 100,000 ATMs nationwide for free. USAA’s mobile banking app allows users to deposit checks and schedule automatic transfers.
Other savings options at USAA
USAA has a Youth Savings account option for children under 18 years old. The account pays 0.01 percent APY on all balances and has most of the same features as the other savings options, though parents can set up controls to choose features that children can use. (See our list of the best bank accounts for kids.)
USAA also offers a broad range of CDs with terms ranging from one month to seven years.
Rates for USAA CDs vary widely and savers may find much better yields elsewhere depending on the term. Be sure to compare CD rates to ensure you’re earning a competitive APY.
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