Long Live USAA!
Written: Feb 23 '04 (Updated Mar 23 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Many services, great customer service, GLOBAL!
Cons: Web site can be a little clunky
The Bottom Line: Come on over to USAA! You can't go wrong, ever!
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| eosa10's Full Review: USAA |
I have been a member of USAA for more years than I care to count, and I think I have used (or still do) just about every possible product they offer. I noticed that they have modified products and services a bit since the last epinions review I saw on them, so I figured I'd wax on about my favorite corporate entity of all time.
Here's a list of all the business dealings you can do with USAA:
* Checking, savings, CDs (no-interest, no min-balance checking!)
* Web billpay (NOW FREE if you get direct deposit, $4.95/mo otherwise. They seem to have retooled the fee structure a lot based on customer feedback.)
* Mortgages
* Home equity loan products
* Auto loans
* Personal loans
* Car, home, renter's insurance (including high-value item floater policies)
* Life insurance (term and whole)
* Mutual funds and brokerage services
* Credit cards
* Financial planning/strategy services
* MoversAdvantage service which pre-screens realtors and provides you rebates!
* Portfolio of member discounts for services including car rentals, TurboTax for the web, ADT home security, Teleflora, Sprint, and others.
Let's talk about the good stuff:
USAA exists because military folks move around a lot and have all sorts of junk to deal with in the area of car insurance, banking, home loans, and other typical life stuff. The company was founded to make life easier for those of us who live (or lived) the military life. They understand that not everyone lives near a bank/insurance/whatever branch. Their entire business model is based on the assumption that you DON'T live near them....
... so what does that mean?
* Free, postage paid mail-in deposit envelopes
* One-call/click/letter change of address for all USAA services
* 24-hour service on most products
* ATM fee rebates of up to $15/month for using other bank's ATMs (and that nifty .5% cash rebate for using your debit card!)
* Online statements available for virtually *all* products
* Robust website with almost all your info available (though the interface can be a little mysterious at times).
* One single 800 number on your membership card will help you get connected to anything you need.
(For some of these products, like auto insurance, you MUST be military or military-affiliated.)
USAA is rate-competitive for all its services. You might be able to find better rates for the loan and credit card products, and if you do that's great. USAA won't get mad at you. But they do make it very easy for military types especially to secure financing when needed, and they take applications for everything over the phone (and do pre-apps on the web). There is a good bit of mental security in having most, if not all, of your financial and insurance products under the umbrella of one company that is owned by you, the shareholder. How many other property insurance policies have you had where the company GAVE YOU BACK some of your money at the end of the year if it had a good year? Add that on top of great insurance rates, and how can you go wrong?
The customer service is generally fantastic. The reps are helpful and courteous, and really go the extra mile. They don't try to sell you garbage you don't need. I had a problem once with a lost check from the online billpay service, and USAA stayed on the phone with me and the other party until everythng was resolved. Only once have I had a real problem, and it was a complicated state-to-state move car insurance issue. It was just so weird that no one knew how to deal with it. Eventually they got everything fixed for me just fine.
I'm a happy USAA customer, and have been for years. I love having just about everything under one roof. I love that the company values me as a customer and a member. I love that the company goes out of its way to be available all the time, wherever you are in the world. That's what USAA is all about.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
eosa10
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Reviews written: 42
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
Stay at home mom to an active preschooler!
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