Item: USAA Personal Loan
Rating: 4

4.0

NerdWallet Rating

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4.0

NerdWallet Rating

Est. APR

9.74 - 29.00%

Min. credit score

None

Time to fund

1 day

Loan amount

$2.5K - $100K

Loan term

1 to 7 years

Overview

USAA Bank provides quickly funded personal loans that can be customized for almost any purpose, thanks to a wide offering of loan amounts and terms. However, you need to be a USAA member to apply.

Detailed breakdown

Affordability

(25%)

4/5

We review lenders’ annual percentage rate offerings and the competitiveness of each lenders’ APR range. We also assess whether a lender charges an origination fee and any opportunity for borrowers to receive a rate discount.

Customer experience

(20%)

4.5/5

We consider the experience of the consumer trying to manage a personal loan, which means accessibility of customer service representatives, whether borrowers can choose and change their payment due date, and the ability to track their loan on a mobile app.

Underwriting and eligibility

(20%)

4/5

We consider the rigorousness of each lender’s underwriting practices and how widely available their loans are. This category includes whether a lender does a hard credit check before providing a loan, the range of credit profiles they accept and how many states their loans are offered in.

Loan flexibility

(20%)

4.5/5

We assess how flexible lenders can be with borrowers, including whether they offer multiple loan types, personal loan amounts and repayment term options and whether they offer direct payment to creditors on debt consolidation loans.

Application process

(15%)

3/5

We consider the lender’s full application process, including a borrower’s ability to preview their loan offer via pre-qualification, whether basic loan information such as APR range and repayment terms are available and easy to find online and how quickly a loan can be funded after approval.

Overall

4/5

Read more about our ratings methodology for personal loans.

Where USAA personal loans stand out

Wide range of loan amounts and repayment term options: Members can borrow between $2,500 and $100,000 with repayment terms ranging from one to seven years — making USAA a fit for most financing needs. The longer repayment terms are reserved for those with larger loans. For example, your loan must be $5,000 or more if you want a 4-year term. Financing for 5-, 6- and 7-year terms requires loan amounts of at least $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, respectively.
No origination fee: USAA does not charge borrowers an origination fee. Many other lenders deduct this fee from loan proceeds before disbursement, essentially lowering the amount of money the borrower receives.
Rate discounts for autopay: Borrowers who set up automatic payments can have their loan’s annual percentage rate reduced by 0.25 percentage points. A lower APR means less interest costs overall.
Has a joint loan option: USAA borrowers can apply for a joint loan by adding a co-borrower — someone who has access to the loan proceeds and is equally responsible for repayments. A co-borrower with stronger credit, higher income or a lower debt-to-income ratio could help you qualify for a personal loan or receive a lower rate. The co-borrower must also be a USAA member.
Next-day funding available: USAA offers a fully online process and can fund a loan through direct deposit within one business day after an application is approved. If you opt to receive a check by mail, funding could take up to three business days.

Where USAA personal loans fall short

Loans are exclusive to USAA members: You won’t be able to get a personal loan from USAA unless you’re a USAA member. Membership eligibility hinges on being in the military, a veteran, an employee of certain federal agencies or a family member of a USAA member.
No option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check: Unlike most lenders, USAA does not offer the option to pre-qualify. Pre-qualifying lets you see your potential loan amounts, rates and terms without affecting your credit score, so you can compare offers from multiple lenders.
No direct payment to creditors: If borrowers want to consolidate credit card or other high-interest debt, they’ll need to send the funds themselves. USAA does not send money directly to creditors, which is a feature offered by many of the best lenders for debt consolidation.

How to qualify

USAA does not publicly disclose many of its borrower requirements. At the very least, you’ll need to be a USAA member and have a valid Social Security number to qualify.

You may be eligible for USAA membership if you’re an active duty service member or a veteran who is retired or has been honorably discharged. Employees of certain federal agencies, such as the Defense Criminal Investigation Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, may also be eligible. Additionally, spouses and children of USAA members can gain membership.

Personal loans are available nationwide.

» MORE: How to get a personal loan

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Compare USAA to the best lenders

Personal loan lenders offer different rates, loan amounts and special features, so it pays to weigh other options. The best personal loan is usually the one with the lowest APR.

4.0	4.5	5.0	5.0
EST. APR 9.74% - 29%	EST. APR 8.74% - 35.49%	EST. APR 7.9% - 35.99%	EST. APR 7.74% - 35.99%
LOAN AMOUNT $2.5K - $100K	LOAN AMOUNT $5K - $100K	LOAN AMOUNT $1K - $60K	LOAN AMOUNT $1K - $50K
MIN. CREDIT SCORE None Check Rates	MIN. CREDIT SCORE None Check Rates	MIN. CREDIT SCORE 600 Check Rates	MIN. CREDIT SCORE 600 Check Rates

USAA 2025 Personal Loan Review

Overview

Detailed breakdown

Where USAA personal loans stand out

Where USAA personal loans fall short

How to qualify

Compare USAA to the best lenders