USAA Launches 3 Credit Cards With Up to 5% Cash Back

Every trip to the grocery store or gas station is taking a bigger bite out of consumers’ budgets in 2026.

The average prices of some common goods, including beef and orange juice, have shot up more than 20% since January 2025. As of July 16, AAA put the national average price of gas at $3.94 per gallon, about 78 cents higher than one year earlier.

Two new credit cards and one refreshed card from USAA aim to help members claw back some of that added expense through cash back. The financial institution rolled out the Eagle Adapt Visa Credit Card and Eagle Ascend American Express Credit Card this week while refreshing its Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Credit Card.

Credit cards are typically associated with spending, not saving. But the right rewards can help offset the cost of purchases cardholders already make.

Michael Moran, President of USAA Bank, said in a press release that the financial institution is focused on giving its members more back where it most benefits them.

“From young, enlisted service members building their credit to established families with higher grocery and gas bills, we’re meeting our members with products that are valuable and propel them towards financial security,” Moran added.

USAA primarily serves members of the military, veterans who have honorably served, and their families. Eligibility also extends to certain spouses and family members under USAA’s membership rules.

Alongside the new cards, USAA released survey findings showing how consumers use credit card rewards as everyday costs rise.

USAA commissioned an online survey of 1,143 U.S. adults ages 18 to 54 in March.

Among respondents with credit card rewards, 37% said they were saving their rewards for bigger redemptions, while 36% said they weren’t saving theirs at all. Instead, they used the rewards as soon as they could to offset everyday expenses such as gas and groceries.

Consumers are also increasingly using pay-with-points options at retailers, according to USAA.

Consumers Put a Premium on Card Rewards

Source: USAA survey of 1,143 U.S. adults ages 18–54, March 2026

And 47% of respondents said they use the feature to make essential purchases, a much higher share than the 26% who said they pay with points for discretionary purchases.

The appeal of rewards was also evident in the 73% of respondents who said they would select a rewards card with a higher APR over one with a lower rate that didn’t offer rewards.

However, cardholders who carry a balance could pay more in interest than they earn through rewards.

Though nine out of 10 respondents said the rewards that come with credit cards provide meaningful value, they aren’t particularly loyal to one type of card or issuer.

While 78% said they would either switch right away or at least consider moving to a different issuer if it offered slightly better rewards on essential purchases, nearly half said they would consider using cash or a debit card if credit card rewards went away altogether.

That willingness to switch issuers creates an opening for USAA’s updated card lineup.

Of the three, the Eagle Adapt card offers the broadest set of elevated rewards, earning 3% cash back on dining, gas, groceries, travel, and other eligible spending categories.

However, USAA caps the 3% cash back at the first $3,000 a cardholder spends in combined quarterly purchases within eligible categories. Other purchases earn an unlimited 1% cash back.

The Eagle Ascend card doesn’t have as strong of a cash back offer, but it’s designed to help those who are in the early stages of their credit journey, USAA said in a press release. The card offers 2% cash back in a cardholder’s top eligible spending category each month, including categories such as groceries, gas, and dining, and 1% on other purchases.

None of the three new cards carries an annual fee.

For a limited time, the Eagle Ascend card offers a one-time statement credit of up to $98, plus applicable taxes, for an annual Walmart+ membership, which includes perks such as savings on gas and free deliveries.

Eagle Ascend cardholders who make on-time payments may get a review for a credit limit increase after six months. USAA will also automatically waive one late fee every 12 months.

The Cashback Rewards Plus card offers 5% cash back on the first $3,000 a cardholder spends at gas stations in a year and 3% back on the first $3,000 they spend on groceries annually. The first $5,000 in military-base purchases per year are also eligible for 5% back.

Both the Eagle Adapt and the Cashback Rewards Plus cards also offer a $200 bonus if cardholders spend at least $1,000 on qualifying purchases by the final day of November 2026. None of the three cards charges an annual fee.