If you are a member of the U.S. Military, you have undoubtedly heard of USAA Insurance. USAA (United Services Automobile Association) is an insurance company serving members of the U.S. Military with insurance banking, investment, retirement planning and financial counseling services. For service men and women and their families, the company offers many attractive benefits to its members.
USAA began in the 1920s. It was founded by a group of twenty-five army officers who were looking for insurance. Most companies would not insure members of the military because they were considered a high-risk group. The company expanded its services to include not only insurance products, but also banking and investment services.
From its early beginnings, USAA has grown to over 8 million members and is worth of $19 billion. The company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. USAA has consistently received the highest rankings from insurance rating companies such as A.M. Best, Moody's and Standard & Poor's. It has also won numerous customer service and other awards from organizations such as Forrester Research, Inc., Fortune 500, Javelin Strategy & Research, InformationWeek 500, Council of Better Business Bureaus and Insure.com among others.
Because USAA targets its services only to members of the military, it concentrates on offering the best service and products to only service members and their families. All members of the U.S. Military are eligible for USAA membership along with National Guard and Reserve members and children of USAA members. Service members may determine their eligibility from the company website. Former members can resume their membership at anytime. There is no age limit. Anyone who has ever served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces is eligible for USAA membership.
Financial Strength
USAA has received the highest rating available from A.M. Best of “A++” Superior. Moody's and Standard & Poor's also give USAA their highest financial strength ratings. The company has also been ranked in the top 200 companies by Fortune 500. J.D. Power and Associates gave two awards to USAA in 2011, Customer Service Champion and the top Self-Director Investor Study. Members of the military can trust in the financial stability of USAA.
Products and Services
Service men and women who join USAA will find a wide range of insurance and financial products available to them. Some of the products and services available include:
Auto Insurance
Homeowners Insurance
Renters Insurance
Health Insurance
Life Insurance
Small Business Insurance
Long-term Care Insurance
Banking Services
Investment Services
Real Estate Search Assistance
Mortgages
Retirement Planning
For a full-list of products and services, you can visit the USAA website or call 1-800-531-USAA (8722).
Pros and Cons
Pros
Competitive insurance rates for members of the U.S. Military
Financially sound
Financial planning and money management advice
Broad range of insurance and financial services including insurance, banking and investment products and services
USAA returns a portion of its profits back to members each year
USAA mobile services offer deposits and other banking services 24/7
Cons
Only available to members of the U.S. Military
No deposit or withdrawal services available at banking locations
To deposit into a checking account, members must use Internet, phone or mail services
Withdrawals are available only from ATMs
The Bottom Line
Members of the military have many options to choose from when it comes to insurance and financial services. If you are serving in the military, you do not have to buy your insurance from USAA; however, there are many reasons why USAA is a good choice. USAA offers a one-stop shopping experience for service members to take care of all their financial needs. It is a financially sound and customer service oriented organization. When shopping for affordable insurance, members of the military will find the insurance rates highly competitive.
