cranston

At the suggestion of a friend I called USAA and became a member (for free). Their restriction on military only seems to have been lifted.

Since becoming a member I have opened a bank and brokerage account.

Whilst their products will not suit all they have a high customer satisfaction level in many surveys. Their deposting checks by Iphone facility is pretty neat. Go 1 minute into the video.

Their website does not show the lifting of membership restrictions for some reason.

Kaffy Mintcake

That's news to me. We're USAA members and they are fantastic. If the requirement for a military connection has been lifted, I'd recommend them to anyone.

creamern

Agreed! We have our home and auto insurance through them as well as checking and savings. Never had any problems with them and love the fact that they reimburse ATM charges!

Voltore

Totally agree. I was paying the earth when I was single and when I got married and became eligible under my wife's USAA policy my auto insurance dropped by 75%!!

BethPageBlack

Can't say i'm too excited about this. When I became a member it was restricted to officers and retired officers, 15 years later membership was available anyone in the military down to private 1rst class, and now it's just anyone. Not exactly the elite fraternity it used to be. Hello Gieco

Bob

Don't be a snob.

BethPageBlack

Well the rates were low because coverage was limited to a very select group of highly trained and disciplined professionals. I don't think I like sharing the risk with Billy Joe Bob baggage handler down the street...

Kaffy Mintcake

That's weird? Their website currently says the following:

Who is eligible?
Membership is open to:

Active-duty officers and enlisted personnel.
Children whose eligible parents have or had a USAA auto or property insurance product.1
National Guard and Selected Reserve officers and enlisted personnel.
Officer candidates in commissioning programs (Academy, ROTC, OCS/OTS).
Former military personnel:

Retired officers and enlisted personnel.
Former officers and enlisted personnel who separated from the military on or after Jan. 1, 1996.
Former USAA members who had USAA auto or property insurance.

Kaffy Mintcake

I don't see any evidence of the change in eligibility on their website? I was just online to pay my credit card bill and looked. Odd.

BethPageBlack

Lets hope it was just a rumour. I'll call first thing in the morning and get the 411

cranston

How can it be a rumour when you have a first hand account (from me) of it happening?

BethPageBlack

Is this some kind of a practical joke? Because if it is it's not funny. I just called San Antonio, they wont be in for another hour.

BethPageBlack

I finally got a hold of them. They said membership requirements have been lowered. Cranston was'nt lying

I'm looking at other insurance/banking options..

AdobePinon

There was some weird radio ad of their's playing the other day that said something about not being a member just because you have an account, or something to that effect

Just Jenney

I don't think the eligibility restrictions have been fully lifted or even changed. For one thing, USAA's website currently states:

"Since 1922, USAA has provided a full range of highly competitive financial products and services to the military and their families. Today, certain products, including investments, financial planning, life insurance and banking products — checking, savings and CDs — are available to the public."

For another, as Kaffy mentioned above, their eligibility requirements remain unchanged on the "Eligibility" section of their website. One thing that USAA is known for (among other things) is being upfront about any changes that take place which affect its members -- and making membership open to everyone would definitely be something they would announce promptly.

I've googled this and I haven't found anything about this free-for-all membership change. The closest thing I've found are various blog or message board comments about USAA expanding its membership to include military retirees, military personnel who were honorably discharged after Jan 1996, and the spouses/children of the two aforementioned groups. No mention of expanding it to include everyone.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not saying that you're lying, just that perhaps you've simply signed up for the products that were already available to the general public, but are still ineligible for all the products USAA offers its members. If they're playing radio ads in the Southwest then my guess is that its to drum up some extra business to draw non-eligible members to sign up for those products that are available to everyone.

BTW, I've been a very happy USAA customer for almost 20 years.

~ Jenney