Feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to figure out how to send money through USAA? Don't worry, you're not alone! USAA offers a few different ways to get your funds where they need to go, whether it's to a friend, family member, or even an international recipient. Let's break it down step-by-step so you can choose the best option for your needs.
Step 1: Identify Your Recipient and Urgency
Before you even log into your USAA account, take a moment to consider who you're sending money to and how quickly it needs to arrive. This crucial first step will help you determine the most suitable method.
- Are you sending money to a friend or family member in the U.S. for a quick payment, like splitting a dinner bill? Zelle® is likely your best bet.
- Do you need to transfer funds between your own USAA accounts or to an external bank account you own? Standard funds transfers are ideal.
- Is the recipient a business or an individual you need to pay a bill to? USAA Pay Bills could be the solution.
- Are you sending a large sum of money, or sending funds to someone internationally? A wire transfer might be necessary.
Once you have a clear idea of your situation, you're ready to proceed!
Step 2: Accessing Your USAA Account
To initiate any money transfer with USAA, you'll need to log in to your account.
- Using the USAA Mobile App: This is often the quickest and most convenient way to manage your banking.
- Download the USAA Mobile App if you haven't already. It's available for both iOS and Android devices.
- Open the app and enter your login credentials. If you have Quick Logon enabled, you might use your fingerprint or face ID for faster access.
- Using USAA.com: If you prefer using a desktop or laptop, you can log in through the USAA website.
- Go to usaa.com in your web browser.
- Enter your online ID and password to securely access your account.
Step 3: Choosing Your Money Transfer Method
USAA offers several ways to send money, each with its own benefits and limitations.
Option 1: Sending Money with Zelle® (Fast & Free for U.S. Recipients)
Zelle® is perfect for sending money to friends, family, and other trusted individuals with a bank account in the U.S. Money is typically available in minutes.
Sub-heading: Enrolling in Zelle® (if you haven't already)
If this is your first time using Zelle® with USAA, you'll need to enroll.
- Log on to the USAA Mobile App.
- Select "Zelle®".
- Follow the prompts to enroll your U.S. mobile number or email address and link it to your eligible USAA checking or savings account. You'll likely receive a verification code to complete this step.
Sub-heading: Sending Money via Zelle®
- Log on to the USAA Mobile App.
- Select "Zelle®".
- Choose "Send."
- Add a new recipient by tapping "+" and then "Add New Recipient." You can select from your phone's contacts or enter their information manually (U.S. mobile number or email address). Remember to only send money to people you trust, as Zelle® payments are typically non-reversible.
- Select the appropriate recipient type (Personal or Business).
- Enter the amount you wish to send.
- Review the details carefully, ensuring the recipient and amount are correct.
- Confirm and send!
Important Note: USAA's Zelle® limits are typically $1,000 daily and $10,000 monthly.
Option 2: Funds Transfers (Between Your Accounts or to External Accounts)
This method is for moving money between your own USAA accounts or to/from an external checking or savings account you own at another U.S. financial institution.
Sub-heading: Transferring Between Your USAA Accounts
- Log on to usaa.com or the USAA Mobile App.
- Look for the "Transfer" or "Funds Transfer" option. On the mobile app, it's often a dedicated icon. On usaa.com, you might find it under a "+ Banking" menu.
- Select the "From" account (e.g., your USAA checking) and the "To" account (e.g., your USAA savings).
- Enter the amount you wish to transfer.
- Choose the transfer date (same-day, future-dated, or recurring).
- Review and confirm the transfer.
Availability: Transfers between USAA accounts made on weekdays before 9 p.m. CT are usually available immediately.
Sub-heading: Transferring to/from External Accounts
First, you'll need to add and verify your external account.
- Log on to usaa.com or the USAA Mobile App.
- Navigate to "Manage Payment and Transfer Accounts" (on usaa.com under "+ Banking") or "Add or manage external accounts" (on the mobile app via the "Transfer" icon).
- Select "Add Account" and follow the prompts to link your external checking or savings account. This typically involves micro-deposits (small deposits USAA sends to your external account that you'll need to verify) and can take up to 3 business days.
Once verified:
- Log on to usaa.com or the USAA Mobile App.
- Select the "Transfer" option.
- Choose your USAA account as the "From" account and your verified external account as the "To" account (or vice versa).
- Enter the amount and choose the transfer date.
- Review and confirm the transfer.
Limits: Transfers to external bank accounts generally have limits of $5,000 daily and $25,000 within 30 days.
Option 3: USAA Pay Bills (For Paying Bills to Businesses/Individuals)
USAA Pay Bills allows you to pay almost anyone in the United States you'd normally pay by check.
Sub-heading: Enrolling in USAA Pay Bills (if you haven't already)
- Log on to usaa.com or the USAA Mobile App.
- Click "Pay Bills".
- Follow the prompts to get started and accept the electronic delivery consent and terms and conditions.
Sub-heading: Setting Up a Payment
- Log on to usaa.com or the USAA Mobile App.
- Go to "Pay Bills".
- Select "Add New Bill" or the "+" button.
- Enter the biller's information, such as their name, address, and account number. For USAA bills (like insurance), you can simply select the bill.
- Choose the payment account (must be a USAA checking account for non-USAA bills).
- Enter the payment amount and the desired delivery date.
- Review and schedule the payment.
Benefit: USAA guarantees timely payment delivery and may cover up to $50 in late fees if a payment doesn't post on time due to their error.
Option 4: Wire Transfers (For Large Sums or International Transfers)
Wire transfers are generally used for larger amounts of money or when sending funds internationally. They are typically faster than ACH transfers but often come with fees.
Sub-heading: Initiating a Domestic Wire Transfer
For domestic wire transfers, you'll need specific information about the recipient and their bank.
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Information needed:
- Amount you want to send
- Recipient's full name and address (or zip code)
- Receiving bank's name
- Receiving bank's ABA or routing number
- Recipient's bank account number
- Any additional wire instructions
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How to initiate:
- Online: You may be able to initiate a domestic wire transfer through usaa.com, especially for amounts up to $10,000.
- Phone: For transfers exceeding $10,000 or for international wires, you will need to call USAA at 210-531-USAA (8722) or 800-531-USAA (8722). Call Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM CT.
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Fees: An outgoing domestic wire transfer typically costs $20.
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Cutoff Time: Wire requests received by 4:00 p.m. CT Monday through Friday are generally processed the same day.
Sub-heading: Initiating an International Wire Transfer
International wire transfers can only be requested over the phone with USAA.
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Information needed:
- The amount you want to send.
- Your recipient's full name and address.
- Your recipient's account number for receiving international payments.
- The recipient bank name and SWIFT code (or other international bank code).
- Recipient bank address.
- Purpose of payment.
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How to initiate: Call USAA at 210-531-USAA (8722) or 800-531-USAA (8722) from Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM CT.
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Fees: USAA typically charges a $20 fee for outgoing international wire transfers, plus an additional $25 international wire service fee due to correspondent banks, totaling around $45 per transaction. Intermediary and recipient banks may also charge additional fees.
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Limits: The online limit for outgoing wire transfers is generally $10,000. For larger amounts, you must call USAA.
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Processing Time: While domestic wires are often same-day, international wire transfers can take up to 15 days for the recipient to receive funds, depending on the destination country and banks involved.
Step 4: Review and Confirmation
No matter which method you choose, always carefully review all the details before confirming the transfer. Double-check the recipient's information, the amount, and the chosen account. A small error can lead to significant delays or even loss of funds, especially with irreversible methods like Zelle® or wire transfers.
Once confirmed, you should receive a confirmation message or email from USAA. Keep this for your records!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 related FAQ questions with quick answers to help you navigate sending money with USAA:
How to check the status of my Zelle® payment? You can view the status of your Zelle® payments on the "Zelle® Activity" screen within the USAA Mobile App.
How to change the account I use to send money with Zelle®? When sending money via Zelle®, on the "Enter Amount" screen, select the "From" account field and choose the desired account.
How to receive money with Zelle® through USAA? Enroll your U.S. mobile number or email address with Zelle® through the USAA Mobile App. Money sent to you by an enrolled Zelle® user is typically available within minutes.
How to add an external bank account to USAA for transfers? Log on to usaa.com or the USAA Mobile App, navigate to "Manage Payment and Transfer Accounts" or "Add or manage external accounts," and follow the prompts to add and verify the account using micro-deposits.
How to pay a USAA bill using another bank's online bill pay? For most bill pay services, enter "USAA" as the biller, select "USAA Property & Casualty" (if applicable), and use 9800 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78288-0001 as the address. For the account number, use your USAA number without leading zeros, dashes, spaces, or policy numbers.
How to set up automatic payments for my USAA bills? On the USAA Pay Bills page, choose the biller and select "Set Up Automatic Payments" or "Modify Automatic Payments."
How to make a larger wire transfer than the online limit with USAA? For wire transfers exceeding the online limit (typically $10,000 for domestic), you must call USAA at 210-531-USAA (8722) or 800-531-USAA (8722).
How to find the USAA routing number for receiving transfers? Your USAA routing number for domestic transfers is 314074269. For international incoming wires, you'll need to provide the sender with the details of The Bank of New York Mellon, including their SWIFT code (IRVTUS3NXXX), their address (225 Liberty St, New York, NY 10286), and your USAA account details.
How to transfer money from my USAA savings to checking account? Log into the USAA Mobile App or usaa.com, go to the "Transfer" section, select your savings as the "From" account and checking as the "To" account, enter the amount, and confirm.
How to temporarily increase my USAA debit card limits? You can request a temporary change to your daily debit card limits for large purchases or cash withdrawals through your USAA online account or mobile app under "Manage debit card limits."
