USAA History
For over a century, we've been there for our members
Get to Know USAA
In 1922, when 25 Army officers met in San Antonio and decided to insure each other's vehicles, they couldn't have imagined that their tiny organization would one day serve millions of members and become a fully integrated financial services organization.
Here is a table of USAA's military affiliate groups.
1920s
The Roaring Twenties
Our company is founded during a time of significant social and political change.
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Milestone
1922 — Our company is founded in San Antonio when 25 Army officers come together to insure each other's automobiles.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
1922 — William Garrison is elected as our first president. Harold Dunton becomes our first USAA employee, a general manager.
Leadership and Diversity
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Milestone
1922 — Maj. Walter Moore purchases an automobile insurance policy and becomes our first member.
Membership Growth
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Milestone
1923 — We expand our membership to include Navy and Marine Corp officers.
Membership Growth
1930s
The Great Depression
Our membership grows considerably as the country faces a turbulent decade of financial crisis and natural disasters.
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Milestone
1931 — Our membership doubles from 15,000 to 30,000, despite the Great Depression.
Membership Growth
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Milestone
1932 — The first Annual Report to Members is published, highlighting our financial success and commitment to members.
Innovation and Development
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1934 — Membership is expanded to include Foreign Service officers, State Department officials and their widows.
Membership Growth
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Milestone
1934 — Stuart Gwyn is the first woman to join our management team.
Leadership and Diversity
1940s
World War II
We're there for our members during a time of war and change, and as more women enter the workforce.
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Milestone
1941 — We automatically renew auto insurance policies for any members outside of the United States, easing the burden of those deployed at war.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
1946 — We add several new automated office machines, becoming an industry leader in technology.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
1948 — We open up our membership to Air Force officers after the department is created by the National Security Act of 1947.
Membership Growth
1950s
The Computer Age
We expand our company in a decade of economic prosperity.
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Milestone
1952 — We open an office in Frankfurt, Germany, our first location outside of San Antonio.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
1956 — Consuelo Kerford becomes our first female officer.
Leadership and Diversity
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Milestone
1957 — We automate operations by installing a new IBM punch-card processing machine.
Innovation and Development
1960s
The Vietnam War
We continue to serve our growing membership in a time of unrest — with conflicts abroad and at home.
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Milestone
1961 — We update our bylaws to reflect a new level of commitment to our members. USAA membership is no longer relinquished when officers resign their commission or leave the service.
Membership Growth
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Milestone
1962 — We open an office in London, England.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
1969 — Our 1 millionth member joins, Officer Candidate Eugene Butel of Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Membership Growth
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Milestone
1969 — We form our first disaster response team and send them to the Gulf Coast with a printout of information on members impacted by Hurricane Camille.
Innovation and Development
1970s
The First Email Is Sent
In a decade defined by technological growth, political change and inflation, our company ushers in new innovations.
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Milestone
1973 — We open offices in Tampa, Colorado Springs, and San Diego, as well as a new headquarters in San Antonio.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
1978 — We begin offering toll-free phone service to members in the continental United States. Prior to this, most of our business was conducted by mail or telegraph.
Innovation and Development
1980s
The Rise of Personal Computing
We open our USAA Federal Savings Bank as the country rallies through a national recession and stock market crash.
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Milestone
1982 — We provide 22 ROTC scholarships for each branch of the military to support future officers.
Community Outreach
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Milestone
1983 — We create the USAA Volunteer Corps to coordinate our employee volunteer efforts in the community.
Community Outreach
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Milestone
1983 — The USAA Federal Savings Bank opens.
Innovation and Development
1990s
The Growth of the Internet
As the military community faces another deployment during the Gulf War, we become more accessible through digital growth and the launch of our online site.
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Milestone
1990 — The USAA Educational Foundation is established to help consumers make informed decisions by providing free information on financial management, safety concerns and significant life events.
Community Outreach
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Milestone
1991 — We launch the USAA Road and Travel Plan, offering emergency roadside assistance and travel benefits.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
1991 — Electronic funds transfer (EFT) is made available to members so they can move money from their bank accounts to pay insurance premiums or purchase mutual funds.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
1994 — We form The USAA Foundation to help strengthen our community and provide opportunities for others to succeed.
Community Outreach
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Milestone
1996 — We create the USAA Ethics Office to formalize our long-standing commitment to ethical business conduct.
Leadership and Diversity
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Milestone
1996 — Enlisted personnel become eligible for membership.
Membership Growth
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Milestone
1999 — We launch usaa.com, allowing members to conduct business online.
Innovation and Development
2000s
The War on Terrorism
We expand our services and eligibility requirements as our membership faces a decade defined by war and uncertainty.
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Milestone
2001 — We provide special deployment assistance to members called to respond to the fight on terrorism.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
2006 — We begin offering ATM reimbursement for members.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
2006 — We are the first company to let members deposit checks from home, needing only an internet connection and a scanner.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
2008 — Our eligibility requirements are expanded to include military retirees, regardless of when they retired. After they join, their spouses and children may also be eligible for membership.
Membership Growth
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Milestone
2009 — All men and women who are serving or have honorably served in the U.S. military — and their families — become eligible for membership.
Membership Growth
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Milestone
2009 — We become the presenting sponsor of the Army—Navy Football Game.
Community Outreach
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Milestone
2009 — We launch the USAA Mobile App with Deposit@MobileSee note® capabilities, allowing members to make deposits from their iPhoneSee note®.
Innovation and Development
2010s
Serving Members Where They Are
We open in-person financial centers in strategic locations, appear on Fortune's Global 500 list for the first time and are recognized for veteran hiring.
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Milestone
2010 — We open financial centers in key locations and partner with hundreds of UPS Stores to offer face-to-face services for members.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
2010 — We launch digital tools to help members with home and car buying.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
2010 — We debut our USAA Mobile App for iPad, allowing members to manage their finances or access advice on the go.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
2011 — We become the Official Military Appreciation Sponsor of the National Football League.
Community Outreach
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Milestone
2015 — We create our Financial Readiness Score, an assessment that helps members financially prepare for the future.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
2016 — We're the first bank to offer voice—guided mobile app check deposit for visually-impaired members.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
2017 — We proudly serve over 12 million members, with a net worth of $31 billion.
Membership Growth
2020s
Present Day and Beyond
We continue to provide cutting-edge technology and new services to support our members with their financial needs.
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Milestone
2020 — In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, USAA quickly shifts nearly all of its workforce to work from home.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
2021 — The first commercial insurance product underwritten by USAA became available to member small business owners.
Innovation and Development
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Milestone
2022 — USAA celebrates 100 years of serving its members and fulfilling its mission.
Innovation and Development