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Begin your journey with a Career Starter Loan.

Launch your military career with the money you need at a lower interest rate.

Apply now for a Career Starter Loan

Get up to $25,000 at 2.99% APR.‍ ‍ See note 1

Take advantage of our exclusive rates for pre-commissioned and newly commissioned officers.

Use the money for almost anything.

Your loan is flexible, so you can use it almost any way you want. You just can’t use it to pay for education expenses.

Buy a car.

You could save on auto loan interest when you buy a car with the money from a Career Starter Loan.

Pay off credit card debt.

Pay down debt faster when you use the loan to consolidate high interest credit cards.

Build your savings.

Grow your emergency fund or start saving for a big purchase with money from the loan.

Pay for military uniforms.

Costs to buy uniforms can add up. Get the gear you need with help from the loan.

What you need to apply for a Career Starter Loan

First, you’ll need a USAA Classic Checking account. If you need help applying for an account, you can call 800-531-4610.

When you apply for a loan, have your income, housing and commissioning info ready.

Apply now for a USAA checking account

Career Starter Loan FAQ

It depends on your commissioning source.

  • ROTC: You can apply within 1 year of commissioning and up to 1 year after.
  • OCS/OTS and WOCS: You can apply within 4 months of commissioning and up to 1 year after.
  • Service members commissioned directly from civilian or enlisted status: You can apply upon commissioning and up to 1 year after.

For more information, call us at 800-531-4610.

It depends on your commissioning source and whether you take the loan out before or after commission or graduation.‍ ‍ See note 2

  • ROTC: We’ll defer your first payment from the date you close on your loan up to 6 months after your expected commission date. If you’ve already commissioned, we’ll defer it up to 60 days after the date you close your loan. Your first payment date may differ if you’re pursuing an advanced degree.
  • Early commissioning program cadet: We’ll defer your first payment from the date you close on your loan up to 6 months after your expected graduation date. If you’ve already graduated, we’ll defer it up to 60 days after the date you close on your loan.
  • All other commissioning sources: We’ll defer your first payment up to 60 days after the date you close on your loan.

For more information, call us at 800-531-4610.

Launch your military career with tools, tips and more.

We’ve got advice and resources that can help you as you start your military career.

Go to advice for information on launching your military career

Other things to consider

Credit cards

If you’re interested in getting a credit card, look over our options to find the right one.

Explore credit cards to find the right one

Renters insurance

If you’re living in a dorm, barracks or an apartment, renters insurance can help cover your stuff and protect your money.

Learn about renters insurance

Jump-start your military journey with a Career Starter Loan.

Apply now for a Career Starter Loan

Related footnotes:

  1. Investment and Insurance Products are:

    • Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency
    • Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank
    • Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested

Related footnotes:

  1. Loan is subject to credit approval. ROTC cadets and midshipmen are eligible to apply up to 12 months prior to commission date. Eligibility requirements differ if pursuing an advanced degree. Officer or warrant officer candidates are eligible to apply up to four months prior to commission date. Early Commissioning Program cadets are eligible to apply within 12 months of bachelor's degree graduation. Newly commissioned officers are eligible to apply up to 12 months after commission date. USAA Federal Savings Bank checking account is required to apply for a Career Starter loan. Finance charges will accrue during the deferral period. The first payment deferral cannot be extended if the commission date is pushed back or delayed.

    Payment Example: A 60-month Career Starter Loan with an annual percentage rate (APR) of 2.99% and a deferral period of one year would have monthly payments of $18.50 per one thousand dollars borrowed. (One year means 365 days and is used here for the purpose of calculating an example payment. Deferral period may be longer or shorter depending on contract date, commission date and other factors.). Payment amount may vary based on length of deferral period.

  2. The first payment date depends on commissioning source and whether the loan is taken out before or after commission or graduation:

    • ROTC: Loan payments will be deferred from the date of loan closing up to 6 months after expected commission date used at application or up to 60 days after loan closing date if already commissioned. First payment date differs if pursuing an advanced degree.
    • Early Commissioning Program Cadet: Loan payments will be deferred from the date of loan closing up to 6 months after expected graduation date used at application or up to 60 days after loan closing date if already graduated.
    • All other commissioning sources: Loan payments will be deferred up to 60 days after loan closing date.

    Finance charges will accrue during the deferral period. If a commission date or Early Commissioning Program graduation date is pushed back or delayed after closing the loan, the deferral period cannot be extended.

Related footnotes:

  1. Obtaining insurance from USAA is optional, and has no effect on any credit applications or terms of credit with USAA Federal Savings Bank, and can be acquired from other sources.

  2. Membership eligibility and product restrictions apply and are subject to change.

  3. Renters insurance provided by United Services Automobile Association, USAA Casualty Insurance Company, USAA General Indemnity Company, Garrison Property and Casualty Insurance Company, based in San Antonio, Texas; USAA S.A. (Europe), and USAA S.A. UK Branch (United Kingdom), and is available only to persons eligible for property and casualty group membership. Each company has sole financial responsibility for its own products.

    Coverages subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.

  4. USAA Federal Savings Bank offers deposit, credit card, consumer lending, mortgage, and other banking products and services. USAA Federal Savings Bank is a Member of FDIC. Credit card, mortgage and other lending products not FDIC-insured.

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