I had homeowner's, auto and umbrella with USAA for many years. I ditched them last year. After reading threads like this one, I decided that I would rather spend a little more money and be assured that my claim would be processed fairly and paid promptly. I have an older home that has hard to replace features. I really began to wonder if USAA would pay up if I ever had a claim. I ended up with Chubb. But, it you are bargain hunting, Chubb won't be your choice. Either way, I am paying too much not to get the claim settled to my satisfaction.

I still do my banking with the bank. I'm really happy with their service.

CAFB, I went through a detailed analysis with USAA over the phone and in the end they acknowledged they couldn't match it. They mentioned that GEICO was trying to build their customer base in my area, so perhaps their low rates wouldn't last...and to give USAA a call when/if that happened. They were polite but I was disappointed they couldn't do more since I've been with them for >20 years. They seem to have no issues spending gobs of cash on advertising to expand their customer base.
Also, as pointed out I left out the rebate check from the calculations, which I'm sure for some folks gets USAA prices close enough to the competition...it just didn't for me. I still have a home policy on a rental property, but shear laziness is keeping me with them as I'm going to unload it next year...and get my SSA rebate from USAA.

The best deals you can get are the foreign services offered when on deployment. You know... If the E6 ever went anywhere.

Hey, E6b. Old Tacamo here. I dropped USAA two years ago and have never looked back. SSA check was $6k+ and my premiums went down $1,700/yr. USAA wants me back, but I see no difference in my present insurer (local agent too) and the San Antonio peeps. USAA used to be outstanding 20 years ago, but now they are just another big insurance company.

Interesting, because I always thought that USAA started out as a mutual company and has never changed that status, which means that the company is in effect, owned by their policyholders. As far as I know, there are no "shareholders", other than those insured.

They just say goodbye. Once, when shopping for a car loan, they actually tried to convince me to use them when their rates were higher!

The company is, in effect, owned by the members. But, when e6b says they're casting their net too wide, here's what I saw...when my folks were with them, and for my early career, they insured only officers and officer retirees. Over time they included SNCOs, then all current military and now it's what you see in the commercials. Their actuarial math changed with the changing demographics of their customers/members.

Hrkdrivr,

The company is owned by its members. Period. I do understand what e6B was getting at, and personally I wish they'd have stayed with only officers, as that would have been a better deal for all us "members." However, in order to grow, they decided to open up their business to not only officers, but all military personnel, and then, to paint with an even broader brush, they now allow children of members to get auto insurance. However, I believe it's only auto insurance, and no other services. I could be wrong about that though.

I think we're in violent agreement. I understand why they changed their business model. Like you, I wish they hadn't.

It used to be a great deal. Now it's just another insurance company.

Yep, sorry, I stand corrected. The only shareholders are us. I should do my research before shooting my mouth off. I just assumed with the slick commercials that they were seeking profits for someone outside the company.

Thanks for the advice above, especially CheapTrick. I may take a hard look at what I have left with them (banking, homeowners, auto) when I do retire from the Navy in a few months. OKC got hit hard by weather over the last 5 years, so homeowners is getting very expensive in this area. USAA has raised my rates by about 500/yr for the last two years and I think that is fairly typical of this area. I did get some quotes about a year ago and USAA was still lower by a few hundred bucks.