Comments on: USAA Defines What It Isn’t in Massive Ad Campaign http://thefinancialbrand.com/6523/usaa-bailout-campaign/ Ideas and insights for financial marketers. Tue, 22 May 2012 18:48:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Red, White and Profitable « Copydriven // http://thefinancialbrand.com/6523/usaa-bailout-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-2808 Red, White and Profitable « Copydriven // Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:50:44 +0000 http://thefinancialbrand.com/?p=6523#comment-2808 [...] more ads and info on this campaign at The Financial Brand. « The cost of freedom is lower than [...] [...] more ads and info on this campaign at The Financial Brand. « The cost of freedom is lower than [...]

]]> By: Jet http://thefinancialbrand.com/6523/usaa-bailout-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-2684 Jet Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:47:39 +0000 http://thefinancialbrand.com/?p=6523#comment-2684 I have been a USAA customer for almost 30 years and have most of my banking and financial products with them. I also make very good money, have a stable job, own my own home, and have excellent credit. I was therefore extremely shocked when they turned me down for a loan that they had marketed to me as "pre-approved." The reason - I had too much available credit WITH THEM. The computer turned it down - it took no more than 30 seconds - and I have yet to get a coherent explanation as to what is "too much available credit." All their customer service people can say is "times have changed" and "we don't give out that information." Oh, and they offered to lower my credit limits to see if that would help me qualify, which of course would put another black mark on my credit (after the loan decline). I guess the money they could have extended in credit went to sponsoring the Army-Navy game and all that new advertising. I am very disappointed that USAA seems to be going the way of everyone bank - use the economic situation as an opportunity to make higher profits by denying credit to loyal, longtime customers. I have been a USAA customer for almost 30 years and have most of my banking and financial products with them. I also make very good money, have a stable job, own my own home, and have excellent credit. I was therefore extremely shocked when they turned me down for a loan that they had marketed to me as “pre-approved.” The reason – I had too much available credit WITH THEM. The computer turned it down – it took no more than 30 seconds – and I have yet to get a coherent explanation as to what is “too much available credit.” All their customer service people can say is “times have changed” and “we don’t give out that information.” Oh, and they offered to lower my credit limits to see if that would help me qualify, which of course would put another black mark on my credit (after the loan decline). I guess the money they could have extended in credit went to sponsoring the Army-Navy game and all that new advertising. I am very disappointed that USAA seems to be going the way of everyone bank – use the economic situation as an opportunity to make higher profits by denying credit to loyal, longtime customers.

]]> By: TJ McCue http://thefinancialbrand.com/6523/usaa-bailout-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-2386 TJ McCue Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:16:18 +0000 http://thefinancialbrand.com/?p=6523#comment-2386 Hey Jeffry, Good post. I agree with the closing quote and focusing on the positive (as I took your post) and not just keying in on the "we're not like them." I will say though that I've been a very satisfied customer of USAA for nearly two decades. If they offered biz banking, all my banking would be with them. I also have other banks just for the fun of it (not totally accurate) -- like Wells Fargo and ANZ. Very satisfied wouldn't cover it. I'm a raving fan. I'm sad that non-military families don't get to experience what USAA offers as it is not something to be taken lightly. Forget all the advertising, all the marketing, all the jargon -- they provide an amazing service. Think about it: Use any ATM and they refund you the charge. We have pretty high expectations as customers and treat many things as our rights, but they provide the service and could pass the charges on. They don't. They send me a large rebate check every year on insurance. Every year. And this isn't because their insurance is above market in cost, but very competitive. I get a rebate of a few hundred bucks every year because they manage their financial house incredibly well. So, in many senses, for me, they deliver, and that gives them the right to boast a bit. They didn't take TARP money NOT because they didn't make mistakes, but because they made smart decisions. That may be the same for other banks that didn't, but it could have just as easily been luck. I have a feeling that USAA wasn't lucky, but prudent and smart. That's my bet. I am fortunate to be able to bank and insure with them. And to have my home mortgage with them. And my credit cards... I'm not picking on you, by the way, just adding my endorsement of USAA. Hey Jeffry,
Good post. I agree with the closing quote and focusing on the positive (as I took your post) and not just keying in on the “we’re not like them.”

I will say though that I’ve been a very satisfied customer of USAA for nearly two decades. If they offered biz banking, all my banking would be with them. I also have other banks just for the fun of it (not totally accurate) — like Wells Fargo and ANZ.

Very satisfied wouldn’t cover it. I’m a raving fan. I’m sad that non-military families don’t get to experience what USAA offers as it is not something to be taken lightly. Forget all the advertising, all the marketing, all the jargon — they provide an amazing service. Think about it: Use any ATM and they refund you the charge. We have pretty high expectations as customers and treat many things as our rights, but they provide the service and could pass the charges on. They don’t.

They send me a large rebate check every year on insurance. Every year. And this isn’t because their insurance is above market in cost, but very competitive. I get a rebate of a few hundred bucks every year because they manage their financial house incredibly well. So, in many senses, for me, they deliver, and that gives them the right to boast a bit. They didn’t take TARP money NOT because they didn’t make mistakes, but because they made smart decisions. That may be the same for other banks that didn’t, but it could have just as easily been luck. I have a feeling that USAA wasn’t lucky, but prudent and smart. That’s my bet. I am fortunate to be able to bank and insure with them. And to have my home mortgage with them. And my credit cards…

I’m not picking on you, by the way, just adding my endorsement of USAA.

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