This is hands down the best company with which I have ever done business. Their technology is amazingly far ahead of others in the banking and insurance space. I was taking a photo of a check with my smartphone to deposit it years before it became mainstream.

It is a great example of how constraints build value. By constraints I mean, they have had to deal with military customers stationed in far flung places for years. This built their capability to conduct business virtually.

I will second pretty much everything you just said. I have renter's and auto insurance, checking, savings and a credit card all through USAA and they are fantastic. Many banks are just beginning to catch up with their technology and none can match their customer service.

i like the business model of USAA, where it isn't a corporation, but that everyone who becomes a member gets some sort of benefit. its almost like voluntary communism. I wonder if this model would work for other sorts of institutions.