I was truly taken aback by this and sent a pointed paper letter to the CEO, with the naive assumption he would have to spine to reply to a member of over 35 years. In a way I did receive several responses, the first being an unsolicited call about how they just couldn’t lower insurance rates any further (huh?). The second was from guy in the CEO’s office calling to address my “concern;” I asked if he meant the letter I wrote and he asked, “what letter?” He said he would check it out and call me back, a call for which I am still waiting. A couple months later I received another call from the CEO’s office, a sincere if foolish and gullible lady who told me Black Lives Matter has the full and unwavering support of USAA and that would never change.

For a number of years USAA had an on-line members Community, a forum where people could ask questions and receive the benefit of other’s experiences: what might be the best mutual fund for a young career military family, or how would I go about adding my grown daughter as a beneficiary. As USAA declined, the Community increasingly offered a place where (especially) long-term members could ask what the heck was going on, why has customer service deteriorated, why insurance premiums were no longer competitive, and the like: things displeasing to the ears of USAA hierarchy. Suddenly the link to the Community disappeared from the USAA website, then it was revealed the Community page would be “retired” effective June 30^th, 2023. Some members speculated it was to shut out people who criticized USAA and, absent an explanation, they were probably right. Below is a posting I made a week before the Community is to be shut down permanently:

I enlisted as an E-1 in 1975 and received an appointment as a Warrant Officer in 1983, which qualified me to become a USAA member, and I did so with great pride. All my time was Army National Guard or Reserve, and I was never called up, mobilized, or deployed. In other words I did nothing remarkable during my service (I can’t be accused of stolen valor!), but it was all honorable.

Headline from the San Antonio Express-News, May 2023: What’s behind USAA’s first losing year in a century ($1.3 billion)?

One consistent theme during my military experience was Honor. That’s not to say that everyone acted with honor, but it was THE standard to which we aspired, and to be called dishonorable was among the worst characterizations possible. I fear that the idea and standard of honor is being lost in our society, as if it’s become an antiquated concept that can’t compete with 5G networks, “equity,” streaming TV, “diversity,” Instagram and “inclusion.” In a way it’s understandable, at least among privileged youth, in a culture that promotes self-centeredness, hedonism, and where pride and self-esteem are completely removed from accomplishment. The challenge of any culture is to eventually make sure young people realize the world doesn’t revolve around them, that ego-centrism needs to give way to concern for others, and that chanting slogans does not make a person compassionate or make life meaningful. We know a culture is failing when young people don’t grow into responsible and mature adults, but the adults actually revert to the selfishness and ignorance associated with adolescence.

For us who have been USAA members for a good while and remember the tenure of Gen. McDermott, it’s difficult to witness the current leadership of USAA reject the values of responsibility, duty to others and, most of all, Honor; all for increased profits and to receive accolades and approbation from cultural forces that, in fact, detest America. This modern, “hipster” version of USAA sees Honor not as one of the greatest virtues, but merely as a word to be cynically used in marketing campaigns, a concept to be exploited for purposes of greed. It is truly a shame.

Anyway, I note USAA Fed. Savings Bank is holding the interest rate for basic savings accounts steady at 0.01%, which is essentially 0%. After it was clear USAA was loosing its way, my wife and I moved most of our savings to a “high-yield” on-line bank (keeping in mind USAA is also an on-line bank). The yield of this bank has reflected changing economic conditions, and is presently offering 4% on regular savings. If someone has the good fortune to have $10,000 in savings, at the end of the year the USAA member will have $1 in interest, an A L L Y Bank customer will have $400. If you’re older, have not been profligate, and have $100,000 in savings at USAA, you will earn $10 in a year. At the aforementioned bank you will have $4,000 in interest.

While I don’t doubt A L L Y Bank has some boiler plate and meaningless Equity-Diversity-Inclusion statement like every corporation, I do know that USAA has offered its never ending support of corrupt and virulently anti-American groups such as BLM: I was directly told so by a representative of the CEO’s office. The difference is A L L Y Bank doesn’t pretend to wrap itself in the American flag and American values like USAA does, which makes USAA exceptionally hypocritical and dishonorable.

I guess one can’t blame USAA for “retiring” the Community- weak and cowardly people and organizations only want to hear how wonderful they are...there is no room for differing opinions or uncomfortable facts, such as $1 versus $400, hence their reaction is not to respond with a reasoned argument, but to shut it down, and that’s exactly what they are doing.