A major update (version 6.5) of USAA’s smartphone apps for iOS and Android that introduces offers and the ability to update profile information within the app was released yesterday.
USAA has long been a digital innovator, lacking the benefit – or encumbrance – of a branch network to serve customers. Mobile apps have proven no exception, with Stephen Armstrong declaring earlier this year, “Online banking is becoming a legacy channel for us.”
The most recent update is not the company’s iOS 7 update, which arrived a week ago, but another update entirely that incorporates the USAA MemberShop, an offers and rewards platform, into the app. The heading “Offers and Rewards” now appears in the main menu on the app home screen.
Also new is the ability to update personal information from within the app itself. This is a relatively rare feature even for online banking portals.
Users are also able to provide proof of insurance using the app. The insurance space has made innovative use of smartphone capabilities – photographing IDs to onboard customers and reporting accidents using geolocation – so it seems unusual this feature was not present earlier.