Large companies, ranked No. 5
In 1922, 25 Army officers who couldn’t get automobile insurance because they were considered high risk set out to remedy that situation.
That remedy became what was originally called the United States Army Automobile Association. The name was changed in 1924 to the United States Automobile Association. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, USAA is today a major supplier of insurance, banking and investment and retirement programs for more than 13 million members of the U.S. military and veterans and their families.
About 38,000 workers carry out the company’s work from eight cities across the country and three overseas locations. Chesapeake is one of those cities, located in one of the world’s largest concentrations of government and military installations where its 700 employees provide a wide variety of services and financial products molded by USAA’s mission.
Locally, most of its employees are working remotely, primarily due to COVID, said Antonia McLaren, director of regional site management in Chesapeake. But in October, the operation plans on bringing 500 workers back to the office with the remaining staying remote.
USAA offers a range of financial services, including vehicle, recreational vehicle, homeowner, renter, personal property and life insurance and banking services like checking, savings, credit card and home mortgage. Additionally, it offers insurance plans for small businesses and vision, dental and Medicare supplement plans. To help families save for college, the company offers a 529 investment plan option with tax-advantaged savings for educational expenses.
The nonprofit USAA Educational Foundation also helps service members and families with personal finance and wealth-building education through various resources, like publications, videos and courses.
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About the company
USAA facilitates the financial security of its members, employees and their families by providing a full range of highly competitive financial products and services, seeking to be the provider of choice for the military community.
Address: 520 Independence Parkway, Chesapeake; headquarters, 9800 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio
Phone: 800-531-8722
Website: usaa.com
Top executives: Wayne Peacock, CEO; Raqwon Perryman, executive director for product development; and Antonia McLaren, director of regional site management, Chesapeake
Employees: 700 in Hampton Roads
Benefits include: Hybrid work model, on-site fitness center, dental and health insurance, 401(k) retirement savings plan, military leave benefits, education assistance, diversity-equity-inclusion groups, paid parental leave, paid volunteer hours
Fun factor: Monthly food events, annual holiday party, annual family day, casual dress and relax and energize zones. The relax zones are rooms or pods where employees can sign in to get away briefly to read, be quiet or take a nap. The energize zone is a place to get a pick-you-up and play pool, pingpong, cornhole, arcade games, watch television and other activities.
Community service: USAA volunteers with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, Trails of Purpose (which provides free mental health support), the United Way of South Hampton Roads and Wreaths Across America. USAA also provides funds through its Military Family Resilience program for local community nonprofit organizations that serve the needs and stressors of the military family, including military caregivers, families of the fallen, wounded, ill and injured. Among the notable operations is the Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads in Virginia Beach. With a goal of nurturing the well-being of the military community, it offers day care-type services and various levels of learning opportunities from preschool through grade five, summer camp, food bank and support groups.
