Best Bank of America Credit Cards of April 2023
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Some Bank of America® credit cards reward loyal Bank of America® customers who keep all their accounts in one place. But even if you bank elsewhere, the issuer offers cards with solid benefits.
Some Bank of America® credit cards reward loyal Bank of America® customers who keep all their accounts in one place. But even if you bank elsewhere, the issuer offers cards with solid benefits.
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Best Bank of America Credit Cards From Our Partners
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website, or call (877) 754-6706 | Best for Bonus category cash back | $0 | 1%- Cashback | $200 | Apply now on Bank of America's website, or call (877) 754-6706 |
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 343-3246 | Best for Simple cash back | $0 | 1.5% Cashback | $200 | Apply now on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 343-3246 |
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 211-3740 | Best for Travel | $0 | 1.5x Points | 25,000 Points | Apply now on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 211-3740 |
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | Best for Premium travel rewards | $95 | 1.5x- Points | 50,000 Points | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
BankAmericard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 322-7707 | Best for Balance transfers | $0 | No rewards | N/A | Apply now on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 322-7707 |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | Best for Small business | N/A | 1.5x Points | 30,000 Points | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
Our pick for
Bonus category cash back
on Bank of America's website, or call (877) 754-6706
on Bank of America's website, or call (877) 754-6706
$0
1%-3%
Cashback
$200
With the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, you'll earn 3% cash back in a category of your choice (from a list of six) and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, for the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter (1% back after reaching that threshold). All other purchases earn 1% cash back. This is a solid, flexible cash-back card, and it's especially lucrative for Preferred Rewards clients.
With the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, you'll earn 3% cash back in a category of your choice (from a list of six) and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, for the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter (1% back after reaching that threshold). All other purchases earn 1% cash back. This is a solid, flexible cash-back card, and it's especially lucrative for Preferred Rewards clients.
Pros
Get bonus cash back at grocery stores, wholesale clubs and a category of your choice (gas, dining, travel, drugstores, online shopping, or furniture and home-improvement stores). You can change your chosen 3% category once a month. Earn $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.. Get a bonus of 25% to 75% of the rewards you earn if you're a Preferred Rewards client. There's also a pretty good 0% intro APR period.
Cons
The card's quarterly cap on rewards isn't ideal for larger spenders, and bonus rewards top out at 3% if you aren't a Preferred Rewards client. Other cash-back cards offer as much as 5% on quarterly bonus categories.
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
No annual fee and no expiration on rewards.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our pick for
Simple cash back
on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 343-3246
on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 343-3246
$0
1.5%
Cashback
$200
The $0-annual-fee Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card earns a simple, straightforward rate on all purchases, and you can boost that rate even further if you're eligible for the Bank of America® Preferred Rewards program.
The $0-annual-fee Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card earns a simple, straightforward rate on all purchases, and you can boost that rate even further if you're eligible for the Bank of America® Preferred Rewards program.
Pros
The card earns an unlimited 1.5% back on all purchases, an uncomplicated rate that's in line with the industry standard. On top of that, it offers incentives, including a sign-up bonus and an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Cons
In recent years, a 1.5% rewards rate has become table stakes. You can find any number of cards with higher rewards rates.
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 1.87%-2.62% cash back on every purchase with Preferred Rewards.
No annual fee.
No limit to the amount of cash back you can earn and cash rewards don’t expire.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our pick for
Travel
on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 211-3740
on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 211-3740
$0
1.5x
Points
25,000
Points
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card earns an unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases, which is a decent rate among travel credit cards with no annual fee. It offers redemption flexibility by letting you book your travel on your own and then redeem your points for a statement credit. You can also redeem points for restaurant purchases. If you can take advantage of the Preferred Rewards program bonus or you travel infrequently and want to avoid an annual fee, this card is an excellent choice.
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card earns an unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases, which is a decent rate among travel credit cards with no annual fee. It offers redemption flexibility by letting you book your travel on your own and then redeem your points for a statement credit. You can also redeem points for restaurant purchases. If you can take advantage of the Preferred Rewards program bonus or you travel infrequently and want to avoid an annual fee, this card is an excellent choice.
Pros
Get a bonus of 25% to 75% of the rewards earned on every purchase if you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client. The card comes with a 0% APR period on purchases, and there's also a sign-up bonus: 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.. The annual fee is $0, and there's also no foreign transaction fee.
Cons
The card has a low sign-up bonus compared with some of the top travel cards on the market. Big spenders and frequent travelers may be better off with a card that offers bonus rewards for travel purchases, like the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card. Its $95 annual fee can be offset by up to $200 in statement credits for travel expenses, and it comes with this more substantial bonus: Receive 50,000 online bonus points - a $500 value - after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our pick for
Premium travel rewards
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
$95
1.5x-2x
Points
50,000
Points
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card gives you bonus rewards on travel and dining, like many cards in its class, but the rate it pays on "all other spending" is 50% higher than comparable cards offer. It comes with a bevy of travel perks that make it well worth the annual fee.
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card gives you bonus rewards on travel and dining, like many cards in its class, but the rate it pays on "all other spending" is 50% higher than comparable cards offer. It comes with a bevy of travel perks that make it well worth the annual fee.
Pros
Earn 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining and 1.5 points per dollar on everything else — a significant boost over the 1% base rate on typical cards. Points are worth the same whether you redeem them for travel or cash back. There are statement credits for airline incidentals and a TSA Precheck/Global Entry application fee and a rather good sign-up bonus: Receive 50,000 online bonus points - a $500 value - after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening..
Cons
Points can't be transferred to partner airline or hotel programs for potentially greater value, as is the case with several competing cards.
Receive 50,000 online bonus points - a $500 value - after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87-2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire.
Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
No foreign transaction fees.
Low $95 annual fee.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our pick for
Balance transfers
on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 322-7707
on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 322-7707
$0
No rewards
N/A
The BankAmericard® credit card is a good option if you need to consolidate and pay off high-interest credit card debt, thanks to its 0% intro APR period and $0 annual fee.
The BankAmericard® credit card is a good option if you need to consolidate and pay off high-interest credit card debt, thanks to its 0% intro APR period and $0 annual fee.
Pros
The card offers See Terms.
Cons
This card doesn't offer rewards, and there's little incentive to use it after you've paid off your balance. It charges a balance transfer fee of 3% of the transaction.
No annual fee.
No penalty APR. Paying late won't automatically raise your interest rate (APR). Other account pricing and terms apply.
Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our pick for
Small business
on Bank of America's website
on Bank of America's website
1.5x
Points
30,000
Points
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card is a solid choice for business owners who want travel rewards with no annual fee. There's a generous sign-up bonus, and because there are no foreign transaction fees, the card is ideal to accompany you around the world.
The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card is a solid choice for business owners who want travel rewards with no annual fee. There's a generous sign-up bonus, and because there are no foreign transaction fees, the card is ideal to accompany you around the world.
Pros
Start off with a nice bonus for a no-fee card: Earn 30,000 online bonus points after you make at least $3,000 in net purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit towards travel or dining purchases. Earn 3 points per dollar spent on rental car, hotel or airline purchases booked through the Bank of America® Travel Center. All other purchases earn unlimited 1.5 points for every dollar. There's also an introductory APR period if you've got a big purchase you need to spread out.
Cons
Other business travel cards come with annual fees, but they also offer larger sign-up bonuses or higher ongoing rewards.
Earn 30,000 online bonus points after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit towards travel or dining purchases.
Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, every time - no matter how much you spend.
No limit to the amount of points you can earn and points don't expire.
You can earn up to 75% more points on every purchase, if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for our highest Preferred Rewards for Business tier. That means you could earn up to an unlimited 2.62 points per $1 spent on all purchases.
No annual fee and no international transaction fees.
Choose how to redeem points - for a statement credit to offset travel and dining purchases, travel with no blackout dates at the Bank of America® Travel Center, for cash back or gift cards.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This offer may not be available if you leave this page or visit our website. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
BEST BANK OF AMERICA® CREDIT CARDS
Before applying, verify details on the issuer's website:
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Our pick for: Bonus category cash back
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card
Our pick for: Simple cash back
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Our pick for: Travel + no annual fee
One of the best no-annual-fee travel cards available, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card gives you a solid rewards rate on every purchase, with points that can be redeemed for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Bank of America® has an expansive definition of "travel," too, giving you additional flexibility in how you use your rewards. Read our review.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
Our pick for: Travel perks
Like some other travel cards at its price point, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card gives you bonus rewards on travel and dining. But you also earn a higher rate on "other" spending than many competing cards offer. There's a great sign-up bonus and some other good perks. And if you're a Bank of America® Preferred Rewards customer, your rewards get even better. Read our review.
BankAmericard® credit card
Our pick for: Balance transfers/intro 0% period
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Our pick for: Small business cash back
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Our pick for: Small business travel rewards
OTHER CARDS ISSUED BY BANK OF AMERICA®
TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card
STUDENT CREDIT CARDS
SECURED CREDIT CARDS
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured credit card
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card
BankAmericard® Secured credit card
PARTNER BRANDED CREDIT CARDS
Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature® credit card
BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Secured credit card
• • •
OTHER RESOURCES
By Jaime Hanson, NerdWallet
What credit score do you need to get a Bank of America® credit card?
Standard credit cards from Bank of America® generally require good to excellent credit, often defined as a credit score of 690 or above. But credit scores are just one factor considered in credit card applications; others may include your income, credit utilization, other debts, the available credit you already have, and major recurring expenses such as your rent or mortgage.
For applicants who are building or rebuilding credit, Bank of America® offers a number of secured credit cards, which are easier to qualify for but require a cash security deposit. After establishing a history of on-time payments, secured cardholders may get their deposit back and upgrade to an unsecured version.
What are the benefits of Bank of America® credit cards?
Bank of America® credit cards come with a range of benefits, including fraud protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty benefits. All cardholders have free monthly access to their FICO credit score through TransUnion. Cash back rewards and travel points are easy to redeem, and many of the cards include attractive 0% introductory APR offers.
When using credit cards that earn travel points, such as the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, cardholders enjoy additional travel-specific benefits like trip delay and cancellation insurance, coverage for delayed baggage, rental car coverage and a pay-per-use roadside dispatch program.
All Bank of America credit cardholders have access to the bank’s unique Museums on Us program, which offers monthly free admission to certain museums in cities across the country.
What are the interest rates on Bank of America® credit cards?
Interest rates on Bank of America® credit cards vary widely. Many cards advertise a range of rates; the exact rate that will apply to your account depends on the card and your credit history. In general with credit cards, the better your credit, the more likely you'll qualify for a rate at the lower end of a range.
Several Bank of America® credit cards offer generous 0% introductory APR periods for new cardholders, which allow you to finance a big purchase or transfer and pay down debt without interest. Those include:
BankAmericard® credit card: See Terms.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: See Terms.
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card: See Terms.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: See Terms.
What credit limit can I get with a Bank of America® credit card?
Like most credit card issuers, Bank of America® doesn’t make any promises about credit limits prior to application. That’s because the credit limit you get depends on your credit scores, income, assets, existing debt and other factors.
Status in the Bank of America® Preferred Rewards program may also affect an applicant’s available credit limit, as this program requires maintaining a significant minimum balance in Bank of America® accounts (including Merrill-branded investment accounts).
For applicants with bad credit or a limited credit history, Bank of America® secured credit cards require a security deposit of at least $200. The amount you deposit will usually determine your initial credit limit. Deposit $300, get a $300 limit; deposit $750, get a $750 limit; and so on.
Do Bank of America® credit cards have good rewards?
For most cardholders, rewards rates on Bank of America® credit cards are in line with industry standards. Those who qualify for the bank’s Preferred Rewards program, by having $20,000 or more in associated deposit and investment accounts, earn the most value.
Bank of America® travel rewards points can’t be transferred to airline and hotel partners. So while they're easy to redeem within the Bank of America® system, they're less flexible — and therefore may not be as valuable, point-for-point — as rewards from issuers that offer such transfers.
What is the Bank of America® Preferred Rewards program?
The Preferred Rewards program offers bonus credit card rewards to cardholders who bank and invest significantly with Bank of America® or its investment subsidiary, Merrill.
To qualify for Preferred Rewards, you’ll need a Bank of America® personal checking account, plus $20,000 or more in qualifying Bank of America® accounts, including eligible Merrill investment accounts. The rewards bonus depends on your Preferred Rewards tier, which is determined by your combined balance.
Here’s how those rewards tiers break down:
Program tier | Required balance | Relationship bonus |
|---|---|---|
Gold | $20,000 to $49,999 | 25% |
Platinum | $50,000 to $99,999 | 50% |
Platinum Honors | $100,000 to $999,999 | 75% |
Diamond | $1,000,000 to $9,999,999 | 75% |
Diamond Honors | $10 million or more | 75% |
Here's how the bonuses work. Say you have the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, which offers cash back rewards of 1%, 2% and 3%, depending on the category:
If you have Gold status, you get a 25% boost in your rewards rates, so your card earns cash back of 1.25%, 2.5% and 3.75%, depending on category.
If you have Platinum status, the 50% boost in rewards rates means your card earns cash back of 1.5%, 3% and 4.5%.
With Platinum Honors status and above, you get a 75% boost, so your cash back rates are an eye-popping 1.75%, 3.5% and 5.25%.
How do I redeem my Bank of America® credit card rewards?
The simplest way to redeem your Bank of America® credit card rewards is through the bank’s online portal or in the Bank of America® mobile app. You can also redeem rewards over the phone by calling customer service at 800-434-8313.
Cash back cardholders with a minimum of $25 earned can redeem those rewards as a statement credit, through direct deposit to a Bank of America® account (including Merrill-branded investments accounts), or by check.
Unlike some credit card issuers, Bank of America® doesn't allow you to transfer travel points to airline or hotel partners. Instead, travel points are redeemed by statement credit at a value of 1 cent per point, and can be applied to any travel related purchases made within the past 12 months.
Can you combine points on Bank of America® credit cards?
You can consolidate points on Bank of America® credit cards that earn travel points, but you can’t mix rewards between points and cash back cards.
For example, if you have points earned on the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, those points can be combined or applied as a statement credit on either card. However, travel points from the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card can’t be consolidated with cash rewards earned through, say, the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card.
Last updated on March 31, 2023
Methodology
Frequently asked questions
Bank of America® does not set a specific limit on the number of its credit cards any individual can obtain. That said, your application for each card will be evaluated separately, and you’ll have to demonstrate the necessary credit history and other qualifications for each.
No, you are not required to be a banking customer of Bank of America® to qualify for any of the company’s credit cards. However, banking and investment customers who qualify for the Preferred Rewards program earn rewards at a higher rate.
As long as your account remains open and in good standing, Bank of America® credit card rewards won't expire. This applies to both cash back rewards and travel points. However, if you want to apply travel points as a statement credit on travel and dining purchases, you must initiate that redemption within 12 months of the date of purchase.
Most Bank of America® credit cards don’t charge an annual fee. There are a few exceptions, including the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, which charges an annual fee of $95, and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite, which had an annual fee of $550 as of February 2023.
Bank of America® credit cards that earn travel rewards, such as the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, don’t charge a foreign transaction fee. Other Bank of America® credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee of 3%.
You can activate your new Bank of America® credit card online or by phone at 800-276-9939.
To activate your card online, you’ll need to first be enrolled in Bank of America® online banking. If you choose to activate your card by phone, be prepared to provide account details such as your credit card number and expiration date along with personal information like your Social Security number.and ZIP code.
With either method, you’ll be able to use your new card for purchases immediately after activation.
You can cancel your Bank of America® credit card in person at any Bank of America® branch, or by calling Bank of America® customer service at 800-732-9194. Either way, you’ll need to provide your account number and Social Security number to cancel the account.
Before you cancel any credit card, though, keep in mind that doing so could hurt your credit score, especially if it’s an older account.
If you’ve submitted a Bank of America® credit card application and are waiting for approval, you can check on the status of your application online or by calling customer service at 866-422-8089.
To obtain your application status, you’ll need to provide basic personal information, including your date of birth, ZIP code, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
You can pay your credit card bill through the Bank of America® website, through the bank’s mobile app, by phone, by mail or in-person at a Bank of America® branch or ATM.
On the Bank of America® website, log in to your online account, then select the Bill Pay tab and follow the prompts.
To pay using your mobile device, log into the Bank of America® app, then select the "Make a Payment" button.
To pay by phone with no payment fee, call 800-236-6497.
