There are key differences between the two cards, including annual fees and rewards.
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card and PenFed Pathfinder Rewards American Express® Card are both great travel cards. Pick the former if you want a larger signup bonus and elevated rewards on dining. Choose the latter if you want better travel rewards, an intro APR on balance transfers and no annual fee.
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Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
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PenFed Pathfinder Rewards American Express® Card
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★★★★★ 4.3 / 5.0 |
★★★★★ 4.4 / 5.0 |
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Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening
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Earn 25,000 bonus points when you spend $2,500 in the first 90 days from account opening. |
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Earn 2x points on travel and dining and 1.5x points on all other purchases |
Earn 3x points on travel — or 4x points if you’re a PenFed Honors Advantage member — and 1.5x points on all other purchases |
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18.24% to 25.24% variable |
12.99% to 17.99% variable |
| $95 | $0 |
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APR: 18.24% to 25.24% variable
Fee: $10 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months, then 12.99% to 17.99% variable Fee: 3% of the transaction |
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APR: 21.24% to 27.24% variable Fee: $10 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
APR: 12.99% to 17.99% variable Fee: $5 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
| $38 | $25 |
| $0 | $0 |
| 25 days | 25 days |
| $1.50 | $0 |
| 670 | 670 |
| Credit | Credit |
| Rates & Fees | Rates & Fees |
Which card should you choose?
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
- 50,000-point signup bonus
- 2x points on travel and dining
- Up to $200 in travel statement credit
PenFed’s card offers better rewards on travel, but Bank of America’s product has elevated rewards for dining and a much stronger signup bonus. The card has a $95 annual fee, while its competitor doesn’t.
PenFed Pathfinder Rewards American Express® Card
- 25,000-point welcome offer
- Up to 3x points on travel
- Intro APR on balance transfers
PenFed’s travel card is a powerful product. You’ll receive 4x points on travel if you’re a PenFed Honors Advantage member, a rate that handily beats what Bank of America’s card offers. Though it has a much weaker welcome offer than its competitor, the PenFed Pathfinder Rewards American Express® Card offers similar travel credits. It also offers a $0 annual fee and an intro APR on balance transfers, which Bank of America’s product doesn’t have.
What’s next?
There’s a lot to compare between these two cards. You might want to start with the annual fee, then consider the rewards you’ll earn. Also, look at each card’s signup bonus and whether you want an intro APR on balance transfers.
Not sure about either product? There are many other excellent travel cards to choose from that you can compare today.
