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Bank of America credit cards: Which one is best?

Check out our favorite credit cards from this underappreciated issuer and read unbiased reviews.

Compare Bank of America credit cards

Use our table below to sort some BofA cards by name, intro APR, annual fee or minimum credit score. Check the Compare box under up to four cards you're interested in. Then click the Compare button to see a side-by-side comparison of fees, requirements and features.

1 - 7 of 8
Name Product Filter values Rewards Purchase APR Annual fee
BankAmericard® Credit Card
BankAmericard® Credit Card
None
0% intro for the first 21 billing cycles (then 15.99% to 25.99% variable)
$0
Enjoy a 0% intro balance transfer APR for the first 21 billing cycles, then variable.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
From 1.5x points
19.99% to 26.99% variable
$95
Earn 2x points on travel and dining and x points on all other purchases.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
From 1.5x points
0% intro for the first 18 billing cycles (then 18.24% to 28.24% variable)
$0
Earn 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days from account opening.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured
Up to 3% cash back
28.24% variable
$0
Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases (on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter).
BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card
BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card
None
25.74% variable
$0
Helps establish, strengthen and even rebuild your credit.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students
From 1% cash back
0% intro for the first 18 billing cycles (then 17.99% to 27.99% variable)
$0
Earn $200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days from account opening.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students
Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students
Up to 1.5x points
0% intro for the first 18 billing cycles (then 18.24% to 28.24% variable)
$0
Earn 25,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. This can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
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The best Bank of America credit cards

The best Bank of America credit cards generate value while fulfilling a specific role needed in your wallet, such as balance transfers or travel perks. Finder’s experts looked at all of Bank of America’s available credit cards and compared them based on a number of factors such as reward categories, earning rates, intro APR opportunities and additional perks and features.

We ranked the top performers to give you an idea of what your best pick is for your circumstance. Our trustworthy, unbiased evaluations are solely meant to help you choose the best credit card for your financial needs.

Quick look at the best Bank of America credit cards

Best card for cashback rewards

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Everyday rewards are a staple of the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards. Earn 3% cash back on purchases in a chosen category and 2% at US grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter, reverting to 1% after. All other purchases earn you a consistent 1% cash back.

Best card for travel rewards

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

3.2
★★★★★

Finder score

A simple points structure, no annual fee, an intro APR offer and a hefty signup bonus make the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card our top pick for travel rewards. You'll get 1.5 points for each dollar spent.

Best card for airline rewards

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card

Alaska Airlines wins out with annual companion fares that start at $121, not to mention 40,000 bonus miles, free bag checks for you and up to six others, unlimited miles and no foreign transaction fees. You'll earn 3x miles on purchases with Alaska Airlines and Virgin America and 1x miles on all other purchases.

Best card for building credit

BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card

4.2
★★★★★

Finder score

The BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card offers a starting point for those looking to build or rebuild their credit. You put down a minimum deposit of at least $300, with the possibility of seeing that deposit returned after 12 months of responsible spending.

Best card for small businesses

Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Mastercard® Business card

3
★★★★★

Finder score

Low intro and standard APRs, a $0 annual fee and a signup bonus that's easy to attain make the Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Mastercard® Business card a well-balanced card for small businesses. While you won't get cashback rewards, its lower-than-average APR makes for potential savings when it comes to interest charges.

Best card for students

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students is the student version of the Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card. This means you get to earn the same cashback rate, the same signup bonus and use a long 0% intro APR period.

How to apply for a credit card with Bank of America

Easily apply for a Bank of America credit card through its website. Your application will require these steps:

  1. Go to the Bank of America homepage.
  2. At the top menu bar, select Credit cards.
  3. From the drop-down menu, you can select your desired category or choose Shop all credit cards to view all available cards.
  4. Review the cards to find the one you want and hit Apply now.
  5. Fill out your personal information, including any card option preferences — such as if you’re performing a balance transfer — and select Save and continue to complete the application.

Or, use the Bank of America prequalification tool to see which cards you’re more likely to obtain.

Eligibility criteria
  • You must be at least 18 years old — or at least 21, if a permanent resident of Puerto Rico.
  • You must have a valid Social Security number.
Required documents
  • Full name and contact information
  • Phone number and email address
  • Social Security number and date of birth
  • Employment status
  • Total annual income

Types of Bank of America Credit Cards

Bank of America offers a robust selection of credit cards, though it is best known for having strong rewards cards that aren’t attached to a rewards program. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards is the best example of this, as it earns solid rewards on your chosen categories.

What Bank of America credit cards have no annual fee?

There are more than a dozen Bank of America credit cards with no annual fee, which is a rather substantial portion of Bank of America’s card lineup. Outside of the bank’s cobranded travel cards, only the Bank of America Premium Rewards card has an annual fee. That means you have a healthy selection of no-annual-fee cashback, travel and student cards to choose from.

Will I earn more rewards if I pay an annual fee?

Generally speaking, yes. But you’re most likely to see this difference on specific travel cards. For example, with the $95 annual fee Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card, you get to earn 1.5x points on travel and dining purchases compared to the 1.5x points you’d earn on the $0 annual fee Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card. This annual fee also lets you earn a higher signup bonus and additional travel perks, like $200 in combined travel credit and TSA PreCheck and Global Entry application fee credit.

Here’s a small breakdown of the reward and feature differences between the two cards.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit CardBank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
Annual fee$0$95
Points1.5x points on all purchases
  • 2x points on travel and dining
  • x points on all purchases
Signup bonus25,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
Other perksN/A
  • Up to $100 annual airline incidental credit
  • Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Points earned with monthly spending of $1,000 on travel and dining and $1,000 on all other purchases36,000 points annually42,000 points annually
Total points for the first year if you clear the signup bonus61,000 points (around $610 value when redeemed for travel)92,000 points (around $920 value when redeemed for travel)

What are the standout benefits of a Bank of America credit card?

  • No annual fee cards. Bank of America’s biggest claim to fame is the sheer number of strong cards they offer that possess no annual fee.
  • Museums on Us®. Show your Bank of America credit card to get a free museum entry at eligible museums across the US on the first full weekend of every month.
  • Choose your accelerated rewards. The Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card allows you to choose your highest earning categories from a preselected list. This is one of just a handful of rewards cards that let you do so.
  • Affinity cards. Bank of America has a few cards that let you personalize your card design from a variety of designs.

Bank of America reward programs

Depending on the card you sign up for, you might earn Bank of America points and miles on your spending. Plus, all Bank of America credit and debit cardholders get access to BankAmeriDeals offering cash back based on your spending habits in various categories.

Spirit has Free Spirit™ miles, Amtrak has Amtrak Guest Rewards® points, Norwegian Cruise Line has WorldPoints® reward points and so on.

How can I redeem points and miles?

Many brand-partnered cards earn points and miles that must be redeemed on the partner’s website. Follow the instructions provided by Bank of America when you’re ready to redeem points and miles from a brand-partnered card.

Redeem your Bank of America® Travel Rewards Program points at the Travel Center through BofA’s site.

Also, redeem Bank of America® Cash Rewards Program points toward statement credit, or deposit points into a Bank of America checking or savings account or an eligible Cash Management Account® with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management® or Merrill Edge®. Deposit or redeem these points through your account page on the Bank of America site.

Preferred Rewards program

Enrolling in the Preferred Rewards program gives you access to bonus rewards of up to 25%. Qualifying Bank of America deposit accounts and Merrill Edge and Merrill Lynch investment accounts receive even more benefits with enrollment in the program.

Each tier of the program offers increasing rewards, with a sliding scale of Gold, Platinum and Platinum Honors, each with its own set of qualification parameters.

Typical features of a Bank of America student credit card

Each of the three Bank of America student credit cards come with its own perks and features. But some of the features are shared by all three cards. This includes:

  • No annual fee.
    You can save money and enjoy the cards’ perks without paying an annual fee.
  • Build your credit.
    Pay off your balance before the due date and use your card responsibly to build your credit score.
  • FICO score access.
    Monitor your credit-building progress with access to your FICO score either online or through the Bank of America mobile app.

What are the benefits of a balance transfer with Bank of America?

Among the major providers, Bank of America is often overlooked for balance transfers. However, it offers a few advantages:

  • No annual fee for any balance transfer card.
    This can help you pay less for your balance transfer.
  • Most balance transfer cards have rewards.
    Bank of America has several cards with balance transfer intro APRs, and the same rewards structure as the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards. A notable exception is the BankAmericard® Credit Card, which offers a strong intro APR but no rewards.
  • No balance transfer fee offer.
    With the BankAmericard® Credit Card, you’ll pay $0 in balance transfer fees for the first 60 days your account is open (after that, $10 or 3% of each transaction, whichever is greater). Relatively few cards waive balance transfer fees, so give Bank of America a closer look if you want a lower-cost transfer.

Full list of Bank of America credit card reviews

Personal

  • Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
  • Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards

Business

  • Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Mastercard® Business card
  • Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
  • Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

Cobranded

  • Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Credit Card

Bank of America credit cards alternatives

Bank of America’s strong but modest selection of credit cards can make for a great “gap-filler” card for a financial need you don’t have covered. But if you’re looking to dive into a rewards ecosystem, you can check out American Express, Chase or Capital One.

Take a look at other providers or compare Bank of America’s current cards to get a clear picture of what’s available.

Frequently asked questions

How does Bank of America keep my information secure?
Bank of America employs the standard security measures used by most banks, including EMV chip technology, $0 liability guarantee and SSL security for their site.

Can I use Text Banking with my Bank of America card?
Yes. Access your checking, savings, and credit card accounts by texting 692632. Before you can use Text Banking, you’ll need to enroll through Online Banking or by phone.

What is the minimum number of points I need before redeeming Bank of America points?
You must accumulate at least 2,500 to redeem points. Check your balance under the Rewards tab through the Online Banking portal.

Can I cancel my Bank of America credit card without calling?
No. Here are all of the ways to cancel your card.

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    BrriFebruary 14, 2019

    Hi my daughter is 17 and she is planning on moving out right on her 18th birthday but she wants to start off her credit . Is it possible for her to get a credit card but with a co-signer ?

      AvatarFinder
      johnbasanesFebruary 15, 2019Finder

      Hi Brri,

      Thank you for reaching out to finder.

      Though only a handful of banks allow credit card applications with a co-signer like Bank of America, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo, your daughter could apply for her own card once she reaches 18 years of age. On the other hand, she could also try qualifying for an Unsecured Credit Card or become an Authorized User. Hope this helps!

      Cheers,
      Reggie

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