Bank of America’s credit cards have everything from rewards to a means of rebuilding credit.
Bank of America credit cards offer a range of rewards and features including cash rewards, charitable donation opportunities, no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees. Cards intended to help cardholders build or rebuild credit and those for students also make for more accessible options. And because Bank of America is partnered with Visa and Mastercard, its cards are accepted worldwide.
Compare Bank of America Credit Cards
Using the table below, you can sort cards by their name, intro APR offers for balance transfers or purchases, annual fee or minimum credit score. You can also compare up to four cards side by side. Simply click Compare beneath the image of the cards you’d like to see, then click the orange Compare button that appears to the right of your selections. Investigate any cards you’d like to know more about by selecting Read review.
Best Bank of America credit cards
Get a detailed look at what we love and what to watch out for when it comes to our top Bank of America credit card picks.
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Best card for cashback rewards: Bank of America® Cash Rewards
Everyday rewards are the staple of the Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card. Its $0 annual fee makes it a great choice for those who are worried about getting the most out of their rewards card.
Earn 3% cash back on US gas purchases and 2% at US grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter — and then 1% after. All other purchases earn you a consistent 1% cash back.
The perks
- Signup bonus. Make at least $500 in purchases within 90 days of opening your account and you’ll earn a $150 bonus cash reward.
- No annual fee. Get cash back without feeling obligated to use the card a certain amount by paying an annual fee of $0.
- Intro APR. Enjoy a 0% APR for 12 billing cycles on purchases. This rate also applies to any balance transfers made within 60 days of opening your account. The APR reverts to the standard rate of 14.74% to 24.74% after the promotional period is up. You’ll also still be subject to the balance transfer fee of 3% of the transfer or $10, whichever is greater.
What to watch out for
- Quarterly limits. Gas, grocery store and wholesale club purchases only receive their respective bonus rates for combined purchases of up to $2,500 each quarter. Any purchases after you reach that limit will only receive 1% cash back.
Best card for travel rewards: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
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 per dollar spent, and an additional 1.5 points — for a total of 3 — on non-insurance purchases made through the Bank of America Travel Center.
You can earn 20,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. That shakes out to a $200 statement credit towards travel purchases. To top it off, even with the bonus there are no limits to the amount of points you can earn.
The perks
- Intro APR. All purchases receive a 0% APR for the first 12 billing cycles after you open your card. A variable 16.49% to 24.49% APR applies once the intro period is over.
- Signup bonus. Get 20,000 bonus points by spending at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. Paired with the intro APR, this can be quite the deal.
- No annual fee. A $0 annual fee makes this card great for those who would otherwise worry about getting a minimum amount of rewards to make up for the cost of the card.
- 0% foreign transaction fees. Use the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card abroad without paying additional fees.
What to watch out for
- No grace period on balance transfers or cash advances. Purchases paid off within at least 25 days after the close of a billing cycle don’t accrue interest. Unfortunately, interest starts accruing immediately on all cash advances and balance transfers.
Best card for airline rewards: Alaska Airlines Visa®
Alaska Airlines wins out with annual companion fares that start at $121, 30,000 bonus miles, free bag checks for you and up to six other people, unlimited miles and no foreign transaction fees. You’ll earn 3 miles for every dollar spent on purchases with Alaska Airlines and Virgin America, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
The perks
- Bonus miles. When you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days of opening your account, you’ll earn 30,000 bonus miles.
- Companion fare bonus. If you’re shooting for the bonus miles, you could also receive a special version of Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™. Spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of opening your account and you can earn a code that allows you to buy a round-trip ticket for yourself purchase a second ticket for just the cost of taxes and fees.
- Multiple redemption options. Redeem your miles for more than just Alaska Airlines and Virgin America tickets. You can also use your miles towards airfare purchases with Air France, American Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Qantas and Japan Airlines.
- Free bag check. Check your bag for free and up to six members of your party can do the same when they’re included on your reservation.
What to watch out for
- Annual fee. An annual fee of $75 is required to keep an Alaska Airlines Visa® account open.
- No intro APR. You won’t get an introductory APR on purchases, cash advances or balance transfers..
Best card for students: BankAmericard® for Students
Students can potentially benefit big from the intro APR, low annual fee and intro balance transfer fee. The card doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but it’s likely a solid choice for students who are just starting out or need to move an existing balance to cut interest.
The perks
- Low APR. This card has Bank of America’s lowest standard APR of 14.49% to 24.49%.
- Intro APR. Benefit from 0% APR for 15 billing cycles on balance transfers made within 60 days of your account and purchases. Your rate will revert to a variable APR of 14.49% to 24.49% after the intro period ends.
- Intro balance transfer fee. Balance transfers made within 60 days of opening your account also benefit from a $0 balance transfer fee — after 60 days any balance transfers made will incur a fee of 3% of each transfer or $10, whichever is greater.
- No annual fee. Pay $0 in annual fees to keep the card open.
What to watch out for
- No welcome bonus. Opening the card comes with introductory periods, but no bonuses in terms of statement credits.
- No rewards. BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students is a very bare-bones card that doesn’t come with cashback rewards or non-standard features.
Best card for building credit: BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card
Building and rebuilding credit isn’t easy. The BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card offers a starting point for non-students with a variable APR of 21.74%. It’s a fairly basic card that doesn’t offer much in the way of additional features, but it does come with the ability to potentially get your deposit returned.
A minimum deposit of at least $300 is required, but 12 months of responsible use may get that security deposit returned. You’ll want to mind when bills are due though, as fees of up to $38 may apply to late payments.
The perks
- Deposit return. BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card accounts are reviewed periodically, and you may qualify to have your deposit returned if your overall credit history has approved to Bank of America’s satisfaction.
- Grace period. Paying off your balance before it’s due each month will help you avoid paying interest. Generally your due date will be at least 25 days after the close of your billing cycle.
- Opportunity to upgrade. Your account may be upgraded automatically after a periodic review by Bank of America.
- No penalty APR. You pay still pay a fee of up to $38 for a late payment, but you won’t face an increased APR.
What to watch out for
- Annual fee. The BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card comes with a $39 annual fee.
- High minimum deposit. It takes a $300 minimum deposit to open this card, which is higher than comparable cards from other providers.
- High APR. A variable APR of 21.74% applies to all purchases and balance transfers.
Best card for balance transfers: BankAmericard® Credit Card
Though it’s a pretty slim card, the BankAmericard® Credit Card is a great option for balance transfers. You’ll get a 0% APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles, and the same for balance transfers made within 60 days of opening your account. A variable APR of 14.49% to 24.49% applies after the intro period is up.
The perks
- Intro APR. Balance transfers made within 60 days of opening your account and purchases have a 0% APR. After the intro period, a variable APR of 14.49% to 24.49% applies.
- Intro balance transfer fee. A $0 balance transfer fee applies to balance transfers made within 60 days of your account opening. After the period is up, any additional transfers will attract a fee of 3% per transaction or $10, whichever is greater.
- No penalty APR. Late payments won’t result in a penalty APR being levied against your account. Fees may be assessed, but you’ll be spared a potentially permanent higher APR.
- No annual fee. Annual fees will cost you $0.
What to watch out for
- No additional rewards. The BankAmericard® Credit Card doesn’t provide cashback rewards or airmiles.
Best card for small businesses: Platinum Visa® Business Card
Low intro and standard APRs, a $0 annual fee and a reasonably easy to obtain signup bonus make the Platinum Visa® Business Card a well-balanced card for small businesses. While you won’t get cashback rewards, its 10.74% to 21.74% variable APR makes for potential savings when it comes to interest charges.
The perks
- Signup bonus. Spend at least $500 within 60 days of opening your account and you’ll receive a $200 statement credit.
- Low intro APR. Purchases will accrue 0% interest for the first 7 billing cycles after opening your account. Once the promo period is up you’ll pay a variable 10.74% to 21.74% APR.
- Travel services. Get up to $100,000 in travel accident insurance and auto insurance, emergency ticket replacement, lost-luggage assistance and more.
- No cost for additional cards. Ordering additional cards for your employees won’t cost extra.
What to watch out for
- Foreign transaction fees. Using your card abroad attracts a fee of 3% of the US dollar amount per transaction, which can add up quickly when you’re making regular purchases.
- Cash advance APR. Relative to the standard APR, the cash advance APR is rather high at a variable 25.74%.
Bank of America rewards programs
Points and miles are available depending on the card you sign up for. Several cards have points and miles systems specific to the partner of the card’s brand. Spirit has Free Spirit™ miles, Amtrak has Amtrak Guest Rewards® points, Norwegian Cruise Line has WorldPoints® reward points and so on.
How can you redeem points and miles?
Many brand-partnered cards have 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.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Program points can be redeemed at the Travel Center through the Bank of America Website.
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Program points can also be redeemed as a statement credit, or be deposited into a Bank of America checking or savings account or an eligible Cash Management Account® with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management® or Merrill Edge®.
Typical card benefits and features of a Bank of America credit card?
Bank of America has a wide selection of cards that are partnered with different brands, basic credit cards, cashback and travel cards, student and small business credit cards. Depending on your financial needs, you may be able to find a great card with an even better deal — like a $200 signup bonus. Several cards also come with additional features, such as:
- Online shopping security. Use the ShopSafe® service when shopping online to generate a temporary credit card number that links to your actual credit card account. You don’t have to register for the service, just sign in to your online banking account and choose Use ShopSafe.
- Protection against fraud. Stay safe with Bank of America’s $0 Liability Guarantee. Any fraudulent charges made to your account are covered. Claims may be subject to dollar limits.
- Overdraft protection. You may choose to link your eligible Bank of America checking account to your credit card to prevent declined purchases and overdrafts. Fees may apply.
- Updated FICO® Score access. Every month that your account is open and in good standing you’ll get a free up to date look at your credit score.
- Museums on Us®. Several museums across the US offer free access on the first full weekend of every month when you show your Bank of America credit card.
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old, or at least 21 years old if a permanent resident of Puerto Rico
- Applicants must have a valid Social Security number
- Full name and date of birth
- Street address and phone number
- Valid email address
- Employment status
- Total annual income
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Preferred Rewards program
Enrolling in the Preferred Rewards program allows access to 25% or more rewards. Qualifying Bank of America deposit accounts and Merrill Edge and Merrill Lynch investment accounts will also receive more benefits with enrollment in the program.
Each tier of the program has increasing rewards, with a sliding scale of Gold, Platinum and Platinum Honors, each with their own set of qualification parameters.
How to apply for a credit card with Bank of America
Visit the Bank of America website to apply for a credit card. Be sure to check the minimum eligibility requirements for the card you want before you apply, and have the proper documentation ready.
Eligibility criteria:
Required documents:
Always consider your options and your financial situation before you apply for a credit card.
How does Bank of America keep my credit card information secure?
Strict privacy and information security rules are in place for all Bank of America employees and partners to keep your information secure. A global information security team also monitors activity 24/7 for potential threats.
Bank of America also has a $0 Liability Guarantee that covers any fraudulent transactions made using your credit cards. All you have to do is report the transactions and provide any additional details requested.
Marketing materials can be a hassle, but you can control at least some of what’s sent to you and what’s shared. Through the Bank of America website, you can choose whether your creditworthiness is shared with affiliates for business purposes, and whether nonaffiliates can market to you for any Bank of America credit card accounts or those that are endorsed by another organization.
Bottom line
Bank of America has a moderate selection of basic, rewards, travel, student and secure credit cards. However, it also offers a long list of co-branded credit cards that have various rewards programs and bonuses that may suit you. Take a look at other providers or compare Bank of America’s current cards to get a good idea of what’s available.
