Bank of America credit cards: Which one is best?

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

• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards: Best card for cashback rewards
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: Best card for travel rewards
• Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card: Best card for airline rewards
• BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card: Best card for building credit
• Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Mastercard® Business card: Best card for small businesses
• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students: Best card for students

Best card for cashback rewards

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards

Finder score: 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

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.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Signup bonus. Make at least $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of opening your account to earn a $200 bonus cash reward.
  • No annual fee. Get cash back without the weight of making up for an annual fee.
  • Intro APR. Enjoy a 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 billing cycles. The APR reverts to a standard 18.24% to 28.24% variable after the promotional period is up.

  Cons

  • Foreign transaction fees. Avoid using the card abroad or online with foreign merchants or you'll pay a 3% fee of the amount.
  • Balance transfer limitations. Transfer your balance within the first 60 days when you open your account or you won't get the 0% intro APR period on balance transfers.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 18 billing cycles (then 18.24% to 28.24% variable)
  Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 18 billing cycles (then 18.24% to 28.24% variable)
  Welcome Offer	$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
  Rewards	From 1% cash back

Welcome Offer	$200
Rewards	From 1% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	670

Best card for travel rewards

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

Finder score: 3.2 / 5 ★★★★★

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.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Intro APR period on purchases. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 18 billing cycles your account is open. A variable 18.24% to 28.24% APR applies after the intro period expires.
  • Signup bonus. Get 25,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days your account is open. Paired with the intro APR, this is quite the deal.
  • 0% foreign transaction fee. Use the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card abroad without paying additional fees on your purchases.

  Cons

  • No intro APR period on balance transfers. You won't be able to save money on interest if you make a balance transfer with this card.
  • Penalty APR. If you miss a payment, Bank of America may impose a penalty APR of up to 29.99% variable.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 18 billing cycles (then 18.24% to 28.24% variable)
  Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 18 billing cycles (then 18.24% to 28.24% variable)
  Welcome Offer	25,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
  Estimated welcome offer value	$250 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	From 1.5x points

Welcome Offer	25,000 points
Rewards	From 1.5x points
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	670

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.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Bonus miles. Earn 40,000 bonus miles when you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days your account is open.
  • Companion fare bonus. If you're shooting for bonus miles, you might land a special version of Alaska's Famous Companion Fare. Spend $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days your account is open to earn a code that allows you to buy a second ticket on your round-trip itinerary for just the cost of taxes and fees.
  • Multiple redemption options. Redeem your miles for more than just Alaska Airlines and Virgin America tickets. Use them toward airfare purchases with Air France, American Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Qantas and Japan Airlines.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. The card comes with a $50 annual fee.
  • No intro APR period. You don't get a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases.

• More details

  Annual fee	$50
  Purchase APR	19.99% to 27.99% variable
  Balance transfer APR	19.99% to 27.99% variable
  Welcome Offer	40,000 miles and companion pass after spending $2,000 in the first 90 days
  Rewards	From 1x miles

Welcome Offer	40,000 miles
Rewards	From 1x miles
Annual fee	$50
Minimum credit score	670

Best card for building credit

BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card

Finder score: 4.2 / 5 ★★★★★

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.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • A return of your deposit. The bank reviews BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card accounts periodically, and you might qualify for a deposit return if your overall credit history improves to BofA's satisfaction.
  • Grace period. Pay off your balance before it's due each month to avoid paying interest. Generally your due date is at least 25 days after the close of your billing cycle.
  • Opportunity to upgrade. You just might graduate to an unsecured card after a periodic review by Bank of America.

  Cons

  • No rewards program. You won't earn any rewards on your purchases.
  • No intro APR period. You won't have any grace period to not pay interest on purchases.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	25.74% variable
  Balance transfer APR	25.74% variable
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	None

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	None
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	300

Best card for small businesses

Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Mastercard® Business card

Finder score: 3 / 5 ★★★★★

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.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Signup bonus. Spend at least $3,000 on purchases within 90 days of opening your account to get a $300 online statement credit.
  • No cost for additional cards. Adding employee cards to your account costs nothing more.

  Cons

  • No rewards program. You won't earn any rewards on your purchases.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 7 billing cycles (then 16.49% to 27.49% variable)
  Balance transfer APR	16.49% to 27.49% variable
  Welcome Offer	$300 online statement credit after making at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
  Rewards	None

Welcome Offer	$300
Rewards	None
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	740

Best card for students

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students

Finder score: 4.4 / 5 ★★★★★

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.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Signup bonus. Earn a $200 online cash bonus after you spend $1,000 in your first 90 days when you open your account.
  • Cash back. Earn 1% cash back on a category you choose, such as online shopping, dining, gas, drug stores, travel or home improvements. You'll also earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. You're capped on up to $2,500 in combined purchases in both 1% and 2% cashback categories. After that, your rate reverts to 1% cash back, which is the rate you earn on all other purchases.
  • Intro APR period. Get 18 billing cycles of 0% intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases. A variable APR of 17.99% to 27.99% applies thereafter.

  Cons

  • Foreign transaction fees. Every transaction made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 3% of the amount.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 18 billing cycles (then 17.99% to 27.99% variable)
  Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 18 billing cycles (then 17.99% to 27.99% variable)
  Welcome Offer	$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
  Rewards	From 1% cash back

Welcome Offer	$200
Rewards	From 1% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	580

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.

Compare Bank of America credit cards by card type

• Balance transfer cards

• No foreign transaction fees
• Credit cards with travel insurance

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 Card	Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
Annual fee	$0	$95
Points	1.5x points on all purchases	2x points on travel and dining x points on all purchases
Signup bonus	25,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days	50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
Other perks	N/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 purchases	36,000 points annually	42,000 points annually
Total points for the first year if you clear the signup bonus	61,000 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.

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

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.