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Compare Bank of America credit cards
These cards offer everything from rewards to a way to rebuild credit.
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Bank of America’s suite of credit cards offers a range of cash rewards, charitable donation opportunities, no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees. Even students and those looking to build or rebuild their credit are bound to find an option that fits their needs. And because Bank of America partners with Visa and Mastercard, its cards are accepted worldwide.
What's in this guide?
Best Bank of America credit cards
Bank of America’s cards fall into several categories that meet specific needs. Here’s what we like and what to watch out for when it comes to our top picks.
Best card for cashback rewards: Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card
Everyday rewards are a staple of the Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card. Its $0 annual fee makes it easy to get the most out of your rewards card.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.
The perks
- 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 15 statement closing dates. This rate extends to balance transfers made within the first 60 days your account is open. The APR reverts to a standard 15.49% to 25.49% variable after the promotional period is up. You’ll also pay a balance transfer fee equal to $10 or 3%, whichever is greater.
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 for each dollar spent and an additional 1.5 points — a total of 3 points — on noninsurance purchases made through the Bank of America Travel Center.
You can also earn 25,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days your account is open. That shakes out to a $200 statement credit toward travel purchases. To top it off, there’s no limit to how many points you can earn.
The perks
You can also earn 25,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days your account is open. That shakes out to a $200 statement credit toward travel purchases. To top it off, there’s no limit to how many points you can earn.
The perks
- Intro APR. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 statement closing dates your account is open. A variable 16.49% to 24.49% 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.
- No annual fee. A $0 annual fee makes this card a good choice for those who would otherwise worry about making up for the cost of the card.
- 0% foreign transaction fee. Use the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card abroad without paying additional fees on your purchases.
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.
The perks
The perks
- 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.
- Free bag check. Check your bag and the bags of up to six members on your reservation for free.
Best card for students: BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students
If you’re a student with your nose in the books, you just might benefit from this card’s intro APR, low annual fee and intro balance transfer fee. It doesn’t come with a lot of bells and whistles, but it’s a solid choice for students just starting out or looking to transfer debt to save on interest.
The perks
The perks
- Low APR. This card comes with Bank of America’s lowest standard APR of 14.49% to 24.49% variable.
- Intro APR. Benefit from a 0% intro APR for 15 statement closing dates on both balance transfers made within 60 days of your account and purchases. Your rate reverts to a variable 14.49% to 24.49% APR after the intro period ends.
- Intro balance transfer fee. Balance transfers made within the first 60 days your account is open also benefit from a $0 balance transfer fee. After 60 days, you’ll pay a fee equal to $10 or 5% of each balance you transfer, whichever is greater.
- No annual fee. Pay $0 in annual fees to keep the card open.
Best card for building credit: BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card
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.It’s a basic card that offers little in the way of additional features, extending a variable APR of 24.49% on purchases.
Mind when bills are due, however, to avoid fees of up to $39 on late payments.
The perks
- 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.
- No penalty APR. You’ll pay a fee of up to $39 for late payments, but you luckily won’t face an increased APR.
Best card for balance transfers: BankAmericard® Credit Card
Though it’s a pretty slim card, the BankAmericard® Credit Card is a solid option for balance transfers. You’ll get a 0% APR on purchases for 15 statement closing dates, and the same for balance transfers made within the first 60 days your account is open. A variable APR of 14.49% to 24.49% applies after the intro period is up.
The perks
The perks
- Intro APR. Take advantage of an intro APR on both balance transfers made within 60 days of opening your account and purchases.
- Intro balance transfer fee. BofA waives your balance transfer fee on transfers made within 60 days of opening your account. After the intro period expires, additional transfers attract a fee equal to $10 or 3% of your transfer, whichever is greater.
- No penalty APR. Though you’ll pay a fee of up to $39, the bank doesn’t apply a penalty APR after a late payment.
- No annual fee. Take advantage of balance transfer benefits without paying a fee each year.
Best card for small businesses: Platinum Visa® Business Credit Card
Low intro and standard APRs, a $0 annual fee and a signup bonus that’s easy to attain make the Platinum Visa® Business Credit Card a well-balanced card for small businesses. While you won’t get cashback rewards, its 11.74% to 22.74% variable APR makes for potential savings when it comes to interest charges.The perks
- Signup bonus. Spend at least $3,000 on purchases within 90 days of opening your account to get a $300 statement credit.
- Low intro APR. Enjoy a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 7 billing cycles after opening your account. After the promo expires, you’ll pay a 11.74% to 22.74% variable APR.
- Travel services. Get up to $100,000 in travel accident insurance and auto insurance, emergency ticket replacement, help with lost luggage and more.
- No cost for additional cards. Adding employee cards to your account costs nothing more.
How we selected our best credit cards
We compared all Bank of America credit cards, evaluating them on dimensions such as cash back, travel rewards, balance transfers and more. We added cards to this list that had standout features for specific consumer segments.
Quick look at Bank of America credit cards
- Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card: 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® for Students: Best card for students
- BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card: Best card for building credit
- BankAmericard® Credit Card: Best card for balance transfers
- Platinum Visa® Business Credit Card: Best card for small businesses
Compare Bank of America credit cards
Use our table below to sort 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. To learn more about a specific card, click View details to read our review.
Updated January 20th, 2020
Full list of Bank of America credit cards
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- Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card
- Bank of America® Cash Rewards for Students
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students
- BankAmericard® Credit Card
- BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students
- BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card
- Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
- Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
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Compare Bank of America credit cards by card type
How to apply for a credit card with Bank of America
Visit the Bank of America website to apply for a credit card. Make sure that you meet the minimum eligibility requirements for the card before you apply, and ready your documentation to streamline the process.
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
How to prequalify for a Bank of America card
Bank of America reward programs
Depending on the card you sign up for, you might get 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 you 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.
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®.
Typical card benefits and features of a Bank of America credit card?
Bank of America offers a suite of no annual fee credit cards. You’ll also find brand-partnered, no-frills, cashback and travel, student and small business credit cards. Depending on your financial needs, you may find one with extra savings perks — like a Bank of America card with an intro APR period or a $200 signup bonus.
Several cards also come with additional features like:
- Online shopping security. Use ShopSafe® when shopping online to generate a temporary credit card number that links to your actual 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, which covers fraudulent charges made to your account. Claims may be subject to dollar limits.
- Overdraft protection. Link an 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 look at your up-to-date credit score.
- Museums on Us®. Several museums across the US offer free entry on the first full weekend of every month when you show your Bank of America credit card.
Bank of America credit card travel insurance
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 their own set of qualification parameters.
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 secure your information against fraud and hacking. A global information security team also monitors activity 24/7 for potential threats.
Through its $0 Liability Guarantee, Bank of America covers any fraudulent transactions on your credit cards. Simply report the transactions and provide additional details.
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 to share your creditworthiness with affiliates for business purposes, and whether nonaffiliates can market to you for BofA accounts or those endorsed by another organization.
Bottom line
Bank of America offers a moderate selection of basic, rewards, travel, student and secured credit cards. But it also partners with a long list of brands to provide rewards programs and bonuses that may suit your spending.
Take a look at other providers or compare Bank of America’s current cards to get a good idea of what’s available.
Frequently asked questions
Ask an Expert
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 ?
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