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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.

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Kliment Dukovski
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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.

Name Product Filter values Rewards Purchase APR Annual fee
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards
3% cash back on a chosen category and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 each quarter combined, then 1% after that and on everything else
0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
$0
View details
Earn $200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days form account opening.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
1.5x points on all purchases
0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
$0
View details
Earn 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days from account opening.
BankAmericard® Credit Card
BankAmericard® Credit Card
0% intro balance transfer APR for the first 18 billing cycles, then variable.
0% intro for the first 18 billing cycles (then 12.99% to 22.99% variable)
$0
View details
Enjoy a 0% intro balance transfer APR for the first 18 billing cycles, then variable.
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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

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards logo
Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Read review
670
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to3%
Cash back
$200
Welcome offer
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.
  • 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 billing cycles. The APR reverts to a standard 13.99% to 23.99% variable after the promotional period is up.
  • 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.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR 0% intro for the first 15 statement closing dates (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Welcome offer$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards3% cash back on a chosen category and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 each quarter combined, then 1% after that and on everything else

Best card for travel rewards
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card logo
Finder Rating: 3.2 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Read review
670
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
1.5x
Points
25,000
Points welcome offer
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.
  • Intro APR period on purchases. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 15 billing cycles your account is open. A variable 13.99% to 23.99% 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.
  • 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.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR 13.99% to 23.99% variable
Welcome offer25,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Estimated welcome offer value $250 based on Finder's valuation
Rewards1.5x points on all purchases

Best card for airline rewards
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card logo
Credit recommended (670-850)
Read review
670
Min. credit score
$75
Annual fee
Up to3x
Miles
40,000
Miles welcome offer
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.
  • 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.
  • Annual fee. The card comes with a $75 annual fee.
  • No intro APR period. You don't get a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases.
Annual Fee $75
Purchase APR 15.99% to 23.99% variable
Balance transfer APR 15.99% to 23.99% variable
Welcome offer40,000 miles and companion pass after spending $2,000 in the first 90 days
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards3x miles on Alaska Airlines purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases

Best card for building credit
BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card

BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.2 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (300-669)
Read review
300
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
n/a
Rewards
n/a
Welcome offer
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.
  • 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 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.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 22.99% variable
Balance transfer APR 22.99% variable
Welcome offerN/A
Estimated welcome offer value
RewardsN/A

Best card for small businesses
Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Mastercard® Business card

Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Mastercard® Business card logo
Finder Rating: 3 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850)
Read review
740
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
n/a
Rewards
$300
Welcome offer
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 10.24% to 21.24% variable APR makes for potential savings when it comes to interest charges.
  • 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 10.24% to 21.24% variable APR.
  • No cost for additional cards. Adding employee cards to your account costs nothing more.
  • No rewards program. You won't earn any rewards on your purchases.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 0% intro for the first 7 billing cycles (then 10.24% to 21.24% variable)
Balance transfer APR 10.24% to 21.24% variable
Welcome offer$300 after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
Estimated welcome offer value
RewardsN/A

Best card for students
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students logo
Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (580-850)
Read review
580
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to3%
Cash back
$200
Welcome offer
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.
  • 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 3% 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 3% 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 15 billing cycles of 0% intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases. A variable APR of 13.99% to 23.99% applies thereafter.
  • Foreign transaction fees. Every transaction made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 3% of the amount.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 0% intro for the first 15 statement closing dates (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR 0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Welcome offer$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category, grocery and wholesale club purchases each quarter, then 1%

How to apply for a credit card with Bank of America

You can easily apply for a Bank of America credit card through its website. To apply, you can do the following:

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

You can also 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 categories of your choosing.

What no annual fee Bank of America credit cards are there?

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 cashback, travel and student cards with no annual fee 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 certain travel cards. For example, with the $95 annual fee Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card, you get to earn 2x 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
  • 1.5x 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)

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 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.

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

You can 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®. You can redeem or deposit 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 their own set of qualification parameters.

Full list of Bank of America credit card reviews

Personal

Business

Cobranded

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 good idea 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.

Read more on this topic

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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 ?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      johnbasanesFebruary 15, 2019Staff

      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

      Reply
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