Best Bank of America credit cards of May 2024
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 4:07 a.m. UTC May 2, 2024
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Bank of America offers several credit cards for those seeking to make the most out of their spending with travel and cash-back rewards. When handled responsibly, you can use credit cards to your advantage by racking up rewards that may help pay off your next credit statement or a future vacation.
There are a few key factors some of the best Bank of America credit cards have in common, like excellent customer service, card security, fraud protection, low fees and reasonable APRs. Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program allows eligible cardholders to earn between 25%-75% more rewards on their spending, creating an incredibly generous rewards card for some. Throw in factors like no annual fees, generous welcome bonuses and flexible redemption options and you’ve got an outstanding selection of credit cards.
We analyzed Bank of America’s credit card offers to curate a list of the very best. When reviewing this list, keep in mind that there may be cards by other issuers that are a better fit for your particular needs. Here are our selections.
Best Bank of America credit cards
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for cardholders with varied spending.
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: Best travel rewards card.
- Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card: Best for simplicity.
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students: Best travel rewards card for students.
- Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students: Best cash-back card for students.
- BankAmericard® credit card *: Best for a low intro APR.
- Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card *: Best secured cash-back card.
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 20+ cards analyzed.
- 10+ data points considered.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
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Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Best for cardholders with varied spending
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Best travel rewards card
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
Best for simplicity
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card
Best travel rewards card for students
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students
Best cash-back card for students
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students
Best for a low intro APR
BankAmericard® credit card
*The information for the BankAmericard® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best secured cash-back card
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card
*The information for the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Compare the best Bank of America credit cards
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Receive 60,000 online bonus points – a $600 value – after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
N/A
Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and 1% cash back on all other purchases with no annual fee. It’s a good choice for someone looking for a no-annual-fee cash-back card offering maximum rewards where they spend most.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 3% cash back in the category of your choice, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3%.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: One major benefit to this card is its flexibility—credit card users can choose a category where they spend the most and can change categories each month as their spending changes. However, the card isn’t the best for bigger spenders since the higher rewards rates are capped each quarter.
Earn 2 points per $1 on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per $1 on other purchases. While the card does have a modest annual fee, rewards can easily add up to much more value if you use the card regularly.
- Annual fee: $95.
- Rewards: 2 points per $1 on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per $1 on other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card provides multiple travel protections and points redemption through its Travel Center. Unfortunately, users can’t convert their points to any airline or hotel loyalty program partners.
With a flat 1.5% cash back on purchases and no annual fee, this card is a good option for anyone who wants a simple cash-back card with no rotating or bonus categories to keep track of.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 1.5% cash back on purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3%.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: Some credit cards cap their rewards rates, but the sky is the limit with the Unlimited Cash Rewards card. Although no bonus categories are offered, the simple rewards system can be attractive to users who want cash back without complications.
Students looking to earn travel rewards points without worrying about bonus categories may enjoy this simple travel rewards card with no annual fee.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 1.5 points per $1 on purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 25,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fee: None.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: Students who love to travel are the best fit for this card’s features. There’s also an extensive introductory APR period on top of a generous welcome offer.
Students can earn 1.5% cash back on purchases with no limits. This no annual fee card is great for learning to use credit responsibly while earning valuable rewards on every purchase.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 1.5% cash back on purchases.
- Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending at least $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: Students can redeem their cash back rewards as a deposit into a savings, checking, or Merril investment account or as a credit statement.
The information for the BankAmericard® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
A simple card with a lengthy introductory APR period is best for those who want the convenience and protection of a credit card with no annual fee.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: None.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction made in a foreign currency.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: Individuals who need relief from credit card interest will benefit from the card’s 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases and any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, and then a variable APR of 16.24% to 26.24%. An intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transaction made within 60 days of account opening applies. After that, the fee will be 4% of each transaction.
The information for the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
A simple cash back card for those new to credit or looking to rebuild credit. Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: Cardholders earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction.
- Other benefits and drawbacks: The card is a great tool to build one’s credit, but does require a minimum $200 deposit and has no welcome bonus for first-time cardholders.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product. That analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. We looked across the entire range of Bank of America consumer credit cards and chose the best ones for a variety of consumers. Factors we considered include:
- Annual fees.
- Rewards rates.
- 0% APR periods
- Type of card seeker, such as cash-back seeker, traveler, someone rebuilding credit or students and how well a particular card profile stacked up against its peers in that category.
Should you get a Bank of America credit card?
“From building credit to maximizing rewards, credit cards are tools that, when used responsibly, can bring substantial value into your personal financial planning. Bank of America offers a wide range of credit cards with flexible earning structures —including cash back, travel and points credit cards—that reward cardholders for their everyday spending while providing best-in-class digital tools and security features. Beyond earning rewards, Bank of America has many credit card offerings—like student and secured cards—that are also ideal for people who are just starting out on their financial journey, looking to build credit or are prioritizing low annual interest rates,” says Jason Gaughan, head of consumer credit card products at Bank of America.
Bank of America offers various credit cards for individuals, whether they are college students or world travelers. People should know before applying what they are looking to gain from each credit card. The need for interest relief from some applicants will bring them to a different choice than folks who only want cash back.
The majority of Bank of America’s business cards come with no annual fee and easy-to-understand reward structures. The most significant barrier to getting a Bank of America personal credit card is that most require a good to excellent credit score.
Guide to Bank of America credit cards
People interested in getting a new credit card should focus on their spending habits and lifestyle before applying for a Bank of America credit card, as so many options are available. You’ll also need to know your personal credit score when applying.
Once you know exactly what kind of card you are looking for and which ones you may qualify for, the ideal credit card will be a more obvious choice. Bank of America’s application process can be as fast as 60 seconds for approval, but some applications may take longer.
Comparing Bank of America credit cards
There are numerous credit card options from Bank of America, which makes its card comparison tool really handy. The tool lets anyone compare credit cards side-by-side to find their perfect fit.
When comparing cards, you’ll want to look at features such as rewards, APR, fees, welcome bonuses, annual fees and additional perks or benefits. Again, this is where knowing your personal spending habits and goals can make it easier to narrow down which card is right for you.
Our first-hand experience
“I love my Bank of America card because it offers a unique perk — free museum access. With Bank of America’s Museums on Us program, cardholders can visit over 225 museums on the first full weekend of the month. In addition to traditional museums, I’ve used my card to visit amazing places like a botanical garden and an aquarium. I even made my husband an authorized user on my card so he can get free museum access too.”
Megan Horner, USA TODAY Blueprint editorial director
Who is Bank of America best for?
With so many available options, Bank of America credit cards can suit almost anyone, especially those who want to be associated with an established, FDIC-insured banking institution. Bank of America Preferred Rewards is another draw, making these cards better for those already banking or investing with Bank of America.
Bank of America Preferred Rewards program
Bank of America has a Preferred Rewards program for clients in good standing to encourage more business. This program rewards eligible customers with more reward points, increased interest rates on deposit accounts and reduced fees. A significant portion of Bank of America credit cards are eligible for the rewards program and cardholders can receive tier-based bonuses with varying levels of benefits.
How to maximize Your Preferred Rewards
To qualify for Preferred Rewards, you must have a Bank of America checking account and a combined total three-month average of $20,000 or more in any Bank of America deposit or Merrill investment accounts.
Once a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn anywhere from 25% to 75% more points or cash back with qualifying rewards cards. Student and secured cards are not eligible for Preferred Rewards.
Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program comes in four tiers—Gold, Platinum, Platinum Honors and Diamond—with varying benefits. The higher the tier, the better the benefits. Each tier is determined by how much money you hold in your Bank of America and Merrill accounts. As your account balances grow, so will your tier status.
How to apply and qualify for a Bank of America credit card
Before applying for a credit card, you should know your credit score and have your basic information handy, such as your Social Security number, driver’s license number, total annual income and more. You can apply by phone at 1-800-932-2775, or by visiting Bank of America’s website.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product. That analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. We looked across the entire range of Bank of America consumer credit cards and chose the best ones for a variety of consumers, ranging from rewards rates, simple flat-rate earnings, 0% APR periods, secured cards and cards aimed at students, who typically have less-robust credit profiles and need a card tailored to their circumstances.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Bank of America doesn’t disclose its highest credit limit. The credit limit is the amount the lender allows you to spend each month and it’s determined by an applicant’s creditworthiness. Not everyone will receive the same limit. Your personal credit limit should be disclosed on your account or credit card statement.
Cardholders may be able to request higher limits in the future if there’s an income increase, credit score increase, or consistent payments. Your credit limit may decrease if you don’t pay your debts on time, take on more debt, or don’t use your card often.
Cardholders may receive automatic credit limit increases periodically, usually after at least six months of consistent payments for secured cards. However, users can ask for an increase online or over the phone if they think they should have a higher limit.
Bank of America offers a variety of personal and business credit cards with differentiating features.
Some of Bank of America’s personal credit card offerings include cash back, travel rewards, secured and student cards.
*The information for the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card and BankAmericard® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
