As one of the largest banks in the U.S. today, Bank of America has a sweeping range of credit card options to match.
Whether you’re looking to earn cash back on your regular spending, save on Alaska Airlines travel, or secure a long 0% APR period to pay down debt, there’s likely a Bank of America card for you. Read more about our top picks from the issuer below, along with more information to help you decide which is best for you.
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Annual fee
$0
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Welcome offer
Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
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Introductory APR
0% intro APR for your first 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account (variable APR applies intro APR ends; see issuer site for current APR)
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Purchase APR
See issuer site for current APR
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Rewards rate
- 3% cash back + 3% first-year cash back bonus in the category of your choice*
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- *Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (unlimited 1% after that); after the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum
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Benefits
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members can earn up to 75% more cash back on every purchase
- Choose which category you want to earn 6% cash back in for the first year: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings
Why we like it: Our top Bank of America card pick excels across several categories. It has no annual fee and a great 0% introductory APR period, which you can use for both new purchases and balance transfers. But it’s also an all-around solid cash-back card. You can earn 3% cash back on your choice category (6% for the first year) plus 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, up to a combined $2,500 spent each quarter. Everything else earns 1% cash back.
Choice category options cover plenty of common purchases: gas and EV charging stations, online shopping (including cable, internet, phone plans, and streaming), dining, travel, drugstores and pharmacies, or home improvement and furnishings. Having multiple rewards category options can give you more flexibility, especially as your spending habits change over time.
Preferred Rewards eligible? Yes
Read our full review of the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card.
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Annual fee
$0
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Welcome offer
None
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Introductory APR
0% intro APR on purchases and on balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening for the first 18 billing cycles, then a standard variable APR; see issuer site for current APR
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Purchase APR
See issuer site for current APR
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Benefits
- No annual fee
- No penalty APR (paying late won’t automatically raise your interest rate; other account pricing and terms apply)
Why we like it: The BankAmericard offers one of the longest introductory 0% APR periods you’ll find from any issuer today — and it applies to both new purchases and balance transfers. If you plan to use the card to pay down debt with a balance transfer, you’ll need to transfer your balance within 60 days of account opening to take advantage of the 0% APR, and pay a 3% balance transfer fee within that timeframe.
While this card doesn’t have a lot of long-term benefits, it’s a good option to use to get back on financial track over the long intro period. You’ll pay no annual fee, and you’ll even have the extra aid of no penalty APR when you make a late payment — with other cards, you may take on a penalty APR up to 29.99% and lose your 0% APR offer if you miss a payment.
Preferred Rewards eligible? No
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Annual fee
$0
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Welcome offer
Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
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Introductory APR
0% intro APR for your first 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account (variable APR applies after that; see issuer site for current APR)
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Purchase APR
See issuer site for current APR
Why we like it: If you’re looking for an easy way to maximize every dollar you spend, it doesn’t get much simpler than the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card. You can earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, with a boosted 2% cash back for the entire first year (in addition to the card’s regular cash welcome bonus). There’s also an introductory 0% APR offer and no annual fee. The Unlimited Cash Rewards Card’s flat cash rewards work for anyone who wants a no-stress way to earn rewards with a single card, or as a catchall addition to your existing cards to guarantee minimum rewards on everything you buy.
Preferred Rewards eligible? Yes
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Annual fee
$0
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Welcome offer
Get a $300 online statement credit after spending at least $3,000 within the first 90 days
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Introductory APR
0% intro APR on purchases for the first 7 billing cycles (variable APR applies after that; see issuer site for current APR)
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Purchase APR
See issuer site for current APR
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Rewards rate
- 3% cash back* in the category of your choice: gas stations and EV charging stations (default), office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom & wireless, computer services, or business consulting services
- 2% cash back* on dining purchases
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- *Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, then earn 1%
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Benefits
- Earn up to 75% more cash back on every purchase if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for Preferred Rewards for Business Platinum Honors tier
- Redeem your cash rewards as a deposit into your Bank of America checking or savings account, as a card statement credit, or as a check mailed to you
- 0% on purchases for the first 7 billing cycles, after which the standard APR applies
Why we like it: Like the consumer version of this card, the Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard is best for its simplicity. With 1.5% cash back on every purchase, you can get great rewards from this card no matter what your business expenses look like — whether you often take clients out for lunch meetings or you need to stock up on office supplies. You can also take advantage of the card’s 0% introductory APR on purchases, which can be especially helpful if you need to purchase something as an investment in your business but want some extra time to pay it off.
Preferred Rewards eligible? Yes
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Annual fee
$95
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Welcome offer
Earn 60,000 online bonus points after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
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Purchase APR
See issuer site for current APR
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Rewards rate
- 2x points on travel and dining purchases
- 1.5x points on all other purchases
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Benefits
- Up to $100 in annual statement credits for incidental airline fees such as seat upgrades or baggage fees, plus get a statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fees every four years
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members can earn up to 75% more points on every purchase
- Use your card anywhere without incurring foreign transaction fees
Why we like it: Bank of America offers a few travel rewards cards, but we like the Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card for its simplicity combined with valuable annual benefits. For a $95 annual fee, you can earn an unlimited 2x points on travel and dining, plus 1.5x points on everything else. Redemption options are standard; you can redeem points for statement credits, a deposit into an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account, or through Bank of America’s Travel Center.
Beyond rewards points, you’ll also pay no foreign transaction fees, get up to $100 in annual statement credits for airline incidental fees (like seat upgrades or checked bags), and up to $100 in statement credits every four years for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees.
Preferred Rewards eligible? Yes
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Annual fee
$95
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Welcome offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare after spending $3,000 or more within the first 90 days after account opening
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Purchase APR
See issuer site for current APR
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Rewards rate
- Unlimited 3x points for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- Unlimited 2x points for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services, and local transit (including ride share) purchases
- Unlimited 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases
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Benefits
- Free checked bag on Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, plus priority boarding on Alaska Airlines, for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation
- Get a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after spending $6,000 or more in the previous year
- Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account
Why we like it: For just a $95 annual fee, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines frequent flyers can get a ton of added value from the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card. Rewards cover both travel and everyday spending, with 3x points on Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines purchases and 2x points on gas, EV charging, cable, streaming services, and local transit (including rideshare). Everything else earns 1x, and you can redeem points for flights with either airline or their partners, book stays through Alaska Vacations, and more. If you have an eligible Bank of America account, you’ll also get a 10% bonus on all the points you earn.
Beyond rewards points, this card has perks like a free checked bag, priority boarding, 20% back on in-flight purchases, and $100 off an annual Alaska+ Lounge membership. And best of all, you’ll get a $99 Companion Fare each account anniversary when you spend at least $6,000 over the account year before.
Preferred Rewards eligible? No
The best way to find the right Bank of America card is by comparing your spending and your budget to the card’s rewards, benefits, and cost.
If you travel often, for example, you may want a card with top rewards on your travel spending or benefits like lounge access and annual statement credits to help you save on each trip. If you’re looking for savings on regular purchases like groceries and gas, you might prefer a card with flat rewards or specific bonus categories that target your most frequent budget items.
Also consider the annual fee. Many Bank of America cards have no annual fee, which can be great for maximizing your spending without giving up any rewards value to the fee cost. But if you are willing to pay an annual fee, you may score some valuable added perks in exchange, especially for travel.
Finally, think about whether you’ll benefit from an introductory 0% APR. A significant portion of Bank of America cards have a 0% APR offer for new cardholders. If you know you’ll benefit from no interest for the first several months or you have existing debt you want to pay off with a balance transfer, this is a factor to consider.
One of the most underrated benefits of opening a Bank of America card is the boosted rewards you can get with Preferred Rewards.
If you have an eligible Bank of America checking account and you have a qualifying balance across both your Bank of America deposit accounts and Merrill investment accounts, you can qualify for Preferred Rewards. There are multiple tiers based on your combined balances. These tiers determine the boost you can earn on your credit card rewards:
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Gold tier: 25% rewards bonus; requires at least a $20,000 balance
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Platinum tier: 50% rewards bonus; requires at least a $50,000 balance
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Platinum Honors tier: 75% rewards bonus; requires at least a $100,000 balance
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Diamond Honors tier: 75% rewards bonus; requires at least a $1 million balance
Say, for example, you qualify for the Platinum Honors 75% boost and you have a Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card. Typically, that card earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase. With your 75% boost, you’ll instead earn 2.62% cash back on everything you buy. If you normally spend $15,000 on your card in a year, you could increase your annual rewards from $225 to $393 — just with your existing bank and investment account balances.
Throughout the list above, we’ve noted the cards that are eligible for a rewards boost for qualifying Preferred Rewards members.
Bank of America offers several types of credit cards that are best suited for different types of spenders. Here’s a look at some of the most common types of Bank of America credit cards:
Bank of America offers two types of cash-back cards, which can both offer great savings on your spending. One has tiered bonus categories with boosted rewards on specific purchases, like dining out at restaurants or fueling up at the gas station. This can be a good option if your most frequent purchases fall into bonus categories and you don’t mind spending a bit of time figuring out how to best maximize your rewards.
The other offers a flat cash-back percentage on every purchase. This might be a better option if you don’t want to worry about bonus categories, or if you’re looking for a card to supplement other rewards cards that do have bonus categories.
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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards
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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students
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Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards
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Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards for Students
Bank of America’s travel credit cards offer uncomplicated rewards and redemptions. These Bank of America cards range in price from $0 to $550. Their rewards are pretty similar with a flat 1.5x points on every purchase, though some have slightly higher rewards for travel and dining purchases or Bank of America Travel Center spending.
The biggest difference — and the best way to get value from these cards — is the benefits. You won’t get many added benefits from Bank of America’s no-fee travel cards, but the higher-fee options offer statement credits for airline incidentals, lounge access, better redemption rates for points, and big welcome bonus offers.
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Bank of America® Travel Rewards
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Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students
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Bank of America® Premium Rewards®
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Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite
Several different types of Bank of America cards also have great 0% APR intro offers for new cardholders. In general, the 0% APR you’ll get with a Bank of America card applies to both new purchases and balance transfers, though you must make the balance transfer within 60 days of account opening. The Bank of America credit card with the longest 0% APR period today is the BankAmericard, though this card doesn’t offer any ongoing rewards or benefits after the intro period.
With any 0% APR card, it’s important to pay down your balance by the end of the introductory period. After that, any amount you have left will accrue interest at your card’s ongoing interest rate, which may reach well over 20% APR.
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BankAmericard®
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BankAmericard® for Students
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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards
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Bank of America® Travel Rewards
Bank of America partners with a few airlines to issue co-branded airline credit cards, including Alaska Airlines (along with Hawaiian Airlines), Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Flying Blue from KLM and Air France.
These cards earn rewards under each airline’s loyalty program, which you can redeem for flights or other travel with the airline. That’s different from standard Bank of America travel card rewards, which you can redeem with the issuer directly. A co-branded airline card can be a good idea if you’re a frequent traveler and you prefer flying with a specific airline. These cards typically come with added benefits when you travel, like in-flight discounts, priority boarding, free checked bags, lounge access or discounted access, and more.
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Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature®
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Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite®
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Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®
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Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®
Adding a Bank of America card to your wallet can be a great way to earn rewards on your spending, secure a great 0% APR offer, or get some valuable travel benefits.
But you should always compare the potential value you may get from a new rewards card to your regular spending. If you already earn similar rewards with a different card or the Bank of America card you’re considering doesn’t maximize how you already spend money, it may not be the best option long term.
One of the best reasons to open a Bank of America card is if you already use the bank for your savings or investments. Qualifying Preferred Rewards customers can multiply cash-back or points rewards with eligible cards by up to 75%. A Bank of America card that regularly earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase, for example, would earn 2.62% on every purchase at the highest Preferred Rewards tier. That’s a better rewards rate than you’ll find from nearly any other flat cash-back card today.
A Bank of America card may not be a good option for you if you don’t already have a good credit score. Many top cards from the issuer require great credit, so you’ll need to build your credit history before you apply for the best chances of approval. However, you can use a Bank of America secured credit card as an option to help build credit while you earn rewards.
The best Bank of America card for you depends on your goals and spending habits. Our overall pick is the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card, because it offers a mix of great rewards, common cash-back categories, 0% APR, and no annual fee. But before you apply, make sure you compare different options with varying rewards and benefits to determine which one offers the most value.
In general, Bank of America credit cards require good-to-excellent credit for the best chances of approval. If you don’t already have a solid credit score, consider secured versions of popular Bank of America cards, which are specifically designed to help you build credit. Here are some secured options from the issuer; each of these cards requires a refundable security deposit of at least $200 after approval:
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Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured
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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured
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Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured
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BankAmericard® Secured
Anytime you apply for a new credit card, you’ll undergo a hard credit check, which can have a temporary negative impact on your credit score. However, you can build your credit back up and increase it as you use your new card responsibly and make your payments on time.
Our picks for the best Bank of America credit cards are all among the top-rated options using our comprehensive credit card rubric. To determine these credit card ratings, we look at a variety of factors. While those factors vary depending on the specific category, we look at details like annual fee, APR, introductory 0% APR offers, rewards, redemption options, and more.
Because we rate cards by category, you’ll also find many of the cards on this list among our top picks in their respective credit card categories — such as best travel credit cards, best cash-back credit cards, and others.
For our complete list above, we factor in superlatives that we believe cover a broad range of Bank of America cards and what cardholders are seeking when considering a Bank of America credit card. From there, we use a combination of our objective rating system and our expert judgement to choose a final list of the best Bank of America cards.
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
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