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About Bank of America Credit Cards
Bank of America has been pretty low-key over the past few years, steadily rolling out different credit cards at its own pace. Even though not that many people apply, its benefits have been very consistent, without the kind of changes that happen every few days. If you can pair its cards with a large balance in a checking account and have Preferred Rewards, you can boost cash back by up to 75%, which is pretty nice. The catch is that the deposit requirement is fairly high, so most international students won’t meet it, but it becomes much easier once you’re working.
Overall, BofA credit cards are a better fit for people who don’t like constantly tinkering with cards and just want to use them steadily. Below, let’s take a look at which BofA cards are worth applying for.
Bank of America Cards
No Annual Fee Cards
Most BofA cards are no-annual-fee cards, and they’re still pretty solid, each with its own use case. If you don’t factor in the 75% Preferred Rewards boost, 1.5x is pretty average, but with it, you get 2.625% cash back on all purchases, which is very competitive.
- This card is similar to a quarterly rotating bonus card, except the nice part is that you can choose the category yourself
BofA Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Choose your own 3% cash back category, plus 2% cash back at supermarkets! No annual fee
- Welcome bonus: $200 cash back (spend $1,000 in three months) + extra 3% cash back on category spending in the first year
- Rewards: Online shopping, travel, drugstores, home improvement/furnishings, gas, or dining: choose one category for 3% cash back; supermarkets and Wholesale clubs: 2%; all other purchases: 1%
- Redemption: Redeem rewards directly for cash; if you have a premium BOA account, you may earn an additional bonus
- Annual fee: $0
- Apply now>>
- This card is categorized as a travel card, but all spending earns 1.5x; the only reason it has more value is that you need to redeem it against travel purchases.
BofA Travel Rewards Credit Card
1.5x on all purchases; no annual fee!
- Welcome bonus: 25,000 points (spend $1,000 in three months)
- Rewards: 1.5x on all purchases
- Redemption: 100 points can be redeemed for $1 in travel purchases; if you have a BOA premium account, you can earn additional rewards
- Annual fee: $0
- Apply now>>
- I think this card can replace that 1.5x travel card
BofA Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
1.5% cash back on all purchases; no annual fee!
- Welcome bonus: $200 after spending $1,000 within 90 days of account opening + extra 0.5% cash back in the first year
- Rewards: 1.5% on all purchases
- Redemption: Redeem directly for cash back; BOA account holders can get up to a 75% bonus
- Annual fee: $0
- Apply now>>
Annual Fee Cards
BofA’s annual-fee cards are also fairly ordinary, mainly because the points can’t be transferred to airline miles, and there aren’t any premium hotel or airline perks.
- Travel credits of $100 and an annual fee of only $95 — in theory, you can even come out $5 ahead. This card also offers 2% on dining and travel, and with the 75% bonus, it’s pretty good.
BofA Premium Rewards Credit Card
Up to $100 in annual airline incidental statement credits; 2x on dining and travel
- Welcome bonus: $600 cash back (spend $4,000 in three months)
- Rewards: 2% on travel and dining; 1.5% on all other purchases; BofA premium account holders can earn up to 1.75x points
- Redemption: 1:1 direct cashback redemption
- Annual fee: $95
- Apply now>>
- Airline credits of $450 and an annual fee of $550, for an effective cost of $100. But this card doesn’t have many premium perks, and its rewards are just average. The 20% airline discount is a highlight, and you can simply book through BofA Travel.
BofA Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card
$450 in annual statement credits
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 points (spend $5,000 in three months)
- Rewards: 2x on travel and dining; 1.5x on all other purchases; BOA premium banking customers can earn up to 1.75x points
- Redemption: 1:1 cash back redemption; 20% discount on airfare redemptions
- Annual fee: $550
- Apply now>>
Airline Co-Branded Cards
Among airline cards, the Alaska card is probably the best value. The welcome bonus is solid, it comes with a companion ticket after you meet the requirement, and the annual fee isn’t too high.
BofA Atmos Rewards Ascent Credit Card
One companion fare each year; free checked bags; one free museum day every month!
- Welcome bonus: 85,000 Alaska miles + 1 companion fare (spend $4,500 within 120 days)
- Rewards: 3x on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases; 2x on gas, EV charging, streaming, and public transit; 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeemable for award flights on the airline and its partner airlines
- Annual fee: $95
- Apply now>>
Other airline cards, such as Air France and Virgin Atlantic, are pretty average.
Business Credit Cards
BofA’s business credit cards don’t really bring anything new to the table; they mostly copy the personal cards. One thing worth noting is that BofA business checking also comes with extra rewards. If your business accounts have a certain balance, you can also get up to a 75% rewards bonus.
BofA Customized Cash Rewards Business Credit Card
Choose your own 3% cash back category, plus 2% cash back on dining. No annual fee.
- Welcome bonus: $500 cash back (spend $5,000 in 3 months)
- Rewards: Earn 3% cash back in one category of your choice: gas, office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom & wireless, computer services, or business consulting services; 2% on dining (the 3% and 2% categories apply to the first $50k in combined purchases); 1% on all other purchases.
- Redemption: Cash back can be redeemed directly; if you have a BOA premium account, you may qualify for additional rewards.
- Annual fee: $0
- Apply now>>
BofA Travel Rewards Business Credit Card
1.5x on all purchases; no annual fee!
- Welcome bonus: 50,000 points (spend $5,000 within 90 days)
- Rewards: 1.5x on all purchases
- Redemption: 100 points can be redeemed for $1 in travel purchases; if you have a BOA preferred account, you can earn additional rewards
- Annual fee: $0
- Apply now>>
BofA Unlimited Cash Rewards Business Credit Card
1.5% cash back on all purchases; no annual fee!
- Welcome bonus: $500 cash back (spend $5,000 within 90 days)
- Rewards: 1.5% on all purchases
- Redemption: Redeem directly for cash; up to 75% rewards bonus with a BOA business checking account
- Annual fee: $0
- Apply now>>
- The Alaska business card is basically the same as the personal card
BofA Atmos Rewards Business Business Credit Card
Free checked bags, priority boarding, and an annual companion fare!
- Welcome bonus: 85,000 Alaska miles + one companion ticket (spend $5,500 in 90 days)
- Rewards: 3x on Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines; 2x on gas, shipping, transit, and rideshare; 1x on all other purchases
- Redemption: Redeemable for award flights on the airline itself and its partner airlines
- Annual fee: $70（Plus $25 for each additional card）
- Apply now>>
How to Apply
BofA credit cards are relatively easy to get approved for, especially if you have a checking account with them and keep some deposits there — in most cases, you should be able to get approved. The main thing to watch out for is the 2/3/4 rule: if you’ve opened 2 Bank of America credit cards within 2 months, 3 within 12 months, or 4 within 24 months, you won’t be eligible for a new BofA credit card. For other application tips, see: