Best Bank of America credit cards of March 2025
As one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S., it’s no surprise that there are a variety of options when picking the best Bank of America credit cards to add to your wallet. The issuer offers a variety of cards that can cater to almost all consumers and small businesses — whether you’re looking to earn cash back on everyday purchases or rack up travel rewards.
Many of these cards are especially lucrative when paired with a Preferred Rewards account to boost your earning rates, so see our picks for the best Bank of America credit cards below.
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for flexible earning structure
- Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card: Best for earning Alaska miles
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: Best for travel rewards
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: Best for travel rewards beginners
- Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®: Best for flyers who regularly fly SkyTeam Alliance
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card: Best for simple redemption
Best for flexible earning structure
3% | Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases). |
2% | Earn automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases). |
1% | Earn unlimited 1% on all other purchases. |
If you find that other cash-back cards don’t exactly match your lifestyle and spending habits, you’ll like the flexibility of the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card. You have the power to pick your bonus category each month, which can appeal to those who don’t have traditional spending habits. Read our full review of the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card.
Pros
- Flexible earning structure (3% cash back in the category of your choice and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs); up to $2,500 in combined purchases per quarter (then 1%)
- No annual fee or expiration on rewards
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Cons
- Maximum $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then 1%
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Best for earning Alaska miles
3 miles | Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. |
2 miles | Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases. |
1 mile | Earn unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
Alaska Airlines only offers one consumer credit card for its loyal travelers. With a low $95 annual fee, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card is a no-brainer for those who frequently fly with the Seattle-based carrier. Read our full review of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card.
Pros
- Free checked bag for you and up to six guests on your reservation
- Alaska discounts, like 20% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Limited Time Online Offer—70,000 Bonus Miles!
- Get 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
- Get Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases. And earn unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don’t expire on active accounts.
- Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
- Free checked bag and enjoy priority boarding for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation, when you pay for your flight with your card — Also available for authorized users when they book a reservation too!
- With oneworld® Alliance member airlines and Alaska’s Global Partners, Alaska has expanded their global reach to over 1,000 destinations worldwide bringing more airline partners and more ways to earn and redeem miles.
- Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a low $95 annual fee.
- This online only offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Best for travel rewards
2X | Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases. |
1.5X | Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. |
The Bank of America Premium Rewards card allows cardmembers to earn 2 points per dollar on travel and dining expenses, but Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members will earn at a higher rate of up to 3.5 points per dollar spent. Read our full review of the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card.
Pros
- This card is more valuable for Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members, who can get between a 25% and 75% bonus on points earned
- Comes with up to $100 in airline incidental statement credits annually and up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® statement credit and travel protections
- Can transfer points earned into a 529 college fund
Cons
- Other cards offer higher points for key bonus categories
- Must open a Bank of America account to get the best value for points
- Low $95 annual fee.
- 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.
- Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87 - 2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
- Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
- Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
- Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Best for travel rewards beginners
3X | Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. |
1.5X | Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. |
When you’re stepping into the world of travel rewards, it’s likely you’re looking for simple earning and redemption options — and that’s exactly what the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is best at. Read our full review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card.
Pros
- 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Bank of America does not offer airline or hotel transfer partners like other banks such as American Express, Chase or Capital One
- No travel and purchase protections.
- 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.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases. You could earn 3.75-5.25 points for every $1 you spend on travel purchases made through the Bank of America Travel Center.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Best for flyers who regularly fly SkyTeam Alliance
Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®
3X | Earn 3 Miles per $1 spent directly on Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and SkyTeam member airlines purchases |
1.5X | Earn 1.5 Miles per $1 spent on all other purchases |
Pros
- Miles can be redeemed with any SkyTeam Alliance airline
- Welcome bonus
- Anniversary bonus each year when you meet minimum spend of $50
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- Annual fee
- No airline-specific perks like free bags
The Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®* is a cobranded airline card that offers a solid welcome bonus and elevated earning rates that can be redeemed with SkyTeam Alliance partners. This card has a sub-$100 annual fee and does not charge foreign transaction fees making it a good contender for Air France loyalists who travel abroad frequently and want to keep annual fee costs low.
Best for simple redemption
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card
2% | Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases |
1.5% | Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases |
Pros
- Welcome bonus
- Elevated earning for Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members
- Annual statement credits
Cons
- High annual fee
- No transfer partners
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card* is a premium credit card that comes with a sleuth of benefits. Its hefty $550 price tag comes with free lounge access, generous welcome bonus, annual statement credits and elevated rewards earned for Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members. While this perk-filled card acts as a direct competitor to other premium travel cards, it lacks one important benefit: transferable points and transfer partners.
Comparing the best Bank of America credit cards
Credit card | Best for | Intro offer | Earning rate | Annual fee |
---|---|---|---|---|
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Bank of America's secure site | flexible earning structure | $200 Open Intro bonus $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. | 1 - 3% cash-back | $0 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Bank of America's secure site | earning Alaska miles | Limited Time Online Offer—70,000 Bonus Miles! Open Intro bonus Get 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. | 1 - 3X points | $95 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Bank of America's secure site | travel rewards | 60,000 points Open Intro bonus 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. | 1.5 - 2X points | $95 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Bank of America's secure site | travel rewards beginners | 25,000 points Open Intro bonus 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. | 1.5 - 3X points | $0 |
Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® * *The information about the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by ThePointsGuy.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer. Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Information updated as of 01/02/2025 | flyers who regularly fly SkyTeam Alliance | 50,000 Bonus Miles Open Intro bonus Online Offer: Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening | 1.5 - 3X points | $89 |
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card * *The information about the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card has been collected independently by ThePointsGuy.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer. Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Information updated as of 01/02/2025 | simple redemption | 75,000 bonus points Open Intro bonus Earn 75,000 bonus points after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening | 1.5 - 2% cash-back | $550 |
More details on the best Bank of America credit cards
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is one of the only credit cards that allows you to essentially customize your rewards structure to fit your changing spending habits throughout the year — with the chance to change categories every month.
People who continue to shift their spending habits would benefit from the card’s flexible reward structure.
The Customized Cash Rewards card offers solid cash-back and a flexible rewards structure so that you can get the most out of your spending every month.
If you want to stick with Bank of America but are looking for a card with a few more benefits and a higher welcome bonus, consider the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card. It offers more bonus categories, up to $100 in annual airline incidental statement credits and an up to $100 Global Entry/TSA statement credit. The card also comes with a $95 annual fee.
Having Alaska miles opens up some exciting redemption options. In addition to a great sign-up bonus, the card also comes with an annual companion fare, which will give your companion traveling on the same itinerary a free coach ticket on Alaska-operated flights from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) awarded each account anniversary after spending $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year, among other perks like discounts on inflight purchases and lounge passes.
This is the perfect card for loyal Alaska flyers. Not many credit card companies transfer miles to Alaska Airlines so if you are a regular Alaska traveler, this can be a great addition to your wallet.
Arguably the card’s most valuable perk is the annual companion fare, allowing you to take a travel companion on the same flight for $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23).
If you are looking for a card that earns more flexible rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of our top mid-tier picks. It features multiple bonus categories like dining and select streaming services. Chase Ultimate Reward points can also be transferred to any of Chase’s airline and hotel partners.
This low annual fee Bank of America card packs a punch with many travel related perks such as an up-to-$100 annual airline incidental statement credit and an up-to-$100 credit that can be applied toward the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment fee every four years.
The Premium Rewards card is a great card for travelers. In addition to its airline incidental statement credit and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, the card also comes with travel insurance protections, including trip delay/cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay/loss insurance, emergency evacuation and transportation insurance, and rental car insurance — perks that normally come with more premium cards.
To get the best value out of your card, you can boost your return by as much as 75% through Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards® program. To participate, you’ll need an eligible Bank of America checking account and an average daily balance of at least $20,000 in qualifying deposit or investment accounts. The largest bonus is available to customers with a balance of $100,000 or more — at that level, you’ll earn 3.5 points per dollar on dining and travel, and an impressive 2.62 points per dollar on non-bonus spending.
If you love the Premium Rewards card’s simple earning structure but don’t want to pay an annual fee, consider the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card instead. It features less benefits and perks but still offers a sizable welcome bonus and earns an impressive 3 points per dollar on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center and 1.5 points on all purchases.
Although this certainly isn’t the most lucrative or flexible rewards card, the Bank of America travel rewards still offers solid earning rates of 3 points per dollar on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center and 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases. These rewards can then be used as a statement credit to erase eligible travel purchases.
It is a perfect card for low-budget beginner travelers who want a card with no annual fee and a simple way to earn and redeem points.
The Travel card is a great introduction to the travel credit card world. It allows new travelers to earn points on all their purchases and use these points to erase travel purchases.
If you are looking for a card with a similar flat earning rate, consider the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card. It does come with a $95 annual fee and earns an elevated 2 points per dollar on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases. The card also features a higher sign-up bonus, up to $100 in annual statement credits for airline incidental fees and an up to $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry statement credit. But the best perk of the Premium Rewards card is the ability to redeem points as statement credits or sent directly to your bank account while the Travel Rewards only allows redemption on travel and dining statement credit.
We love the card’s redemption flexibility and solid welcome bonus.
*The information for the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
This card is a great option for people who regularly fly with Air France and airlines within the SkyTeam Alliance network.
If you’re a regular Air France flyer and don’t want to pay a sky-high annual fee, this cobranded card is a great choice.
If you’re an avid flyer of Delta, which is part of the SkyTeam Alliance, but rarely fly other airlines within the network, consider the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. It earns elevated Delta SkyMiles on everyday spending and offers an annual companion certificate on top of several additional airline-specific perks.
We love the Premium Rewards Elite card* many perks such as free lounge access, generous welcome bonus and annual statement credits. Additionally, Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members earn a 25-75% rewards bonus on every purchase.
*The information for the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
This card is best for Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members who will earn a 25-75% rewards bonus on every purchase and can get more out of the card.
If you love premium benefits but do not care about transferable points and the complication of transfer partners, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card* is a solid pick for your wallet.
If you love the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card’s* perks but want the flexibility of transfer partners, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. It comes with a $300 annual travel credit which helps offset its hefty $550 annual fee. Plus, it earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points which can be redeemed with any of Chase’s transfer partners.
How we rate
How to choose the best Bank of America credit card
- Go with a Bank of America card that features a solid sign-up bonus with a reward you can use for future travel plans or to pay down a balance if you opt to earn cash back. Choose an option that has an achievable spend threshold and that you’ll earn the currency most valuable to you.1Sign-up bonus
- The Bank of America credit cards on our list feature a variety of annual fee thresholds, including many with no annual fee, to fit your unique budget as well as your desire for premium perks.2Annual fee
- Many of the Bank of America credit cards we've listed feature enhanced earnings in various popular bonus categories to fit your spending habits and make the most of every dollar.3Bonus categories
Pros + cons of Bank of America credit cards
Pros
- Using Bank of America credit cards responsibly can help you build your credit score
- Bank of America credit cards can earn cash back or various currencies on every dollar you spend
- Some Bank of America credit cards offer valuable travel and purchase protections
- Bank of America credit cards can hold more value if you are in the Preferred Rewards program
Cons
- Credit cards can encourage overspending
- Carrying a balance and using your Bank of America credit card irresponsibly can damage your credit score
- Bank of America does not offer airline or hotel transfer partners like other banks such as American Express, Chase or Capital One
- It may be challenging to get full value from Bank of America credit cards if you don't have a Preferred Rewards membership
Frequently asked questions
To apply for any of the Bank of America credit cards on this list, select the “Apply Now” button below each Bank of America card.
The best way to activate your Bank of America card is online with your banking ID and passcode. You can begin your activation process for your Bank of America credit card here.
There is no best Bank of America credit card. Bank of America offers some solid options, but the best card is one that fits your spending habits and financial goals.
If you regularly pay off your balance and have your account in good standing, Bank of America will increase your credit card limit naturally. But if you want to request a credit line increase online, you can begin by signing into your account. You will have to select your credit card account and then select “Request a credit line increase,” which is below Card Details in the Account Summary.
Bank of America credit cards can be a solid option for any wallet. But if you are a Preferred Rewards member, you will be able to maximize the value of your Bank of America credit card.