Best Bank of America credit cards of September 2022
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Bank of America credit cards might not be as flashy as those from big issuers like Chase and American Express, but that doesn't make them any less worthwhile. BofA offers a surprising number of cash-back, flexible points, and travel rewards credit cards worth considering, including personal and small-business options.
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Best for flat-rate cash back: Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for customizing your own bonus category: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for travel: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Best for premium travel benefits: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
Best airline card: Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card
Best small business card with flat-rate cash back: Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best small-business card with customizable rewards: Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best small-business card for travel: Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® Credit Card
Earn more with the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program
Bank of America cards are much more valuable if you're a member of Bank of America Preferred Rewards. The Bank of America Preferred Rewards program earns cardholders up to 75% more rewards and exclusive benefits on eligible Bank of America cards (not including co-branded cards like the
Your reward rates and benefits are determined by your tier level.
Depending on your tier level, being a Preferred Rewards member can significantly increase the value of certain Bank of America credit cards. For example, the
Compare Bank of America credit cards
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Card
Why the BofA Unlimited Cash Rewards card is worth it: The
Welcome bonus offer: Earn a
The no-annual-fee
You can redeem cash back as a statement credit, deposits into an eligible Bank of America account, and credits to a qualifying Merrill account. Your rewards won't expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.
As with most BofA cards, new and existing cardholders can now activate a free year of Grubhub+ membership, which includes free delivery on orders over $12. However, the
Pros: Strong flat-rate rewards, great welcome bonus, long 0% introductory APR, no annual fee
Cons: Foreign transaction fee, some other no-annual-fee cards have better benefits
Review: Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards review
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Card
Why the BofA Customized Cash Rewards card is worth it: The no-annual-fee
Welcome bonus offer: Earn a
The
The card has a
Apart from a free year of GrubHub+ membership, the
Pros: 3% cash back on an eligible category of your choosing, long intro APR for purchases, decent welcome bonus, no annual fee
Cons: Charges a foreign transaction fee, cap on 3% and 2% cash-back categories
Review: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards review
Bank of America Travel Rewards Card
Why the BofA Travel Rewards Card is worth it: The no-annual-fee
Welcome bonus offer: Earn
With the
The card comes with a
But if you're looking for travel insurance or perks, you're better off with a different travel rewards card.
Pros: Points redeemable on travel and dining purchases, straightforward rewards, long intro APR, no foreign transaction fee
Cons: Most other travel cards have more benefits, no bonus earning on travel purchases
Review: Bank of America Travel Rewards review
Bank of America Premium Rewards Card
Why the BofA Premium Rewards Card is worth it: The
Welcome bonus offer: Earn
With the
Pros: Great welcome bonus, airline fee and TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit, flexible redemption options, travel benefits, no foreign transaction fees
Cons: Annual fee, some other travel cards have higher earning rates, no 0% intro APR deal
Review: Bank of America Premium Rewards review
Alaska Airlines Credit Card
Why the Alaska Airlines Visa is worth it: The
Welcome bonus offer: Earn
The
The
The
Pros: Huge welcome bonus, annual companion fare, earns valuable Alaska miles, no foreign transaction fees
Cons: Annual fee, no bonus categories outside of Alaska purchases
Review: Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card review
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Card
Why the BofA Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards card is worth it: The
Welcome bonus offer: Earn
The no-annual-fee
One notable perk is that you'll receive $100,000 in travel accident insurance. In addition, the
But it has a shorter intro APR deal than the personal version of the card. New cardholders receive a
Pros: 1.5% cash back on all purchases, travel insurance, no annual fee
Cons: Foreign transaction fees, other cards have longer 0% intro APR offers
Review: Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards review
Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Card
Why the BofA Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards card is worth it: The no-annual-fee
Welcome bonus offer: Earn
Your business earns 3% cash back in the category of your choosing (from a list), 2% cash back on dining, and 1% cash back on all other purchases when you use the
You can choose which bonus category to earn 3% cash back in (gas stations, office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom/wireless, computer services, or business consulting services), and you can switch your earning category up to once a month. There are several options for redeeming rewards, including statement credits, checks, or direct deposit to an eligible BofA or Merill account.
New cardholders can take advantage of a
Pros: 3% cash back in an eligible bonus category of your choice, flexible redemption options, travel and purchase benefits, no annual fee
Cons: Foreign transaction fees, other cards have longer 0% intro APR offers
Review: Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards review
Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards Card
Why the BofA Business Advantage Travel Rewards Card is worth it: The
Welcome bonus offer: Earn
The no-annual-fee
Points are redeemable as cash, check, direct deposit, gift card, or credit to an eligible BofA/Merill account. The
- Airlines
- Hotels
- Trailer parks
- Cruise lines
- Zoos
- Restaurants
- Carnivals
- Art galleries
- Travel agencies
Although it gives cardholders access to a lot of different ways to redeem, determining what is eligible or not could potentially become tricky. So, if you're looking for straightforward point redemptions, you might consider a different travel rewards card.
The
You'll also get accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation coverage, overdraft protection, and fraud protection. There are no foreign transaction fees, which means it's a good card to travel internationally with.
Pros: Good welcome bonus offer, unique redemption options, no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees
Cons: Other cards have longer 0% intro APR offers, redemption options can be confusing
Review: Business Advantage Travel Rewards review
Bank of America credit card frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What credit score do you need to apply for a Bank of America credit card?
You need good to excellent credit to qualify for the best Bank of America credit cards (most of the cards on this list) — meaning a FICO score of at least 670 (VantageScore of at least 700). Certain cards (such as the
That said, Bank of America does offer secured and student versions of certain cards to folks with limited or no credit history.
How do you request a credit line increase with Bank of America?
You can request a credit line increase on eligible Bank of America credit cards when you sign into your Online Banking account, select your credit card, go to Account Summary, and click the "Request a credit line increase" link under Card Details.
How can you avoid paying interest on your Bank of America card?
The best way to avoid paying interest on your Bank of America card (as with all credit cards) is by paying your credit on time and consistently. Just paying the monthly minimum won't prevent you from incurring interest on the remaining balance (interest is charged on your next statement). So if you want to completely avoid interest charges, you'll need to pay your balance in full each month.
If you struggle to remember to pay your balance every month, you can set up automatic payments through the Online Banking app or site.