Best Bank of America credit cards of August 2023

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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.

• 250+ cards analyzed.
• 10+ data points considered.
• 5-step fact-checking process.

Best Bank of America credit cards of August 2023

Best travel rewards card

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Apply Now

On Bank of America’s Secure Website

Welcome 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

60,000 online bonus points

Annual Fee

$95

Regular APR

20.24% – 27.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Credit Score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(700 – 749) Good, Excellent

Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 you spend on travel and dining purchases. Earn 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don’t expire.

Editor’s Take

Pros

• Elevated rewards on travel and dining.
• Valuable perks.
• Premium travel protections.

Cons

• $95 annual fee.
• Good to excellent credit required.
• Highest rewards rates limited to Bank of America Preferred Rewards customers.

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card earns a solid base rate on most purchases and elevated rewards on travel and dining. There’s an annual fee, but it can be justified by the annual up to $100 statement credit for flight incidentals and up to $100 statement credit every four years toward TSA’s trusted traveler programs.

Card Details

• NEW OFFER! 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.
• 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.
• Low $95 annual fee.
• 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 travel rewards card for students

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students

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The information for the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Welcome 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.

25,000 points

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Credit Score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(700 – 749) Good, Excellent

Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, every time and no expiration on points.

Editor’s Take

Pros

• Accessible for student applicants.
• Solid rewards of 1.5 points per $1 on purchases.
• No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.

Cons

• High APR outside of intro offer.
• Points have lower value if redeemed for cash back.
• Lack of bonus earning categories.

Students planning to study abroad and looking for a card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees should consider the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students * The information for the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . Plus, it earns rewards at a solid flat rate on every purchase.

Card Details

• 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.
• APR: 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days, and then a 18.24% to 28.24% variable APR. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
• Foreign transaction fees: None.
• Perks and benefits: Access to your FICO Score when you opt in. Use your card with digital wallets including Apple Pay®, Google Pay™ and Samsung Pay.

Best cash-back card for students

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students

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The information for the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Welcome Bonus

$200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening

$200

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Credit Score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(700 – 749) Good, Excellent

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Editor’s Take

Pros

• Lengthy APR financing on both new purchases and balance transfers.
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases.
• Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending at least $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Cons

• No travel insurance protections.
• No shopping protections.
• Charges foreign transaction fees, making it a poor choice for students to use abroad.

There are very few cards with intro APR financing that are available to students, and even fewer that also offer rewards. This card features competitive terms for both, with a straightforward flat-rate cash-back program busy students are likely to appreciate.

Card Details

• Annual fee: $0.
• Rewards: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases.
• APR: 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases and any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then a standard APR of 18.24% to 28.24% variable. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
• Perks and benefits: FICO Score after opting in, optional overdraft protection.

Best for a low intro APR

BankAmericard® credit card

Apply Now

On Bank of America’s Secure Website

Welcome Bonus

N/A

N/A

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

16.24% – 26.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Credit Score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(700 – 749) Good, Excellent

The BankAmericard® credit card does not offer rewards on purchases.

Editor’s Take

Pros

• No annual fee.
• Introductory low APR period for both purchases and balance transfers.
• Long low introductory APR period.

Cons

• No rewards offered.
• Few benefits available.
• There’s a balance transfer fee.

When your main focus is finding the longest intro APR offer available, the BankAmericard® credit card from Bank of America delivers. It offers stellar intro APR periods on both purchases and balance transfers and charges no annual fee.

Card Details

• 0% Introductory APR for 21 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 16.24% – 26.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
• No annual fee.
• No penalty APR. Paying late won’t automatically raise your interest rate (APR). Other account pricing and terms apply.
• Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
• 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 secured cash-back card

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card

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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.

Welcome Bonus

N/A

N/A

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

27.99% variable

Credit Score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(0 – 649) Bad, Poor

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases

Editor’s Take

Pros

• Flat 1.5% cash-back rate on eligible purchases.
• Accepts balance transfers (3% balance transfer fee).
• Path to upgrade to an unsecured card.Minimum security deposit of $200.
  No meaningful perks.

Cons

• Minimum security deposit of $200.
• No meaningful perks.

With the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured card, you can establish or rebuild your credit and still earn a solid flat cash-back rate on all eligible purchases. The card reports to all three credit bureaus and offers a path to upgrade to an unsecured card.

Card Details

• Annual fee: $0.
• Rewards: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases.
• Welcome bonus: None.
• APR: 27.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of 3% of each transaction applies.
• Perks and benefits: Path to upgrade to an unsecured card, cash rewards don’t expire, $0 fraud liability, monthly FICO credit score.

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. 

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.