BankAmericard vs. Citi Diamond Preferred

The BankAmericard® credit card and Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card both feature introductory APR offers and $0 annual fees. Whether you’re looking to pay down debt or finance a large purchase, taking advantage of a 0 percent intro APR offer can be a great way to save money on the interest that would normally accrue on your balance.

In this comparison of the BankAmericard vs. Citi Diamond Preferred, we’ll cover the differences, benefits and drawbacks.

Main details

BankAmericard vs. Citi Diamond Preferred highlights

Intro APR winner: BankAmericard

The BankAmericard credit card wins here thanks to its 0 percent intro APR offer for 21 billing cycles on both purchases and balance transfers, compared to the Citi Diamond Preferred’s 0 percent intro APR offer for 21 months on balance transfers and 0 percent intro APR offer for 12 months on purchases. This means that the BankAmericard may tip in your favor if you’re interested in funding a large purchase over time sans interest. Note, the BankAmericard also features a lower variable APR after the intro APR offer ends (16.24 percent to 26.24 percent) compared to the Diamond Preferred (18.24 percent to 28.99 percent).

Keep in mind, though, that you’ll need to transfer your balance within the first 60 days to take advantage of the BankAmericard balance transfer offer, and the Citi Diamond Preferred requires you to do so within the first four months. In other words, if you anticipate needing more time to transfer your balance over, doing a balance transfer with Citi would make more sense.

Balance transfer fee winner: BankAmericard

Given that the BankAmericard charges a 3 percent balance transfer fee, compared to the Citi Diamond Preferred’s 5 percent fee (or $5, whichever is greater), the BankAmericard easily wins here.

Annual fee winner: Tie

Neither card charges an annual fee. This makes both the BankAmericard and Diamond Preferred a good fit for borrowers who want to be sure they’re getting their money’s worth — no matter how much or little they spend.

Which card saves more on balance transfers?

Both of these cards feature intro APR offers, but which card will save you more money ultimately depends on how much you plan to transfer, your budget and how fast you plan to pay off the debt.

BankAmericard vs. Citi Diamond Preferred balance transfer example

Let’s pretend you’re transferring a balance of $5,000 from another card.

Using the BankAmericard, you’ll incur a 3 percent balance transfer fee ($150), which will bring your total card balance up to $5,150. With 21 billing cycles to pay off the balance before incurring interest (then a variable APR of 16.24 percent to 26.24 percent), you could pay about $245 per month in order to reduce the balance to zero by the time the intro APR period ends.

With the Citi Diamond Preferred, you’ll incur a slightly higher 5 percent balance transfer fee ($250), for a total balance of $5,250. With 21 months to pay off your balance (then a variable APR of 18.24 percent to 28.99 percent), you would pay $250 per month in order to reduce the balance to zero by the time the intro period ends.

As you can see by this example, these cards have very similar monthly payments, and it may ultimately come down to your balance transfer fee preference — or even the variable APR you’re more comfortable with, should you fail to fully pay off your balance within the introductory window.

Why you should get the BankAmericard

While it doesn’t offer as many perks and benefits as standard rewards credit cards, the BankAmericard is a good option if you’re looking to do a balance transfer with Bank of America. Here are a few BankAmericard benefits to consider, including the recommended credit score for applying.

Additional benefits

In addition to its intro APR offers, the BankAmericard comes with free FICO credit score access, no penalty APR (should you miss a payment one month) and basic security features, like $0 fraud liability.

Recommended credit score

Borrowers need good to excellent credit (670 to 850) in order to qualify for this card.

Why you should get the Citi Diamond Preferred

Like the BankAmericard, the Citi Diamond Preferred Card is a great card for balance transfers, but it doesn’t come with many other bells and whistles. Here’s a look at Citi Diamond Preferred benefits and the recommended credit score range in order to qualify.

Additional benefits

Additional benefits of the Diamond Preferred include access to Citi Flex Loans, Citi Entertainment and Citi Easy Deals. Through Citi Easy Deals, in particular, you can score discounts and more on specific offers within your online account.

Recommended credit score

You need good to excellent credit (670 to 850) to qualify for this card.

The bottom line

Neither card comes with the perks and benefits associated with more premium rewards cards, but both the BankAmericard and Citi Diamond Preferred are good options to consider if you’re looking to transfer a balance from another card and pay off that balance with an intro APR offer.

The card that’s right for your wallet ultimately depends on your balance transfer fee preference, how much time you need to transfer your balance and whether you’re interested in a longer intro APR on purchases. For more detailed information on both cards’ offerings, read through our BankAmericard credit card review and Citi Diamond Preferred Card review.

The information about the BankAmericard® credit card was updated on August 9, 2023.