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Best Bank of America® credit cards for June 2023

Updated June 05, 2023

Bank of America has a variety of high-value credit cards that offer everything from cash back to travel rewards. Here’s what you need to know about Bank of America’s best card offerings, who these cards may be best for and break down why these are our top picks for the best cards available from our credit card partner, Bank of America.

Image of Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Best for qualifying travel purchases

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Image of Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Credit Card Best Choose your 3% category

Best for choice of rewards category

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Image of BankAmericard® credit card

Best for balance transfers

BankAmericard® credit card

Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Image of Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
3.5 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Recommended credit

Excellent (740 – 850)
Info
Image of Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card
Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Image of Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Best Bank of America travel card

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Image of Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card

Best for Alaska Airlines perks

Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card

Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

Info

Annual fee

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
On This Page

Compare Bankrate's picks for best Bank of America credit cards

Card Name Earns Preferred Rewards           Best for Bankrate Review Score
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Yes Qualifying travel purchases 4.1 / 5
(Read full review)
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Yes Choice of rewards category 4.3 / 5
(Read full review)
BankAmericard® credit card No Balance transfers 5.0 / 5
(Read full review)
Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card Yes Bank of America business card 3.5 / 5
(Read full review)
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card Yes Cash back 3.8 / 5
(Read full review)
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card Yes Bank of America travel card 4.1 / 5
(Read full review)
Alaska Airlines Visa credit card No Alaska Airlines perks 4.4 / 5
(Read full review)

A closer look at our top Bank of America cards

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card: Best for qualifying travel purchases

  • What we love about this card: Cardholders will earn rewards for various travel purchases. The card also forgoes an annual fee, keeping costs low.
  • Who is this card good for: Travelers who value flexibility and versatility in their travel card. Get rewarded for purchases at art galleries, zoos, campgrounds and more with this card.
  • Alternatives: This Bank of America travel card does offer flexibility in terms of what you can redeem for travel, but if flexibility means being able to redeem rewards for cash back, you might be better off with the Discover it® Miles.

Read our full Bank of America Travel Rewards review or jump back to offer details.

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for choice of rewards category

  • What we love about this card: The control the card gives consumers over their own earning potential.
  • Who is this card good for: People who prioritize flexibility but still want rewards. Cardholders will earn an elevated cash back rate in the category of their choice.
  • Alternatives: If you want the same level of flexibility with less work on your part, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card  is a notable alternative. Cardholders earn elevated rewards in their highest eligible spending category each billing cycle, but they won’t need to enroll in new categories each month. Citi will make the adjustments automatically.

Read our full Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card review or jump back to offer details.

BankAmericard credit card: Best for balance transfers

  • What we love about this card: It’s one of the more lengthy balance transfer cards available.
  • Who is this card good for: People who only want to do a balance transfer with few added distractions. Cardholders will see a lengthy (though temporary) break from interest charges on qualifying balance transfers.
  • Alternatives: If you're searching for a balance transfer card but still want to earn rewards, the Citi® Double Cash Card is a good choice to consider. Its unique earning structure also encourages consumers to pay off their balances regularly, since you get 1 percent back when you buy and 1 percent back when you pay off your purchase.

Read our full BankAmericard credit card review or jump back to offer details.

Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card: Best Bank of America business card

  • What we love about this card: Flexibility. This card provides business owners with flexible options to earn rewards in several categories and allows for redemption in multiple ways.
  • Who is this card good for: Business owners who spend heavily in categories like travel and office supplies. If your business expenses fall in line with any of the Bank of America Business Advantage categories and you’re looking to cash in on potential rewards, you’ll see a lot of benefits in this card.
  • Alternatives: You’ll get many of the same benefits and features with the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card. The Blue Business Cash touts a slightly longer introductory APR period, but the rewards structure and welcome offer of the Business Advantage Customized Cash card are a bit more lucrative.

Read our full Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card review or jump back to offer details.

Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card: Best for cash back

  • What we love about this card: It is one of Bank of America’s simplest cash back credit card offerings. Cardholders get a straightforward 1.5 percent cash back rate on all purchases.
  • Who is this card good for: Cash back newbies. If you’re new to the world of cash back rewards cards, this card is an accessible option with a straight-forward rewards structure.
  • Alternatives: If you’re searching for another way to dive into the world of cash back, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is an alternative. It not only earns the same 1.5 percent cash back rate on general purchases, but also earns 5 percent cash back on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 3 percent cash back at restaurants and drugstores.

Read our full Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card review or jump back to offer details.

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card: Best Bank of America travel card

  • What we love about this card: This card ups your earning potential by offering the highest rewards rate on both travel and dining purchases.
  • Who is this card good for: Bank of America customers with big savings accounts who can maximize the boosted rewards rates in the Preferred Rewards program.
  • Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides a reasonable alternative to the Bank of America Premium Rewards card. With the Sapphire Preferred you’ll get many of the same travel perks and protections for the same annual fee.

Read our full Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card review or jump back to offer details.

Alaska Airlines Visa credit card: Best for Alaska Airlines perks

  • What we love about this card: It has all the features you’d look for as a frequent flyer with Alaskan Airlines. Benefits include a free checked bag for you and up to six companions on the same reservation, discounts on inflight purchases and a generous sign-up bonus.
  • Who is this card good for: Alaska Airlines loyalists who travel with a companion. Flyers who can make use of the Alaska Airlines’ companion pass can get a ton of value from the card. 
  • Alternatives: If you want a travel card with maximum flexibility, the Alaska Airlines Visa may not be the right choice. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred touts a generous sign-up bonus and access to an extensive list of travel partners in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. The Sapphire Preferred does miss the mark on some standard features — like free checked bags — that you’ll get with the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card.

Read our full Alaska Airlines Visa credit card review or jump back to offer details.

 


What is Bank of America?

Bank of America is the second largest full-service bank in the U.S. and operates in more than 35 countries.

Bank of America was the first U.S. bank to offer a general-purpose credit card with the BankAmericard, released in 1958. In addition to credit cards, Bank of America also offers other financial services, including mortgages, car loans, checking and savings accounts and investments through Merrill Lynch.

When it comes to credit cards, Bank of America is generally well-regarded by its customers. The issuer ranks in the top three among national issuers with a score of 818 according to the J.D. Power 2022 credit card satisfaction survey. This score puts Bank of America behind Discover — which scored 841. Satisfaction ratings for Bank of America have increased in recent years, and this increase may be due to some unique benefits of holding its cards, most notably the Preferred Rewards Program.

Types of Bank of America credit cards

The most popular types of credit cards from Bank of America are travel credit cards, cash back credit cards and business credit cards. Bank of America offers an array of options in these categories, and a lot of those options are fairly competitive in the cards landscape.

Travel credit cards from Bank of America

The travel options are ideal for people who want to earn miles toward travel on everyday spending, are loyal to a particular airline (Alaska Airlines), or who cast a wide net on the types of travel purchases they make.

Editor’s choice: The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card.

Cash back credit cards from Bank of America

Bank of America’s cash back cards offer spending category flexibility, no-hassle earning opportunities and fairly high spending caps if they apply. Plus, Preferred Rewards Program members can earn boosted cash back when they have eligible balances in Bank of America accounts, adding more to the cash back opportunities.

Editor’s choice: The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card.

Business credit cards from Bank of America

The Business card options from Bank of America provide low-hassle rewards structures and can give businesses some autonomy over where they earn the most depending on the card. They also offer plenty of breathing room to earn in multiple business-centric spending categories like travel and office supplies and could prove lucrative for both established and small businesses alike.

Editor’s choice: The Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card.

Pros and cons of Bank of America credit cards

Pros

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    Preferred Rewards: Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards Program can boost your rewards earning rates by up to 75 percent depending on your membership tier.

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    No or low annual fees: Most Bank of America cards either have no annual fee or low annual fees, making them an affordable addition to your wallet.

Cons

  • High credit score barrier of entry: Many Bank of America cards recommend applicants have at least good credit to apply (a minimum of a 670 on the FICO scale).

  • Middle-ground welcome bonuses: Though the welcome offers on Bank of America cards are rather easy to attain, they are not often as lucrative as what you could get on more premier cards from other issuers.

Who should get a Bank of America credit card?

Bank of America has options for many kinds of credit card users, but some consumer groups can especially benefit from one of its credit cards. They include:

Still unsure if a Bank of America credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

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Bankrate Insight

By using an eligible card to book airfare, hotels or rental cars through the Bank of America Travel Center, you can earn double the standard rewards rate on those purchases.

How the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program works

The invite-only Preferred Rewards Program takes Bank of America’s services — including credit cards — from good to great. Using Bank of America for both your checking and savings account needs can help you maximize the value you get from its services. As a member of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program, you can boost your rewards bonus that you earn on your Bank of America credit cards, qualify for auto loans and home equity discounts and take advantage of interest rate boosters for saving accounts.

There are three tiers of Preferred Rewards, and your combined balances in your Bank of America banking and/or your Merrill investment accounts determine your rewards tier. You need to enroll in the program, but once you do, you’re automatically moved up as your balances grow.

Here is a simple breakdown of how each tier can help you earn more with your Bank of America credit card:

In terms of the value of your rewards, Bankrate’s latest points and miles valuations have Bank of America travel rewards valued at an average of 1 cent per point. As an example, this factor would mean that the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card’s welcome offer of 60,000 online bonus points after you make $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening comes in at $600 in value, which could be substantial depending on your travel spending.

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Bankrate Insight

BankAmericard, the second universal credit card ever offered, was launched by Bank of America in 1958.

Are Bank of America credit cards worth it?

There are a variety of Bank of America cards and it’s likely anyone can find value in at least one of them. However, whether one of these cards is worth it depends mostly on your spending habits and financial needs.

Before deciding which Bank of America credit card is right for you, you’ll need to know whether your primary goal is building credit, avoiding interest or earning rewards. Then, you can evaluate your options to see which card will best help you achieve your goals based on your credit history, outstanding card balances and spending habits.

Once you’ve narrowed in on a Bank of America card, weigh that card against similar options available from other issuers. This action will give you the best idea of whether a Bank of America card is the right choice and introduce you to the various perks, benefits and rewards programs available on competing cards.

How we chose the best Bank of America credit cards

Bankrate's personal finance experts have evaluated the top Bank of America cards according to our 5-star rating system. The list of criteria for rating credit cards includes:
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    Rewards
    Whether the card offers cash back, travel points/miles or multi-purpose rewards for eligible purchases and the potential returns based on rewards rate (1 percent cash back per $1 spent, 1 mile per $1 spent, and so on).
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    Perks and benefits
    Whether the card offers extras such as retail discounts, extended warranties on purchases, travel insurance and financial management tools.
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    Annual fee
    Whether the card charges an annual fee and if so, how much the card's overall value and benefits might offset the fee.
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    Introductory offers
    Whether the card has a sign-up bonus, welcome offer or similar sign-up incentive and how much it adds to the card's overall value.
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    Variable APR
    How the card's APR compares with current averages as an indicator of cost and value.
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    Foreign transaction fee
    Whether the card charges a foreign transaction fee for international purchases and how the fee affects the card's overall value.

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bank of America credit cards