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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured review: Build credit and earn cash back, your way

 /  5 min
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At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for and how we rate our cards. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

Snapshot

3.8

Bankrate rating
Info
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5

Bottom line

Due to the rewards you can earn and the lack of an annual fee, the Bank of AmericaⓇ Customized Cash Rewards Secured should be on your list if you need a credit card for bad credit.

Image of Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card

*
3.8
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
Bankrate score
Info
No Credit History
Info
Recommended Credit

N/A

Intro offer

Info

1% - 3%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Overview

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card* is a secured credit card, meaning you have to put down cash in order to secure your line of credit. However, the security deposit requirement means almost anyone can get approved for this card, even individuals with bad credit who can’t get approved for unsecured credit cards.

Read on to learn about this card’s rewards and perks, plus how it stacks up to a few comparable cards.

What are the pros and cons?

Pros

  • Checkmark

    Available for consumers with bad credit.

  • Checkmark

    You can build credit with on-time payments and responsible credit use.

  • Checkmark

    Earn a boosted cash back rate on bonus categories on eligible purchases.

Cons

  • Requires a security deposit to open an account.

  • Bonus categories that earn 3 percent or 2 percent cash back are capped at $2,500 in spending per quarter.

  • No welcome offer available for new customers.

A deeper look into the current card offer

Quick highlights

  • Rewards rate: Earn 3 percent cash back in a category of your choosing (among gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores and home improvement/furnishings), 2 percent cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1 percent back on other purchases (bonus rewards in 3 percent and 2 percent categories are limited to the first $2,500 in combined spending per quarter)
  • Welcome offer: None
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Purchase intro APR: N/A
  • Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
  • Regular APR: 23.99 percent variable APR

Current welcome offer

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured does not offer a sign-up bonus of any kind, but this is expected among credit cards for bad credit. Many secured credit cards don’t offer rewards at all, and those that do rarely come with welcome offers.

Rewards rate

Cardholders who choose the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured can earn 3 percent cash back in a category of their choosing (among gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores and home improvement/furnishings), 2 percent cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1 percent back on other purchases. However, it’s important to note that bonus rewards in 3 percent and 2 percent categories are limited to the first $2,500 in combined spending per quarter.

One major benefit of the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured is the fact you earn rewards on your spending. The rewards rates are also relatively generous when you compare to other secured credit cards.

How you earn

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured stands out due to the fact cardholders can earn rewards. Individuals who choose this card can even pick the category they earn the most rewards in among gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores and home improvement/furnishings, which is great for maximizing cash back. Plus, the standard 2 percent cash back rate at grocery stores and wholesale clubs can make this card a good choice for foodies or families with big food bills.

This means the most you can earn in 3 percent and 2 percent categories works out to $75 in rewards per quarter, and that’s if you spent a full $2,500 in one of the card’s 3 percent back categories. All other purchases will earn 1 percent in cash back.

How to redeem

This secured card offers three main options when it comes to redeeming your rewards. You can:

  • Redeem your cash back for statement credits in any amount, or for deposits into an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account
  • Redeem rewards for contributions to a 529 college savings account with Merrill (starting at $25)
  • Set up automatic redemptions (starting at $25) for transfers into eligible Bank of America or Merrill accounts

While having more than one way to redeem rewards is definitely a good thing, options with this card are pretty limited since other rewards cards let you redeem for gift cards, merchandise, travel and more.

How much are the rewards worth?

You don’t really earn “points” with this card, but you earn rewards in the form of cash back instead. If you did earn points, however, each point you earned would be worth one cent each.

Other cardholder perks

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured is very light on perks, but this is common with secured credit cards. Main cardholder benefits you should know about include the following:

Free credit score

This card gives you a free FICO credit score, which is the type of credit score used by 90 percent of top lenders. With a free look at your FICO score from time to time, you can keep an eye out for problems and track your credit score for progress.

Low minimum security deposit

You have to put down cash to secure your line of credit on the Bank of America Ⓡ Customized Cash Rewards Secured, yet this card’s minimum requirement starts at $300. Also note that your security deposit is fully refundable if you upgrade your secured card or close your account in good standing.

Contactless payment options

Cardholders can enjoy contactless payment options, including contactless chip technology. The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured is also compatible with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rates and fees

The Bank of America Ⓡ Customized Cash Rewards Secured comes with no annual fee, which makes it more affordable than many other credit cards for bad credit. With that being said, the high variable APR of 23.99 percent can make carrying a balance costly.

Also note that this card charges a 3 percent foreign transaction fee when you use it for purchases abroad. Other fees to watch out for include a 3 percent balance transfer fee (minimum $10), a 3 percent cash advance fee (minimum $10) and a late fee of $40 if you pay your bill after its due date.

How the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured compares to other secured credit cards

If you have a low credit score and can only get approved for a secured credit card, you should compare all the best options before you choose one. The chart below shows how the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured stacks up to two other secured credit cards.

Image of Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card

Annual fee

None

Intro offer

N/A

Rewards rate

1% - 3%
Info

Recommended Credit Score

No Credit History
Info
Image of Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Bankrate Score
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site

Annual fee

$0

Intro offer

Cashback Match™
Info

Rewards rate

1% - 2%
Info

Recommended Credit Score

No Credit History
Info
Image of Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card

Annual fee

$0

Intro offer

N/A

Rewards rate

N/A

Recommended Credit Score

No Credit History
Info

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured vs. Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured

For the most part, these two Bank of America credit cards are very similar. However, the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured does not have any bonus rewards categories, and instead you earn a flat 1.5 percent cash back for each dollar you spend.

Compare these two card’s rewards rates and how they might work for your spending before you sign up.

Bank of AmericaCustomized Cash Rewards Secured vs. Discover it® Secured Credit Card

You can also consider the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, which lets you earn cash back with a minimum security deposit of $200 and no annual fee. This secured card lets you earn 2 percent cash back on up to $1,000 in combined spending on gas stations and restaurants each quarter (then 1 percent back), plus 1 percent back on regular purchases. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year

Bankrate’s Take: Is the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured worth it?

Since the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured is a secured credit card, and since any other cards you can likely qualify for will fall in the same category, you shouldn’t pair this card with any others. After all, getting another secured credit card would require you to put down another security deposit.

Instead, use this card to rack up rewards and build your credit score. With enough on-time payments and responsible credit use under your belt, you’ll be able to graduate to a better credit card later on.

If your goal is building credit and earning some rewards along the way, the Bank of AmericaⓇ Customized Cash Rewards Secured should be at the top of your list. There’s no annual fee, you can earn up to 3 percent back on select purchases and you can get started with a minimum security deposit of $300.

The information about the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Written by
Holly D. Johnson
Author, Award-Winning Writer

Holly Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing work for clients that include CNN, Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, Time Magazine and more.

Edited by
Itzel Garcia Ruiz
Reviewed by Senior Editor, Credit Cards

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.