Our Best Bank of America Cards of November 2026

Discover the top-performing Bank of America credit cards for cash back, travel, and debt payoff. With the BofA Rewards program, loyal banking customers can boost their credit card earning rates by up to 75%, turning ordinary cards into some of the highest-earning options on the market.

Bank of America is the second-largest bank in the U.S. and one of the top-ranked credit card issuers for customer satisfaction. In J.D. Power's 2025 credit card satisfaction study, Bank of America placed third among all issuers, ahead of both Chase and Citi.

What makes Bank of America different from other issuers is the BofA Rewards program (formerly Preferred Rewards). If you keep $20,000 or more in Bank of America and Merrill accounts, your credit card rewards rates get boosted by 25% to 75%, depending on your balance tier. A card that earns 1.5% cash back suddenly earns 2.625%. A card that earns 3% in a bonus category jumps to 5.25%. No other issuer offers anything like this. If you already bank with BofA or Merrill, these cards become significantly more competitive than their base rates suggest.

We reviewed five Bank of America credit cards. Here's how they compare.

• The Top BofA Cards: A direct comparison of the best Bank of America options for cash back, travel, and debt payoff.

• The Rewards Boost: How the BofA Rewards program can push your earning rates up to 75% higher than the base rate.

• Redemption Options: How Bank of America rewards work, including their key limitation: no airline or hotel transfer partners.

• Application Rules: Bank of America's 2/3/4 rule and what you need to know before applying.

Bank of America cards don't get the same attention as Chase Sapphire or Amex Gold in the credit card community. That's partly because BofA doesn't offer transfer partners to airlines or hotels, which limits the upside for points maximizers. But for the following three types of cardholders, Bank of America is genuinely hard to beat.

First, if you bank with BofA or Merrill. The rewards boost changes the math on every card. The Unlimited Cash Rewards card goes from a standard 1.5% flat-rate card to a 2.625% flat-rate card at the Platinum Honors tier. That's higher than any flat-rate competitor on the market, including the Citi Double Cash.

Second, if you want no annual fees. Four of BofA's five main consumer cards charge $0/year. The only exception is the Premium Rewards at $95, and its $100 airline incidentals credit more than covers the fee.

Third, if you need a long intro APR. The BankAmericard offers 21 billing cycles at 0% on both purchases and balance transfers (15.24% - 26.24% APR thereafter). That's among the longest available from any issuer.

Bank of America's credit card rewards system is straightforward, with one powerful twist for banking customers.

1. Earning: You earn cash back or travel points on everyday spending. Cards earn between 1% and 6% depending on the card and category. The Customized Cash Rewards card lets you choose your own 3% bonus category (6% in year one).

2. Boosting: If you're enrolled in the BofA Rewards program (requires $20,000+ in combined BofA/Merrill account balances), your earning rates increase by 25% to 75% depending on your tier. This applies automatically to all eligible Bank of America credit cards.

3. Redeeming: Cash back can be redeemed as a statement credit, direct deposit to a BofA account, or check. Travel points redeem at 1 cent each as a statement credit on travel and dining purchases. Unlike Chase or Amex, Bank of America does not offer transfer partners to airlines or hotels. Your points stay within the BofA ecosystem.

To build this guide, we evaluated Bank of America's consumer card lineup across rewards structures, annual fees, welcome bonus accessibility, intro APR terms, and the impact of the BofA Rewards program on each card's value. We compared each card against competitors from Chase, Citi, and Capital One, and factored in BofA-specific considerations like the 2/3/4 application rule and the Preferred Rewards tier structure. Card details were verified against Bank of America's official terms and conditions.

We reviewed five Bank of America credit cards available on BestMoney. Here's how they compare and which ones are worth your attention.

Bank of America Credit Cards at a Glance

Cash Back

Bank of America offers two cash back cards, each with a different approach: one with customizable bonus categories, one with a flat rate on everything.

• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card ($0/year): Earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice. You’ll automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. After the first year from account opening, you’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases in your choice category. Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum. $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. Includes 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.74% - 27.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America. The ability to pick your own top category is genuinely useful. If you're paying for home renovations or spend heavily on online shopping, this card lets you earn bonus cash where competitors don't. With BofA Rewards Platinum Honors status, the 3% choice category becomes 5.25%.

Want to compare more cash back options? See the best cash back credit cards ranked by rewards rate, fees, and flexibility.

• Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card ($0/year): Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. No limit to the amount of cash back you can earn and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open. Limited Time Offer! $250 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. Includes 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.74% - 27.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America. Where this card transforms is inside the BofA Rewards program. At the Preferred Honors tier ($100K+ in BofA/Merrill accounts), the 1.5% rate jumps to 2.625% on every purchase, no categories to track, no caps. That's the highest unlimited flat rate available from any major issuer.

Travel

• Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card ($0/year): Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through BofA Travel. 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. Includes 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.74% - 27.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America. No annual fee. This card has a broad definition of "travel" that includes parking, tolls, amusement parks, and aquariums. It's simple and effective for people who want travel-style rewards without fees or complexity. No foreign transaction fees, which is unusual for a no-annual-fee card. BofA Rewards members can earn up to 2.625X on all purchases. The limitation: no transfer partners. You can't move these points to an airline or hotel program for outsized value the way you can with Chase or Citi.

Looking beyond Bank of America? Compare the best travel rewards credit cards to see how BofA stacks up against Chase Sapphire and Capital One Venture.

• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card ($95/year): 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 as long as your account remains open. 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. Includes a $100 annual airline incidental credit (seat upgrades, checked bags, lounge passes) and a TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit ($120 value, every four years). The $100 airline credit alone more than covers the $95 annual fee. With BofA Rewards Platinum Honors, the earning rates jump to 3.5X on travel/dining and 2.625X on everything else. BofA's definition of "travel" is broad: flights, hotels, rental cars, parking, tolls, amusement parks, and more. The trade-off: no lounge access (unlike the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum), and no transfer partners. If you're a BofA banking customer, the boosted rates make this competitive. If you're not, the $95 fee is harder to justify against cards from Chase or Citi with richer perks.

Balance Transfer

• BankAmericard® credit card ($0/year): 0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 15.24% - 26.24% will apply. A 5% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.The regular APR range is lower than most competitors, which matters if you carry a balance past the intro period. No rewards, no bonus categories, no penalty APR. A straightforward debt payoff tool with one of the longest intro periods and lowest ongoing rates available.

Not sure the BankAmericard is the right fit? Compare the best balance transfer credit cards to find the longest 0% APR periods and lowest fees.

The BofA Rewards program (formerly Preferred Rewards) is what separates Bank of America cards from the competition. If you keep qualifying balances in BofA and Merrill accounts, your credit card earning rates increase automatically.

Reward Tiers

Note: The BofA Rewards program was restructured in May 2026, replacing the former Gold, Platinum, Platinum Honors, and Diamond tiers. Legacy tier members were migrated to the new structure. The Preferred Honors tier now provides a 50% boost (reduced from the former 75% at Platinum Honors). The 75% boost is now exclusive to the Premier tier ($1M+).

Why It Matters

At the Preferred Plus tier ($30K in combined balances), the Unlimited Cash Rewards card earns 1.875% on everything. That already beats most flat-rate 1.5% cards. At Preferred Honors ($100K+), it earns 2.25%, matching the best 2% cards while requiring zero category tracking. At Premier, 2.625% on every purchase is unmatched by any competitor.

The catch: you need significant assets parked at BofA or Merrill to unlock these rates. If you're already a BofA banking customer with a mortgage, checking account, or Merrill investment portfolio, you may already qualify. If you bank elsewhere, the rewards boost alone probably isn't reason enough to switch banks.

How Redemption Works

Bank of America rewards can be redeemed as statement credits, direct deposits to a BofA account, or checks. Travel points can be applied as statement credits on travel and dining purchases at 1 cent per point.

The key limitation: no transfer partners. Unlike Chase (14 airline/hotel partners), Citi (20+ partners), or Amex (21+ partners), Bank of America operates a closed rewards system. Your points stay within BofA and can't be moved to airline or hotel loyalty programs for premium cabin bookings or award nights. For most everyday spenders who prefer cash back, this doesn't matter. For travel points maximizers, it's a real constraint.

Selecting the right card comes down to translating these features into your everyday financial life:

• For BofA Banking Customers: If you have $100K+ in BofA/Merrill accounts, the Unlimited Cash Rewards at 2.25%+ on everything is hard to beat. Pair it with the Customized Cash Rewards for boosted category earning.

• For Flexible Category Spenders: The Customized Cash Rewards lets you pick where you earn the most. Useful if your top spending category isn't covered by standard bonus structures (home improvement, online shopping, drugstores).

• For No-Fee Travelers: The Travel Rewards card earns 1.5X everywhere at $0/year with a broad travel redemption definition. Simple and effective.

• For Premium Benefits at Low Cost: The Premium Rewards card's $100 airline credit covers the $95 annual fee, with TSA PreCheck/Global Entry and 2X on travel/dining on top. Best for BofA Rewards members who don't want to pay $595+ for a premium travel card.

• For Debt Payoff: The BankAmericard gives you 21 months at 0% APR with a lower ongoing rate ( 15.24% - 26.24%) than most competitors charge after the intro period ends.

Ready to make a move? Here are your next steps:

1. Check Your BofA Rewards Status: If you have Bank of America or Merrill accounts, log in and check your combined balance. If you're close to a tier threshold ($30K, $100K, $1M), consider whether consolidating assets would unlock a meaningful rewards boost on your cards.

2. Explore the Best Fit: Read our review of the Customized Cash Rewards for maximum category flexibility, or the Unlimited Cash Rewards for no-category simplicity.

3. Compare the Market: Not sold on Bank of America? See how their offerings stack up on our Compare Cash Back Cards page or our Compare Travel Cards hub.

4. Denied? Try Again: If your application is denied, call Bank of America's reconsideration line (number on the denial letter). Having an existing BofA banking relationship can help your case. Be prepared to discuss your income and the specific card you want.

What is the best Bank of America credit card?

For most people, the Customized Cash Rewards offers the best combination of flexibility and value. If you prefer simplicity, the Unlimited Cash Rewards earns on everything with no categories to manage. BofA Rewards members get significantly more value from either card.

What credit score do I need for a Bank of America card?

Most Bank of America cards require good to excellent credit (670+). Your income, existing debts, and overall credit profile also factor in. BofA also offers secured card versions for people building credit.

Does Bank of America have transfer partners like Chase or Amex?

No. Bank of America operates a closed rewards system. You cannot transfer points to airline or hotel loyalty programs. Rewards redeem as statement credits, direct deposits, or checks. This is the biggest trade-off compared to Chase, Citi, or Amex.

What is the BofA Rewards program?

Formerly called Preferred Rewards, BofA Rewards boosts your credit card earning rates by 25% to 75% based on your combined balance in Bank of America and Merrill accounts. Tiers start at $30,000 (Preferred Plus, 25% boost) and go up to $1M+ (Premier, 75% boost). Enrollment requires a BofA personal checking account.

How does the 2/3/4 rule work?

Bank of America limits applications to 2 new cards per 30 days, 3 per 12 months, and 4 per 24 months. This applies only to Bank of America cards, not cards from other issuers. Business cards generally don't count. You also can't hold more than 5 open consumer BofA cards at a time.

Can I combine rewards across Bank of America cards?

You can combine travel points across cards that earn travel points (Travel Rewards and Premium Rewards). You cannot combine travel points with cash back from cards like the Customized Cash Rewards or Unlimited Cash Rewards. The two reward types stay separate.

Do Bank of America cards charge foreign transaction fees?

The Premium Rewards and Travel Rewards cards charge no foreign transaction fees. The Customized Cash Rewards, Unlimited Cash Rewards, and BankAmericard all charge 3%. For international spending, use the Premium Rewards or Travel Rewards card.

What's the longest 0% APR from Bank of America?

The BankAmericard offers 0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 15.24% - 26.24% will apply. A 5% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.

Related: Compare all Bank of America cards side by side

To ensure accuracy and reliability, the insights in this article were sourced from primary data, authoritative market research, and official issuer terms:

• J.D. Power: Data regarding consumer satisfaction rankings was sourced directly from the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study.

• Bank of America Official Terms: Card details, fees, earning rates, and welcome bonus requirements were verified via the official Bank of America Credit Cards portal.

• BofA Rewards Program: Tier structures, boost percentages, and eligibility requirements were verified via the official BofA Rewards page.

• BestMoney Proprietary Analysis: Rewards valuations and competitive comparisons are based on BestMoney's internal editorial testing and ongoing market analysis.

Disclosure: The information related to Bank of America credit cards has been collected by Bestmoney.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of these products or services.

Editorial disclosure: The credit card offers and information presented on this page are current as of the published date. However, credit card terms, including APRs, fees, and promotional offers, are subject to change without notice. Some offers listed may no longer be available or may have expired. Please refer to the issuer's website for the most up-to-date terms and conditions.