Best Bank of America Credit Cards 2026

Bank of America's consumer cards are built less around a single flashy product and more around a relationship. The cash-back and travel cards are solid on their own, but their real value shows up once you also keep money in BofA deposit or Merrill investment accounts. This guide walks through the two cards most people start with, explains how the Preferred Rewards boost changes the math, and shows where BofA fits next to issuers like Chase, Amex, and Capital One.

Customized Cash Rewards

The Customized Cash Rewards card is the flagship no-annual-fee earner. Its defining feature is that you pick one bonus category each month from a short list — usually options like gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement — and earn an elevated rate there. You also earn a higher rate at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and a flat base rate on everything else.

The catch worth understanding is the combined cap: the bonus and grocery/club rates apply only up to a set amount of spending each quarter, after which those purchases drop to the base rate. Exact percentages and the spending cap can change, so confirm them on the BofA product page before you count on a number. For someone whose spending shifts month to month, the ability to switch the chosen category online is genuinely useful — you can point it at travel one month and online shopping the next.

• Best for: people with one large, predictable category they can lean into.
• Weak spot: the quarterly cap limits heavy spenders unless paired with a flat-rate card.
• Fee: no annual fee, which keeps it easy to hold long term.

Travel Rewards card

The Travel Rewards card is BofA's simple, no-annual-fee travel option. It earns unlimited points at one flat rate on every purchase, with no category tracking and no foreign transaction fees — a meaningful detail if you spend abroad. Points are most straightforward to redeem as a statement credit against travel purchases you've already charged to the card, rather than through a separate booking portal with variable values.

This makes it a clean "set it and forget it" card. You don't optimize categories; you just earn a steady rate and erase travel costs later. It won't out-earn a strong category card on dining or groceries, but the lack of fees and the no-foreign-transaction-fee feature make it a reasonable everyday and travel companion, especially if you want to avoid juggling multiple bonus categories.

Preferred Rewards relationship boost

This is where Bank of America separates itself. Preferred Rewards is a tiered loyalty program based on your combined balances across BofA deposit accounts and Merrill investment accounts. As your three-month average balance crosses each tier threshold, you unlock a percentage bonus on the rewards earned by your eligible BofA credit cards.

The effect compounds. A flat-rate travel card or a capped cash-back card becomes noticeably stronger once the relationship bonus is layered on top of the base earn rate. The tiers, balance thresholds, and exact bonus percentages are set by BofA and can be adjusted, so check the current Preferred Rewards page before assuming a specific multiplier.

Factor	What it depends on	Why it matters
Tier	Combined BofA + Merrill balances	Higher tiers raise your rewards bonus
Balance window	Three-month average	You can't game it with a one-day deposit
Reward boost	Tier you qualify for	Applies on top of each card's base earn rate

The practical takeaway: BofA cards reward you most if you're willing to consolidate banking or brokerage assets there. If you have no intention of moving balances, you're holding the cards at their base rates, where competitors often earn more in the same categories.

BofA vs other issuer hubs

Most major issuers want you inside their ecosystem, but they reward loyalty differently. Chase leans on transferable Ultimate Rewards points and a card lineup you pair together. American Express stacks premium credits and Membership Rewards transfers. Capital One offers transfer partners with a simpler card structure. Bank of America's angle is the deposit-and-invest relationship rather than point transfers.

Issuer	Loyalty mechanic	Best fit
Bank of America	Balance-based rewards boost (Preferred Rewards)	Existing BofA/Merrill customers
Chase	Transferable points across paired cards	Travelers who optimize redemptions
American Express	Statement credits + point transfers	People who use the credits each year
Capital One	Flat rates + transfer partners	Simplicity seekers

Because both BofA cards carry no annual fee, they're easy to keep alongside another issuer's premium card without adding cost. If you want a deeper list of fee-free options to pair them with, see our roundup of the best no annual fee credit cards.

Who should open BofA cards

These cards make the most sense in a few clear situations:

1. You already bank or invest with BofA or Merrill. The Preferred Rewards boost is the whole argument, and you're leaving value on the table without it.
2. You want a no-fee card you can hold forever. Neither card charges an annual fee, so they're low-maintenance keepers.
3. You travel and dislike category juggling. The Travel Rewards card's flat earn and lack of foreign transaction fees fit casual travelers.
4. You have one strong spending category. Customized Cash Rewards rewards you for picking and pointing your bonus category each month.

Once you're approved, remember that a new card sometimes needs activation before first use. Our walkthrough on activating a Bank of America credit card covers the phone and online steps. If you don't bank with BofA and have no plans to, a flat-rate card or a transferable-points ecosystem may simply earn you more.

Common questions

Do Bank of America credit cards have an annual fee?

The two main consumer cards covered here — Customized Cash Rewards and Travel Rewards — have no annual fee. BofA does offer other cards with fees, so confirm the specific product's terms on the issuer site before applying.

How much does Preferred Rewards actually add?

It adds a percentage bonus to the rewards your eligible cards earn, scaled to your tier and your combined BofA and Merrill balances. The exact percentages and balance thresholds are set by BofA and can change, so check the current Preferred Rewards page rather than relying on a fixed figure.

Is the Travel Rewards card good for international trips?

It charges no foreign transaction fees, which helps when spending abroad, and it earns a flat rate everywhere. It's a simple travel card rather than a premium one, so it won't include lounge access or large travel credits.

Should I open a BofA card if I bank somewhere else?

You can, and both cards work fine at their base rates without a BofA relationship. But the relationship boost is the main reason these cards stand out, so without it you may earn more from a competing flat-rate or category card.

Last updated: June 2026. Rates, fees, and issuer rules change — confirm current terms before you apply or transfer a balance. This is general information, not personal financial advice.