AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers. Offers for Bank of America cards mentioned in this post have been updated as of 06/11/2025
Bank of America has a solid portfolio of cash-back and miles-earning credit cards. For those looking to earn significant rewards, there is great value to be had with the Preferred Rewards program, which boosts your credit card earning rates when having a banking relationship with Bank of America. Who wouldn't want to earn 2.625% cash back or more on every purchase with the right Bank of America credit card plus Preferred Rewards status?
But unfortunately, you can't just dive right in and quickly get every credit card Bank of America offers to build a stash of rewards from numerous welcome bonuses. Let's examine the Bank of America credit card application rules to know for which cards you're eligible and how often you can apply.
Page Contents
Why Do I Need To Know These Rules?
As is the case with all banks, it’s essential to understand credit card application rules. How many cards can you hold? Are there restrictions on how many cards you can apply for at a certain time? Can you hold more than one of the same card?
These rules have a great impact on how you approach your credit card application strategy. It may make sense to apply for certain cards before others — especially if you are new to credit card rewards. Thoroughly understanding application rules will help you plan a long-term, sustainable approach to earning points, miles, and cash back.
Credit card application rules can affect:
- Whether you'll be approved for a new card.
- How many credit cards you can hold at any one time from the same issuer.
- If you can receive a bonus more than once on the same card (and, if so, how long you must wait between those bonuses).
- How much credit you can access across all cards you hold with that bank.
- Whether holding certain cards from that bank makes you ineligible for some of its other cards.
Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions
Bank of America Credit Card Application Rules
Application frequency
Bank of America's credit card rules aren't as stringent as other banks. And while BOA used to be ridiculously generous with card approvals, it's since tightened things up.
Data points for Bank of America's credit card application rules are inconsistent. As with most major banks, Bank of America doesn't publish an “official” policy. Instead, applicants (and sites, like ours), have to compile multiple data points to gather a picture of Bank of America's strategy.
Most data points suggest Bank of America limits customers to around four personal credit cards at a time. The issuer also will limit the amount of credit it will extend to you. If this happens, reducing your credit limit on existing cards may help you be approved for a new one.
The bank used to accept multiple applications in a single day — sometimes even for the same card. However, that doesn't seem to be the case any longer. Doing so may prompt Bank of America to cancel your points or close your account. Tread carefully if you're considering this approach, and maybe opt for a more long-term strategy.
- 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases
Bank of America's 2/3/4 rule
Bank of America does have application restrictions in place. Their main rule is called the 2/3/4 rule, which affects all Bank of America-issued credit cards, including co-branded cards like the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card, and personal cards like the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card and Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card. However, data points suggest that business cards do not count when 2/3/4 is calculated.
The 2/3/4 rule means that you can open the following:
- Two new cards per two-month period
- Three new cards per rolling 12-month period
- Four new cards per rolling 24-month period
This only applies to obtaining credit cards issued by Bank of America. Cards from other banks aren't counted in this rule. You are unlikely to be approved for personal or business cards from Bank of America if you fall outside of these parameters.
Bank of America's 3/12 or 7/12 rule
Another Bank of America application rule concerns the number of accounts you have opened recently at any bank — not just Bank of America. This rule, while still loosely enforced, varies by whether or not you have banking accounts with Bank of America:
- If you have a deposit account with Bank of America, your credit card application will be denied if you have opened seven new cards in the past 12 months, based on what's visible on your credit report.
- If you do NOT have a deposit account with Bank of America, your credit card application will be denied if you have opened three new cards in the past 12 months, based on what's visible on your credit report.
Business cards may not be counted in this number if they don't show up on your credit report. It may be worth opening a deposit account with Bank of America to be eligible for additional credit cards, especially since that can open the door to the higher earning rates via the Preferred Rewards program.
Bank of America's 24-month rule
Bank of America restricts new applications for a card if you currently hold the card or have received a welcome bonus on it in the past 24 months. Bank of America's 24-month rule doesn't seem to apply to business cards, however.
Welcome bonus restrictions
There are no restrictions on earning a welcome bonus more than once. In fact, you can earn a welcome bonus on the same card multiple times over the years, as long as you wait the required 24 months after receiving the last bonus on that card. Moreover, so long as you're approved for a Bank of America credit card and complete the required spending, you should receive the welcome bonus.
Unlike some issuers, Bank of America rarely denies welcome bonuses after approval — as long as you’re eligible and meet the spending requirement. Just don’t push the envelope with same-day duplicate applications or suspicious spending patterns.
- 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice: gas and EV charging stations, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy purchase, or home improvement/furnishing purchases, then 3% after the first year of card membership*
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs*
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- * You'll earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum.
Related: How to select your Bank of America Customized Cash 3% bonus category
Final Thoughts
Understanding credit card application rules and restrictions will help you develop a successful long-term travel rewards strategy. In addition, with this knowledge, you'll be less likely to waste credit inquiries on cards you aren’t likely to be approved for. Bank of America does have fairly generous credit card application rules, making it simpler to build up a solid earning portfolio with Bank of America than with some other issuers.
Remember, many of these restrictions aren't provided by Bank of America publicly. Instead, they are pulled from community data. If you receive different information from credit card issuers or have an experience outside these norms, we’d love to hear about it.
Ready to apply for a Bank of America credit card? Here are some of the top offers available now:
- 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
- Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases
- Earn unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
- Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
- Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, shipping and local transit (including rideshare) purchases
- Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
