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If you're looking for a new card to add to your wallet, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers an excellent mix of versatility and value. The card boasts a solid welcome offer of 25,000 points. Plus, the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card charges no annual fee, keeping your out-of-pocket expenses minimal.
- 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases
Additionally, new account holders can take advantage of a generous introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers, which is one of the best introductory APR deals of any card we've reviewed.
Even better, Bank of America Preferred Rewards program members can earn up to 75% bonus rewards, boosting their earning rate to as high as 2.625 points on every purchase.
However, the points earned on this card differ from the type you'll transfer to an airline for incredible value with a business-class ticket to far-flung regions. The tradeoff, however, is for points that are simpler to use. Let's take a closer look at the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card and see if this card deserves a spot in your wallet.
Page Contents
- Bank of America Travel Rewards Card Pros
- Bank of America Travel Rewards Card Cons
- Bank of America Travel Rewards Card Welcome Offer
- Bank of America Travel Rewards Card Benefits
- Bank of America Travel Rewards Card Earning Rates
- Redeeming Points With the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card
- Application Restrictions
- Cards That Compete With the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card
- Bottom Line
Bank of America Travel Rewards Card Pros
- Earns uncapped rewards on all eligible purchases.
- Easy to achieve welcome offer and generous introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Rewards don't expire as long as your account is in good standing.
- $0 annual fee.
Bank of America Travel Rewards Card Cons
- No bonus categories to earn additional rewards.
- Does not have any transfer partners or travel-specific protections.
- The minimum required redemption is high compared to other cards.
Bank of America Travel Rewards Card Welcome Offer
As a new applicant for the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card, you can earn 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. The $250 value comes from your points being worth 1 cent each.
With such an affordable minimum spend, the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card is an excellent option if you are locked out of other travel rewards cards due to unmanageable minimum spending requirements. Spending $1,000 over 90 days requires less than $80 per week, which is more digestible for most applicants than bonuses on more premium cards that often have spending requirements a few times higher than this.
Given that you'll earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases used to meet the minimum spending requirement, you will have at least 26,500 points after receiving the bonus. That's worth $265.
Related: The Best Rewards Credit Card Bonus Offers Available Right Now
Bank of America Travel Rewards Card Benefits
The card has a few notable features that take it from being a simple travel rewards credit card to one of the standout rewards cards at its price point.
Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers
While we don't recommend carrying a balance on your credit card, life happens. If you need to use a balance transfer or introductory APR to finance a large purchase or pay down credit card debt, this can help you avoid interest for over a year.
This is outstanding for a card with a decent welcome offer and a top return on everyday expenses. Balance transfers incur a fee of 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.
Related: Tips for Managing Your Credit Score
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
If you travel outside of the U.S., you can use the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card without incurring foreign transaction fees, so it's an ideal card to pack. Additionally, the card doesn't charge an annual fee, making it easy on the hip pocket.
Bank of America Travel Rewards Card Earning Rates
The earning rates on the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card are relatively straightforward and don't require any advanced knowledge of bonus categories. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. And points earned don't expire as long as your card remains open and in good standing.
Preferred Rewards program
You can earn significantly more from your Bank of America Travel Rewards Card spending if you are an existing Bank of America customer enrolled in the Preferred Rewards program. The value of the additional rewards ranges between an extra 25% and an extra 75%, depending on the balance of your deposits and investments with Bank of America and Merrill Lynch.
Let's look at the breakdown based on your average account balance for the last three months:
- Gold tier:
- $20k to $50k in qualifying deposits
- 25% bonus rewards (1.875 points per dollar)
- Platinum tier:
- $50k to $100k in qualifying deposits
- 50% bonus rewards (2.25 points per dollar)
- Platinum Honors tier:
- $100k to $1 million in qualifying deposits
- 75% bonus rewards (2.625 points per dollar)
- Diamond tier:
- $1 to $10 million in qualifying deposits
- 75% bonus rewards (2.625 points per dollar)
The minimum amount needed in deposit or investment accounts to achieve the maximum 75% extra earnings is $100,000. This 75% bonus nets 2.625 points per dollar on all eligible purchases. If you are an existing Bank of America customer or are in the market to move banks, consider going all in at Bank of America to maximize the number of points earned on your rewards cards.
Redeeming Points With the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card
Travel and dining purchases
Bank of America doesn't have any transfer partners like you'll find with Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards. However, cardholders can easily redeem rewards for a statement credit toward travel and dining purchases.
Bank of America has an open interpretation of what qualifies in these categories. You can redeem points towards expenses such as airline tickets, hotel accommodations, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and purchases made at restaurants, including takeout.
Redeem earnings for cash
If you prefer cash, you can cash out your points at a rate of 1 cent per point. Rewards can be deposited directly into a Bank of America checking or savings account, an eligible Merrill investment account, or contributed to a 529 College Savings Plan.
There is a $25 minimum to redeem for cash, which equates to 2,500 points.
Application Restrictions
Bank of America doesn't have any hard rules for how many of its credit card products one person may have at a time, though four cards seems to be a common limit. Additionally, the bank has a 2/3/4 rule which limits applicants to:
- Two new cards in a 2-month period
- Three new cards in a 12-month period
- Four new cards in a 24-month period
Note that this rule only applies to how many Bank of America cards you've obtained. A different rule applies to opening credit cards from other banks. Based on what's visible on your credit report, Bank of America may deny your application as follows:
- If you have a deposit account with Bank of America, your application will be denied if you have opened seven new cards in the past 12 months, based on what they see on your credit report.
- If you DON'T have a deposit account with Bank of America, your application will be denied if you have three new cards in the past 12 months.
Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions
Cards That Compete With the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card
The Bank of America Travel Rewards Card is a sneaky good rewards card. However, if you want to make a more informed decision, here are three additional cards to consider:
- If you want a Bank of America card with higher earnings on travel and dining, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card might be right for you. It has a $95 annual fee and earns unlimited 2X points on travel and dining purchases plus unlimited 1.5X on other spending. This card is also eligible for bonus earnings from Preferred Rewards, meaning you could earn up to 3.5 points per $1 spent on dining and travel. Check out our Bank of America Premium Rewards Card review to learn more.
- If you want a card with a similar earning rate but with bonus categories, consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. This card offers unlimited 1.5% on all other purchases cash back on all purchases and 3% back on dining and drugstores. This no-annual-fee card also earns 5% on purchases made through Chase Travel℠. However, it doesn't offer any bonus earnings for your banking relationship with Chase. Learn more in our full Freedom Unlimited review.
- If you want a card with a higher earning rate and more uses for your rewards, look into the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It earns unlimited 2X miles on all purchases, plus 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked in the Capital One Travel portal. Miles can be transferred directly to Capital One’s 19 hotel and airline partners, which can provide higher-value redemptions, plus miles are redeemable for cash as a statement credit or check. Our full Capital One Venture Card review has additional details.
- 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Earn 5% on purchases through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3% on dining at restaurants
- Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
- Earn 1.5% on all purchases
- 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
Related: Best Credit Cards for Everyday Purchases
Bottom Line
The Bank of America Travel Rewards Card is an excellent choice for someone who wants a rewards strategy that runs on autopilot. And you can significantly increase the earning rates on this card if you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member — especially if you qualify for the maximum multiplier.
The Bank of America Travel Rewards Card offers new account holders a valuable signup bonus with a spending requirement that won't break the bank.
If you are not in a position to meet the higher minimum spending requirements on premium travel cards, the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card is an excellent choice that provides a great return on spending without worrying about any out-of-pocket expense to hold the card each year. It also doesn't require tracking complex earning or redemption strategies to get value from your purchases.
- 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees)
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