Bank of America's current credit card lineup
Bank of America offers credit cards across several categories: travel rewards, cash back, student cards, and secured cards for people building credit. The specific cards available to you depend on your credit history, income, and the Bank of America relationship you already have (checking account, savings account, or neither).
The bank regularly changes which cards it offers and what rewards they provide. Rather than listing every card here, this guide explains what to look for in each category, how to find the current offers, and what the real differences are between them.
Key Takeaways
- Bank of America's travel and cash back cards typically offer a sign-up bonus, an ongoing rewards rate, and a fee that ranges from zero to $95 per year.
- The rewards rate and annual fee are the two numbers that determine whether a card saves you money or costs you money over time.
- Bank of America customers with a checking or savings account sometimes see different offers than people without one, and sometimes get a higher sign-up bonus.
- You can see the current offers on Bank of America's website without entering personal information, and you can compare them side by side before deciding.
- A card's rewards are only valuable if you pay the full balance each month; interest charges will erase any rewards benefit in weeks.
Where to find the current Bank of America credit card offers
Bank of America publishes its credit card offers on its website under the credit cards section. You can browse all available cards, see the current sign-up bonus, the annual fee, and the rewards rate without submitting an process or entering your Social Security number.
The offers you see may differ based on whether you log into your Bank of America online banking account. If you have a checking or savings account with the bank, log in before you browse — you may see a higher sign-up bonus or different cards than someone without a Bank of America account would see.
You can also call Bank of America at the number on the back of an existing card or on your account statement. A representative can tell you which cards you may be offered based on your account history and credit profile, though they cannot may provide approval.
How sign-up bonuses, annual fees, and rewards rates work together
Three numbers determine whether a credit card saves you money or costs you money: the sign-up bonus, the annual fee, and the ongoing rewards rate.
The sign-up bonus is a one-time reward you earn after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. For example, a card might offer 50,000 bonus points if you spend $1,000 in the first three months. That bonus is worth real money only if you were going to spend that $1,000 anyway — not money you spend specifically to earn the bonus.
The annual fee is what the card costs each year. Some Bank of America cards charge zero; others charge $95 or more. You pay this fee whether you use the card or not, so a card with a $95 annual fee needs to deliver at least $95 in value through rewards to break even.
The rewards rate is how much you earn back on every dollar you spend. A card might offer 1.5% cash back on all purchases, or 3% on travel and dining and 1% on everything else. The higher the rate, the more you earn — but only if you pay the full balance each month. If you carry a balance and pay interest, the interest charges will quickly exceed any rewards you earn.
Cash back cards versus travel rewards cards
Bank of America offers both cash back cards and travel rewards cards. The difference matters because the way you redeem the reward changes how much it is actually worth.
Cash back cards give you a percentage of your spending back as cash. If you earn 1.5% cash back and spend $1,000, you get $15. You can usually take that $15 as a statement credit, a deposit to your bank account, or a check. The value is straightforward: 1% cash back is worth 1 cent per dollar.
Travel rewards cards give you points or miles that you redeem for flights, hotels, or other travel purchases. The value of these points depends on how you use them. If a card gives you 2 points per dollar and you redeem those points for a flight that would have cost $500, and you earned 10,000 points to book it, then your points were worth 5 cents each. But if you redeem the same points through a different channel, they might be worth only 1 cent each. Travel rewards cards require more attention to redemption strategy.
For most people, cash back is simpler because the value does not change based on how you redeem it. Travel rewards cards make sense if you travel frequently and understand how to maximize point value.
Student cards and secured cards
Bank of America offers a student credit card for people currently enrolled in a degree program. Student cards typically have no annual fee and a lower credit limit than standard cards, but they help you build credit history while you are in school.
Bank of America also offers a secured credit card for people with no credit history or a damaged credit history. A secured card requires you to put down a cash deposit — typically $500 to $2,500 — which becomes your credit limit. You use the card like a regular card, and after you demonstrate responsible use (usually 6 to 12 months of on-time payments), the bank may convert it to an unsecured card and return your deposit.
Both of these cards have lower rewards rates than standard cards, because the bank is taking on more risk. The value of these cards is not the rewards — it is the credit history you build by using them responsibly.
How Bank of America credit card rewards connect to your checking account
If you have a Bank of America checking account, some of the bank's credit cards offer a bonus when you redeem rewards into that account. For example, a card might offer 1.5% cash back normally, but 1.75% cash back if you deposit the rewards into your Bank of America checking account.
This bonus is real money, but only if you already have a checking account with the bank. If you do not, opening one just to get a slightly higher rewards rate usually does not make financial sense — the difference is small, and a checking account with monthly fees could erase the benefit.
Check the current offer on Bank of America's website to see whether the card you are considering offers this bonus and whether it applies to you.
What happens after you are approved
Once you are approved for a Bank of America credit card, the bank will mail you the physical card, which typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days. You can usually set up the card online or by phone before it arrives, and you can add it to your digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay) when ready.
Your credit limit will be set based on your credit history and income. You can request a higher limit after you have used the card responsibly for several months, but the bank will not automatically increase it.
The sign-up bonus will post to your account after you meet the spending requirement. Read the offer carefully to understand the exact timeline — some bonuses post when ready after you spend the required amount, while others post at the end of your first billing cycle after you meet the requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Bank of America checking account to get one of their credit cards?
No. You can open a Bank of America credit card without having a checking or savings account with the bank. However, if you do have a Bank of America checking account, you may see different card offers or a higher sign-up bonus when you log into your account before browsing.
What is the difference between a sign-up bonus and a rewards rate?
A sign-up bonus is a one-time reward you earn after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. A rewards rate is what you earn on every purchase, every month, for as long as you have the card. The sign-up bonus is usually much larger, but it only happens once.
Can I get approved for a Bank of America credit card if I have bad credit?
Bank of America's standard credit cards typically require good to excellent credit. If your credit is limited or damaged, the bank's secured credit card is designed for you — it requires a cash deposit but does not require a credit score. After you use it responsibly for several months, you may be able to move to an unsecured card.
What happens if I carry a balance on my Bank of America credit card?
You will pay interest on the balance you carry. The interest rate (called the APR) varies based on your creditworthiness and the card, but it typically ranges from 16% to 24% per year. Interest charges will quickly exceed any rewards you earn, so carrying a balance defeats the purpose of using a rewards card.
How do I compare Bank of America credit cards to cards from other banks?
Look at three numbers: the annual fee, the sign-up bonus, and the ongoing rewards rate. Calculate whether the sign-up bonus and annual rewards will exceed the annual fee. Then compare that total to the same calculation for cards from other banks. The card that delivers the most value for your specific spending pattern is the best choice, regardless of which bank offers it.