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Elizabeth is a personal finance writer specializing in credit cards, debt repayment, and small business. Her work has appeared on The Motley Fool, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, and Business Insider. She’s an avid credit card points collector and perpetual traveler currently living in Costa Rica.
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The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card isn't a perfect card for everyone, but it's quite competitive in a crowded field. In fact, Bank of America credit cards often find their way into many people's wallets, thanks to the bank's size and coverage area. This specific card offers a lot to like, particularly for its target no annual fee audience. Find out more details in our Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card review below.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.
Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
1.5 points per dollar
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
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
25,000 points
This is a good starter travel card thanks to its simplicity and no annual fee. It offers a strong welcome bonus worth $250, unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, and no foreign transaction fee. Simply redeem points as a statement credit for travel or dining purchases. The generous 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases offer might come in handy if you want to pay-off an expensive trip over time without interest. It’s a particularly good fit for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members, who can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase (depending on your tier).
Big sign-up bonus
No annual fee
Competitive rewards rate on purchases
Great 0% intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
Limited ways to use points
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
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.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
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 19.24% - 29.24% 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 4%.
If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
20,000 ThankYou® Points
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Up to 2% cash back
2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
N/A
1% - 5% Cashback
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back
Up to $300 cash back
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
1.5% - 5% cash back
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
Intro:
0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Full Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card review
This credit card is a good fit for: Consumers who want a no annual fee travel card. Bank of America clients can earn bonus rewards if they meet balance minimums in their banking or investment accounts.
Top perks
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card comes with a variety of desirable features.
Generous welcome offer
A sign-up bonus provides a serious head start in the points total. This card's welcome offer of 25,000 points is worth $250 for travel. The minimum spend is low, too -- the bonus kicks in after you make at least $1,000 in qualifying purchases within 90 days of opening the account. It's worth noting that this is one of the biggest bonuses in a travel card with no annual fee.
Unlimited 1.5 points per $1
The card keeps it simple with a what-you-see-is-what-you-get 1.5 points per $1 on transactions. There are no spending caps and earning is unlimited.
No annual fee
This no annual fee credit card still offers many of the perks and features of rival cards that do charge a yearly fee.
No foreign transaction fee
Many credit cards charge an extra 3% on foreign purchases, but the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. If you plan to travel abroad with this card, this is a helpful perk that can save you money.
People loyal to Bank of America's products can earn 25% to 75% point bonuses through the Preferred Rewards program. The Preferred Rewards card bonus tiers are as follows:
Gold Preferred Rewards: Earn a 25% points bonus.
Platinum Preferred Rewards: Earn a 50% bonus.
Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards: Earn a 75% bonus.
Preferred Rewards program members can boost the value of their credit card rewards.
If you're eligible to earn the maximum 75% bonus, you would earn 2.62 points per $1 instead of 1.5 points per $1 with this credit card.
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card falls short in a couple obvious areas.
No bonus points for travel spending
It's unusual that a card billed as a travel rewards card doesn't offer bonus points for travel-related purchases, though this card has other perks for travelers. (The story is different with the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card.) Yes, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card earns cash back on purchases at a flat rate, but there are no annual fee cards that feature a higher bonus rate for certain spending categories, such as groceries or travel.
Lower rewards and sign-up bonus than other cards
If you have excellent credit, you may be able to find a more generous redemption rate and sign-up bonus. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers an unlimited 2 miles per $1 spent, plus a welcome bonus of 75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 during the first 3 months. Though the card charges a $95 annual fee, frequent travelers may find the fee is worth it.
Clumsy points redemption
It takes some hunting around Bank of America's site to find the redemption options, and even then it isn't 100% clear how to redeem points. Some cardholders may have to resort to calling the bank's customer service line for clarification on how to redeem points. An intuitive online redemption process would be preferable.
Find the best credit card for your needs
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
Users report that good to excellent credit is required to obtain this Bank of America card, so you should have a FICO® Score of at least 670 before applying. That said, approval is never guaranteed no matter your score, and some consumers with lower scores may still be able to qualify for this card.
The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is right for you if:
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is best for occasional travelers looking for a good travel credit card with no annual fee. The intro bonus is one of the biggest in the no annual fee category and it's also very well suited to existing Bank of America customers, especially if they are enrolled in one of the Preferred Rewards programs. You won't find a no annual fee travel card that offers such a lucrative earnings rate for the highest Preferred Rewards tiers, nor will you find many competing cards with such a long intro APR offer.
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
Yes, the card offers 25,000 points online bonus points -- a $250 value -- when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of opening the account. You can redeem bonus points for a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases.
No, this card doesn't have trip cancellation insurance.
Bank of America travel rewards don't expire, as long as your card account remains open and in good standing.
You can use Bank of America's website or call to use rewards points to offset a qualifying travel or dining purchase. Points have a 1% redemption value, so 2,500 points will equal $25. You'll need to have at least 2,500 points before you can redeem your points for a travel credit.
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Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Elizabeth Aldrich has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Robin Hartill has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bank of America, Intuit, JPMorgan Chase, and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.
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