American Express Stock – Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Review | Fintech Zoom

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Rewards rate:

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.

  • Intro bonus: 25,000 points
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Regular APR: 14.99{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} – 22.99{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
  • Recommended credit score: 670-850 (Good to Excellent)

With Bank of America’s Travel Rewards card, you can earn points on every purchase you make to redeem toward future travel and dining. It’s not the most lucrative travel credit card available, but its flat points rewards and flexible redemption options make it a good choice for basic travel rewards without an annual fee.

At a Glance

  • Earn unlimited 1.5x points on every purchase
  • Earn 3x points when you book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center
  • Get 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within 90 days of account opening
  • 0{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} introductory APR for 12 months on new purchases
  • No annual fee
  • 14.99{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146}-22.99{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} ongoing variable APR

Pros

  • 1.5x points on every purchase

  • Flexible redemptions

  • No annual fee

  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • Lower potential points value than other travel rewards cards

  • High ongoing APR

  • Few added travel benefits

Additional Card Details

Beyond points rewards, Bank of America Travel Rewards offers a few additional benefits for cardholders, including no foreign transaction fees, and introductory 0{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} APR on purchases for the first 12 months from account opening, and travel and purchase protections through the Visa Signature program. 

You can also score boosted rewards with Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program. To qualify, you must have at least $20,000 in qualifying combined balances between Bank of America deposit accounts or Merrill investment accounts. There are three tiers based on total balance, which boost your points earnings by either 25{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146}, 50{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146}, or 75{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146}. That means, instead of 1.5x points per dollar, you can earn 1.875x points (Gold tier), 2.25x points (Platinum tier), or 2.625x points (Platinum Honors tier).

Pro Tip

While you’ll earn 1.5x points on every purchase with this card, you can earn even more when you book travel with Bank of America. Use your card to book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center and earn 3x points per dollar.

Should You Get this Card?

If you’re seeking high-value travel rewards and premium benefits, there are much better options available. But if you value the freedom to offset any travel or dining purchases with your points and the simplicity of a flat-rate rewards program, Bank of America Travel Rewards can be a good option, especially if you don’t want to pay an annual fee. 

Consider the extra travel rewards value you might gain with an annual fee before applying, though. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, for example, offers similar flexibility when it comes to redemptions, but earns a flat 2x miles per dollar plus additional benefits for a $95 fee.

While this card is a middle-of-the-road travel option for many, it becomes much more valuable if you qualify for Preferred Rewards. The $20,000 minimum balance is steep, but both deposit and Merrill investing accounts (like your retirement or brokerage account) apply, which can help make that amount more attainable. 

The 25{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146}-75{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} boost you’ll get as a result puts the rewards rate in the same league as travel cards like Capital One Venture or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card — both of which charge annual fees, unlike this card.

How to Use Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card

Begin maximizing your Bank of America Travel Rewards with the 25,000-point welcome bonus after you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days. Just make sure you can meet the required spending with your regular or already-planned expenses, rather than overspending simply to score bonus points.

Because this card earns a flat 1.5x points on every purchase you make, you don’t need to strategize categories or activate rewards to maximize your value over time. Unless you have another card that earns more in specific categories, accumulate points over time by using this for all of your regular spending. And when you’re ready to book travel again, score a bonus 3x points rewards on any purchases you make through the Bank of America Travel Center.

You can redeem your points for statement credits toward previous travel and dining purchases at a rate of 1 cent per point. Bank of America’s travel and dining categories are broad, so even if you don’t have any vacations planned right now, you can still get value from redemptions. Some eligible purchases include airfare, hotels, taxis, parking, tolls, tourist attractions, amusement parks, bars, and fast food restaurants, among others.

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Compared to Other Cards

  • Intro bonus:
  • Annual fee:

    $0

  • Regular APR:

    14.99{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} – 22.99{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

  • Recommended credit:

    670-850 (Good to Excellent)

  • Learn moreexterna link icon at our partner’s secure site
  • Intro bonus:
  • Annual fee:

    $95

  • Regular APR:

    17.24{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} – 24.49{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} (Variable)

  • Recommended credit:

    670-850 (Good to Excellent)

  • Learn moreexterna link icon at our partner’s secure site
  • Intro bonus:
  • Annual fee:

    $0

  • Regular APR:

    14.49{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} – 24.99{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} (Variable)

  • Recommended credit:

    670-850 (Good to Excellent)

  • Learn moreexterna link icon at our partner’s secure site

Bottom Line

EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE

As with all of our credit card reviews, our analysis is not influenced by any partnerships or advertising relationships.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards card offers 1.5x points rewards on every purchase you make, plus the freedom to redeem points for statement credits toward travel and dining purchases you make anywhere without restrictions on where you book. 

It may not be the most lucrative travel rewards card available, but can be a good option for someone who values flexibility and no annual fee over premium benefits. And it’s definitely worth considering if you qualify for Bank of America Preferred Rewards, which can boost your points by 25{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146}-75{b530a9af8ec2f2e0d4045baab79c5cfb9bfdc23e498df4d376766a0b44d3f146} on each purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I redeem my Bank of America Travel Rewards points?

You’ll need to log in to your account to redeem your Bank of America Travel Rewards points. There, you can choose the amount you want to redeem (minimum 2,500 points), and you’ll receive statement credits to offset the cost of eligible travel and dining purchases within the past 12 months. You can also redeem for cash rewards or gift cards for lesser redemption value.

What credit score do you need to get approved for a Bank of America credit card?

The credit score you need to qualify for a Bank of America card varies between card options. For the best chances of approval for the Bank of America Travel Rewards card, you’ll need good-to-excellent credit, or at least a 670 credit score.

Does the Bank of America Travel Rewards card offer travel insurance?

You may receive some travel insurance benefits with your Bank of America Travel Rewards card through the Visa Signature program. Read your individual cardholder agreement or call the number on the back of your card for specific information about what’s covered.