Key takeaways
- Both the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offer flexible travel rewards points, a base rate of 1.5X points on regular purchases, no foreign transaction fees and a higher rewards potential if you’re a member of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program.
- The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card includes a welcome offer, an intro APR offer, flexible redemption options and no annual fee.
- The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card comes with a more generous welcome bonus and earns more points on regular dining and travel purchases — although it does charge an annual fee.
Although not as popular as travel credit cards from other issuers, Bank of America boasts its own travel rewards credit cards. Stand-out offerings include the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, both of which offer flexible travel rewards points and a base rate of 1.5X points on regular purchases.
If you can’t decide between these two cards, it’s smart to compare them based on their full rewards rates, welcome offers and benefits. Read on to learn how they stack up in the most important categories.
Main details
| Cards | Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card | Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Receive 60,000 online bonus points – a $600 value – after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. | 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. |
| Rewards rate |
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| Intro APR offer | N/A | 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases |
| Annual fee | $95 | $0 |
Bank of America Travel Rewards vs. Bank of America Premium Rewards highlights
As you compare the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card vs. the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card, consider which one wins in the following important categories.
Welcome bonus winner
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The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card is the clear winner since you can earn 60,000 online bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days, which is more than the Bank of America Travel Rewards card’s 25,000 online bonus points (after spending $1,000 within 90 days).
Considering that points earned with either card are worth 1 cent each, this means that the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card bonus is worth $600 and the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card bonus is worth $250.
Rewards rate winner
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While the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card offers a flat rate of 1.5X points on all purchases and 3X points on Bank of America Travel Center purchases, the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card wins in this category, too.
Not only does the Bank of America Premium Rewards card let you earn a flat rate of 1.5X points on general purchases, but you’ll also earn 2X points per dollar on all dining and travel purchases. You won’t be restricted to purchasing travel through the Bank of America Travel Center to earn the 2X points on travel, either.
However, both of these cards have a higher rewards potential if you’re a member of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program. Depending on the tier of membership you qualify for, you could earn 25 percent to 75 percent more points for each dollar you spend.
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The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card comes with no annual fee. In contrast, the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card charges a $95 annual fee.
Foreign transaction fee winner
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Neither of these rewards cards charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made in a foreign currency, so they tie in this category. Either card would be a solid choice for people who travel outside the country often.
Which card earns the most?
While both of these rewards cards offer a flat 1.5X points per dollar spent on regular purchases, the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card also offers 2X points per dollar on travel and dining. As a result, anyone who spends money on dining and travel (that’s not purchased through the Bank of America Travel Center) will earn more points with this card overall. However, remember that Bank of America Travel Rewards cardholders earn 3X points on Bank of America Travel Center purchases.
That said, you may be wondering how much more in rewards you could earn with the Bank of America Premium Rewards card and whether the extra rewards are worth the $95 annual fee. The spending example below can help you decide.
Spending example
Let’s say you have a family of four and that your family spends about $1,350 per month on food (or $16,200 per year) In addition to food spending, let’s say your family also spends $300 per month ($3,600 per year) on dining out and $5,000 per year on airfare and hotels across two separate family vacations. Let’s also imagine you spend $1,000 per month ($12,000 per year) on miscellaneous purchases.
With the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card, you would earn 59,500 points (worth $595 in rewards):
- 24,300 points on groceries
- 7,200 points on dining out
- 10,000 points on travel (not through the Bank of America Travel Center)
- 18,000 points on miscellaneous purchases
With the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card, on the other hand, you would earn 55,200 points (worth $552 in rewards):
- 24,300 points on groceries
- 5,400 points on dining out
- 7,500 points on travel (not through the Bank of America Travel Center)
- 18,000 points on miscellaneous purchases
However, if you purchase travel through the Bank of America Travel Center, you’ll earn 3X points on those purchases. That means you’ll instead earn 15,000 points on those travel purchases for a total of 62,700 points (worth $627 in rewards) — which is more than the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card.
Keep in mind, though, that the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card offers a higher welcome bonus of 60,000 points (earned after spending $4,000 within 90 days), which is worth $600. That will add considerably more to your first-year rewards haul than the Bank of America Travel Rewards, which offers 25,000 points after spending $1,000 within 90 days and comes in the form of a $250 statement credit.
Why should you get the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card?
The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card can be a better choice if you don’t mind paying an annual fee. You’ll earn a more generous welcome bonus within the first few months and more points on all dining and travel purchases (not purchased through the Bank of America Travel Center).
Plus, this premium card also comes with more cardholder perks overall.
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The main card benefits include an annual statement credit of up to $100 toward incidental airline expenses to cover eligible costs. Additionally, you’ll receive a statement credit of up to $100 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years. This card also provides various perks through the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection — including automatic room upgrades, complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi, late checkout, VIP guest status and a $25 food and beverage credit during your stay.
You’ll also get trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, emergency evacuation and transportation coverage, roadside dispatch, concierge service, extended warranty coverage, purchase protection against damage or theft, an auto rental collision damage waiver and no foreign transaction fees.
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When it comes time to redeem rewards, redemption options include:
- Travel bookings through the Bank of America Travel Center
- Cash back in the form of a statement credit or a direct deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account
- Gift cards
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The recommended credit score range for the Bank of America Premium Rewards is good to excellent (FICO score of 670-850).
Why should you get the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card?
If you’re averse to paying the annual fee for a credit card, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card is easy to love. However, there are other reasons to consider this travel card, including its introductory APR offers and flexible travel redemption options.
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The main card perks include its welcome offer, intro APR offer, flexible redemption options and the chance to qualify for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program (terms apply). You can also access your FICO score for free each month, and you can elect to receive account alerts to your mobile phone when your balances are due and paid.
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This card allows you to redeem flexible rewards points for:
- Cash back in the form of a check or direct deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account
- A statement credit to cover eligible travel-related purchases (including eligible dining purchases)
- Gift cards
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The recommended credit score range for the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is good to excellent (FICO score of 670 to 850).
The bottom line
While the Bank of America Premium Rewards card is a better fit for people who want a more generous welcome offer and a higher earning rate, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card lets users rack up flexible rewards with no annual fee. By taking the time to compare these two top rewards cards side by side, you can decide which Bank of America travel card is a better fit for your needs.
The information about the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card was last updated on Sept. 12, 2024.
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