Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
The Bank of America Travel Rewards card offers a simple rewards structure that allows points to be redeemed as statement credits toward travel purchases. While that simplicity may appeal to beginners, most people entering the points and miles hobby will get far more long-term value from cards with larger welcome bonuses and premium travel perks like lounge access and TSA PreCheck credits. The 25,000 point bonus after $1,000 in purchases may look appealing at first, but many competing cards offer significantly stronger rewards and benefits. Because of Chase’s 5/24 rule, you may later regret using one of your limited personal card slots on a low-upside card like this.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The Bank of America Travel Rewards card is designed for beginners who want a simple rewards card without annual fees or complicated redemption rules:
- Simple earning structure: Earn unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases with no bonus categories or spending caps
- Easy welcome bonus: Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending just $1,000 within the first 90 days
- No annual fee: Keep the card long term without needing to offset an annual fee
The redemption process is straightforward and flexible. You can book travel directly with airlines, hotels, or travel sites and then redeem points as statement credits against those purchases. Redemptions start at 2,500 points, and one point is worth 1¢ each toward travel purchases.
The card becomes more appealing for existing Bank of America customers through the Preferred Rewards program. If you have a qualifying checking account and at least $20,000 in combined balances with Bank of America or Merrill, you can earn substantial rewards boosts:
- Gold tier ($20,000-$50,000): 25% bonus for 1.875 points per dollar
- Platinum tier ($50,000-$100,000): 50% bonus for 2.25 points per dollar
- Platinum Honors/Diamond tiers ($100,000+): 75% bonus for 2.625 points per dollar
If you already bank with Bank of America or hold significant Merrill investments, those boosted earning rates make this card much more competitive than it initially appears.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
Situations where this card might not be ideal for you:
- We actually recommend beginners choose popular points and miles cards that provide greater value (such as one of the Chase Sapphire cards or a Capital One Venture card)
- You prefer cards allowing point transfers to airline and hotel partners to get more value than the 1 cent per point offered by this card
What to Know About Bank of America
Bank of America Travel Rewards is a low tier program in the points and miles hobby:
- There are one or two cards worth getting, but only in the right situations
- Having an existing relationship with the bank or needing a break from the big credit card issuers are the main reasons you might want to get into this system
- Redeeming rewards is simple and straightforward, but you’ll only earn 1 cent per point at best
- Many cards only offer cash back rewards
- Its lack of any transfer partners puts this system near the bottom of our rankings
How The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Fits In The Bank of America Ecosystem
Bank of America offers a tiered approach to travel rewards cards, with the no-annual-fee Travel Rewards card serving as the entry-level option.
Here's how the rest of the Bank of America travel card lineup compares:
- Bank of America Premium Rewards: $95 annual fee
- 60,000 point welcome offer after spending $4,000 in 90 days
- 2x points on travel and dining; 1.5x points on everything else
- $100 Airline Incidental Statement Credit
- $120 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
- Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite: $550 annual fee
- 75,000 point welcome offer after spending $5,000 in 90 days
- 2x points on travel and dining; 1.5x points on everything else
- Total of $570 in statement credits ($300 Airline Incidental, $120 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry, $150 Lifestyle)
- 20% discount when using points for airfare
- Up to four Priority Pass Select Memberships
All three cards integrate with Bank of America's Preferred Rewards program, which can boost earning rates by 25-75% depending on your tier level. Redemption options across all cards include statement credits, cash back, deposits to Merrill investment accounts (including 529 college savings plans), or travel bookings through the Bank of America Travel portal.
For most travelers, the Premium Rewards card offers the best balance of benefits and cost, with easily attainable credits that offset the annual fee. However, those with significant Bank of America balances might find even the basic Travel Rewards card compelling due to the potential earning boost from Preferred Rewards status.
Card Information
Differentiating Perks
Rules
Historical Card Offers
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Estimated Next Offer
Bank of America Travel Rewards Application Rules
You'll be declined for Atmos and B of A Premium Rewards cards if you have opened or CLOSED that card in the previous 24 months
Bank of America limits the number of personal cards issued by the bank that you can get within a certain time frame
Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule
