If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
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.
On Bank of America's Secure Website.
On Bank of America's Secure Website.
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, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. Balance transfers include a fee of 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.
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
18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Rewards
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).
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.
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card comes with a variety of desirable features.
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.
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.
This no annual fee credit card still offers many of the perks and features of rival cards that do charge a yearly 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.
SEE MORE: Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards
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:
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.
RELATED: Best Rewards Credit Cards
If you travel more than a couple of times per year: You might want to consider the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card. This card charges a $95 annual fee but offers a higher rewards rate on travel and dining, as well as a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points points.
If you want to earn bonus points on travel, groceries, select streaming services, and dining: Another great option is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It earns 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal, 3x points on dining and online grocery purchases, 2x points on travel, and 1x points on other purchases. It also comes with a welcome offer of 60,000 bonus points. Points can be transferred to many travel partners.
LEARN MORE: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards
|
|
|
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card | Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
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 |
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 |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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 |
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
|
||
Credit Rating Requirement:
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)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
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)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
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)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
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 |
Welcome Offer: 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 60,000 points |
Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. 60,000 bonus points |
Rewards Program: 1.5 points per dollar |
Rewards Program: 2 points per dollar on travel & dining purchases, unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases, 25%-75% more points for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members 1.5 - 2 points per dollar |
Rewards Program: Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases |
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, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. Balance transfers include a fee of 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%. 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 |
Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) |
Regular APR: 20.24% - 27.24% (Variable) |
Regular APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $95 |
Annual Fee: N/A $95 |
Highlights:
|
Highlights:
|
Highlights:
|
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Show More Show Less |
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card falls short in a couple obvious areas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
READ MORE: Best Bank of America Credit Cards
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.
Keep reading: Best Credit Cards
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.
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.
Our Credit Cards Experts
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.