Want to Check Out a Museum? This Bank Can Make Your Visit Free

Museums do amazing things, and this bank helps to fund them.

A lot of banks give back. They donate money to worthy causes and are often prominent faces of philanthropy in the communities they serve. You've probably seen kids' sports teams sponsored by your local credit union, for example. But what about the big banks? In the case of Bank of America, it funds arts and culture -- in a big way. If you're an account holder, you can get in on the action by visiting world-class institutions for free.

Funding the arts

On its website, Bank of America notes that it supports more than 1,500 nonprofit cultural institutions every year. This support comes in the form of a few different programs:

• Partnerships and sponsorships for major exhibitions and programs for education and outreach by museums and arts institutions. Bank of America takes pride in helping to celebrate diversity in this funding to "create greater cultural understanding."
• Grants for art conservation initiatives around the world. Bank of America's Art Conservation Project has been providing funding for the care and restoration of diverse artworks for 11 years now.
• Funding for a video series celebrating art from international museum collections. Bank of America's Masterpiece Moment is a series of short films featuring various artists and notable works. They have high production values and interesting information and are narrated by experts.

What does this mean for account holders?

If you're also a Bank of America customer, you can take advantage of another Bank of America program: Museums On Us®. Bank of America has been offering this program for 25 years. During the first full weekend of every month, account holders can get free general admission to over 225 cultural institutions across the United States. The museums enrolled in the program are some of the most respected and preeminent in the country, and span genres from history to art to STEM. There's literally something for everyone on the list, and you'll find at least one participating museum in 37 states.

How to visit museums for free

The Museums On Us® program is available to Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank (U.S. Trust) credit or debit cardholders. Free general admission is available to these Bank of America customers on the first full weekend of every month. You'll just need to show your active credit or debit card with your photo ID at a participating museum or arts institution, and you'll receive one free general admission.

Museums are important, and so is saving money

With high inflation and a resulting higher cost of living lately, money woes are on a lot of people's minds these days. If you're trying to save money right now your entertainment spending may have been first on the chopping block, so it can really pay to take advantage of programs like Museums On Us®. If you know you're going to be vacationing in another state over an upcoming first weekend of a given month (and you're a Bank of America customer), check to see if your destination has institutions that participate, and make a plan to visit.