bank of america travel insurance card

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Credit cards > Reviews

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card review: A travel credit card for the fee-averse

Glen Luke Flanagan

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 11:46 a.m. UTC May 8, 2024

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Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers a simple approach to rewards, with a base rate of 1.5 points per $1 on purchases — and the chance to earn up to an impressive flat rate of 2.62 points per dollar on purchases for being a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member. 

Why trust our credit card experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

• 50+ cards analyzed.
• 8 data points considered.
• 5-step fact-checking process.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card basics

• Annual fee: $0.
• Welcome bonus: 25,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Rewards: Earn 1.5 points per $1 on purchases, with the chance to earn 25% to 75% bonus points as a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer. Also, earn an additional 1.5 points per dollar on Bank of America Travel Center purchases.
• APR: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, followed by a 19.24% to 29.24% variable APR. A 3% intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days; then a 4% fee applies to future balance transfers.
• Preapproval tool: Yes.
• Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.

Bank of America Travel Rewards review

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is a mainstay among no-annual-fee travel credit cards . This card offers a flat 1.5 points per $1 on purchases, but if you’re a loyal Bank of America or Merrill customer, you may be able to earn as much as 2.62 points per dollar on purchases. You’ll also earn more rewards when you use your card to book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center.

With no annual fee , the card doesn’t offer much in the way of travel benefits. But its welcome bonus is solid, giving you 25,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. And if you need an introductory APR promotion, this card offers a lengthy one, 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, followed by a 19.24% to 29.24% variable APR. A 3% intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days; then a 4% fee applies to future balance transfers.

The card can be a great introduction to travel rewards for someone who prefers to avoid an annual fee, and it can also be a great way for certain Bank of America or Merrill customers to maximize their rewards on every purchase. But if you’re serious about travel rewards and perks, a different card may be a better fit, even if it charges an annual fee. 

• Intro APR offer: The card’s intro offer is helpful for anyone wanting extra time to pay off a big purchase or looking to tackle some debt.
• Relationship bonus: Those who are already banking with Bank of America or Merrill can earn higher rewards based on their relationship tier via the bank’s Preferred Rewards program.
• Simple travel rewards: Navigating travel rewards can be complicated with some credit card programs. The flat-rate rewards on this card are relatively simple to earn and use.
• No notable travel benefits: If you want added benefits when you travel, such as robust travel protections, airport lounge access or reimbursement for the Global Entry application fee, you may be disappointed with this card.
• No everyday bonus categories: You can earn extra points when you book travel through Bank of America, but the card doesn’t offer any other bonus categories. 
• Steep price to maximize rewards: To earn the highest rewards rate possible, you’ll need a three-month combined average daily balance of at least $100,000 in eligible Bank of America deposit accounts or Merrill investment accounts. 

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The Platinum Card® from American Express

Welcome bonus

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s take

• Over $1,500 in travel and entertainment credits can offset the annual fee.
• Comprehensive lounge access benefit.
• Generous travel and purchase protections.
• High annual fee and spending requirements.
• Amex’s once-per-lifetime rule limits welcome bonus eligibility.
• Annual statement credits have limited use.

Card details

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card rewards

The card offers a flat base rate of 1.5 points per $1 on purchases. However, if you use your card to book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center, you’ll earn 3 points per $1 on those purchases — an extra 1.5 points per $1 on top of the base rewards rate.

Additionally, the card earns 25%, 50% or 75% more points per purchase if you’re eligible for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program. To join, you must have a three-month combined average daily balance of at least $20,000 in eligible Bank of America deposit accounts or Merrill investment accounts. 

Depending on which Preferred Rewards tier you qualify for, you can earn between 1.87 to 2.62 points per dollar on most of your purchases with this card. Note, however, that this bonus doesn’t apply to the card’s welcome offer.

The welcome offer provides 25,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. 

To redeem your rewards, simply use your card to pay for eligible travel or dining purchases, then request a statement credit with your points within 12 months of the transaction date. You can also redeem points for cash or gift cards, but you’ll only get 0.6 cents per point with cash redemptions — and gift card redemption values can vary. As a result, it’s best to stick to travel and dining statement credits.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card rewards potential

Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has an annual income of $84,352 and $25,087 in expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card.

If you’re earning the base rate of 1.5 points per $1 on purchases, you could earn $376.31 worth of points every year. If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer, though, you could earn up to $657.28 in value.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card APR details

As a new cardholder, you’ll get a 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, followed by a 19.24% to 29.24% variable APR. A 3% intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days; then a 4% fee applies to future balance transfers. That’s a rare benefit among travel credit cards, so it’s even more impressive that it’s also a relatively lengthy intro APR period.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card vs. Discover it® Miles

If you’re a big spender, you could benefit from a big bonus offer from the Discover it Miles . The card offers 1.5 miles per $1 on purchases, and Discover will automatically match all miles earned at the end of the first cardmember year, with no limit to how many miles you can earn. 

You can redeem miles as a statement credit for travel purchases made up to 180 days after they post, for cash back to a bank account or you can use them to shop online at Amazon.com and through PayPal. 

The card also has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, but keep in mind that if you plan to travel abroad, Discover is not widely accepted internationally.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

For a modest $95 annual fee, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers substantial rewards value. As a new cardholder, you’ll earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. You’ll also earn 5 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and purchases through Capital One Entertainment and 2 miles per $1 on other purchases. 

You can redeem miles as statement credits for past travel purchases, use them to pay for Capital One Travel bookings or transfer them to airline or hotel loyalty programs.

In terms of perks, you’ll get an application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to $100), two complimentary annual visits to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges, Hertz Five Star status¹, bonus miles on Turo car rentals and more. 

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 75,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. You’ll also earn 5 points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per $1 on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. 

Points are typically worth 1 cent each (though the value may vary for certain redemptions). Redemption options include cash back, statement credits, gift cards, Apple purchases and online shopping. You can also use them to book travel through Chase Travel℠ and receive 25% more value per point, or transfer your points at a 1:1 rate to airline and hotel loyalty programs. 

The card also offers a $50 annual statement credit for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel, as well as partner benefits with Lyft, Instacart, DoorDash and Peloton. There’s a $95 annual fee.

Finally, the Sapphire Preferred provides a robust lineup of travel benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay reimbursement and primary rental car insurance .

Should you get the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card?

If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, the Travel Rewards credit card can be a great way to rack up a lot of points on your everyday purchases, especially if you can qualify for the maximum 75% points bonus — which brings the earning rate up to 2.62 points per dollar spent on purchases. 

That said, it may also be worth considering another travel card with added perks for when you travel, since this one’s benefits are slim compared to popular travel cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

If you’re not a Preferred Rewards customer, the Bank of America travel card may still be a good fit if you want to earn travel rewards but don’t want to deal with an annual fee. However, it should be mentioned there are many travel credit cards that charge an annual fee but offer enough value in perks alone to make up for the cost every year. Shop around and compare several options to determine which one offers the best value for you based on your travel and spending habits.

Methodology

Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of travel credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. We factored the following into our analysis:

• Annual fees.
• Travel reward rates.
• Value of rewards.
• Redemption options.
• Additional benefits that a card may offer for travelers, such as travel insurance.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The card is designed for consumers with good or excellent credit. According to FICO , that typically means a credit score of 670 or higher. That said, Bank of America will review your full credit history, income and other factors to determine your eligibility. 

If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible, you can use the card issuer’s preapproval tool, which can help you gauge your approval odds for any Bank of America credit card.

After you use your card to pay for an eligible travel or dining purchase, you can log in to your account and request a statement credit up to 12 months after the transaction posts. Alternatively, you can redeem your points for a paper check or a deposit into an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account or to buy gift cards.

As long as your account remains open and you can actively make purchases, your points will never expire. However, you will forfeit your points if you or Bank of America closes your account.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

¹Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

*The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Ben Luthi is a freelance writer who covers all things personal finance and travel. His work has appeared in dozens of online publications. Ben lives in Salt Lake City with his two children and two cats.

Glen Luke Flanagan is a deputy editor on the USA TODAY Blueprint credit cards team. Prior to joining Blueprint, he served as a deputy editor on the credit cards team at Forbes Advisor, and covered credit cards, credit scoring and related topics as a senior writer at LendingTree. He’s passionate about helping people understand personal finance so they can make the best decisions possible for their wallet. Glen holds a master's degree in technical and professional communication from East Carolina University and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Radford University.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card review

Written by: Re'Dreyona Walker

Edited by: Tracy Stewart

Partner Offer

In a Nutshell:

  You can travel anytime you want with this flexible travel card: The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card sets itself apart from other travel cards by doing away with restrictive travel policies and letting you book your rewards-funded travel yourself.

Learn more about this card

Other Notable Features: No foreign transaction fees, Visa Signature benefits, EMV chip card with the ability to add a PIN for international travel, auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside dispatch, lost luggage reimbursement, concierge services

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a great choice for occasional travelers who like to search the web for the best deals without sacrificing their option to use rewards for the purchase. It’s an incredibly flexible card when it comes to redemption options and earning capacity, however, it lacks many of the appealing benefits offered by other popular travel credit cards. That said, there are some limitations compared to cards with a potentially higher rewards value.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card offers a solid rewards program, especially if you already have Merrill or Bank of America® accounts. The Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program offers even more rewards on top of what you would earn with its flat-rate 1.5-point rewards structure. For those who don’t mind having a more complicated rewards structure in return for more travel benefits, rewards and cardholder perks, you may do better with other comparable travel rewards cards.

• No annual fee : Most travel rewards cards require you to pay an annual fee in exchange for premium travel perks, so having a $0 annual fee is unique.
• No foreign transaction fee : Foreign transaction fees can make the overall cost of your purchases go up tremendously. Fortunately, when going abroad, travelers do not have to worry about these pesky charges when using this card.
• Decent sign-up bonus : After spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days after account opening, new cardholders can get 25,000 online bonus points, which is an excellent offering on top of the card’s ongoing rewards rate.
• Uncapped reward earnings : Since there is no limit to the number of points you can earn, you can easily maximize your reward earnings.
• Special perks for Bank of America customers : The Preferred Rewards program allows certain Bank of America® credit card holders to earn extra bonus rewards. If you have enough money in combined balances in your Bank of American and Merrill accounts, you can earn 25%-75% more rewards.
• Requires good or excellent credit : Potential applicants may be denied if they do not fulfill the credit score requirement, which could prevent many people from applying.
• Potentially high APR : Depending on your creditworthiness, you could be subjected to an APR that you may not be comfortable with.
• No bonus categories : The card only offers flat-rate rewards, which may not be enough for people looking for tiered categories to boost their reward earnings.

Why you might want the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card

If you’re the type of cardholder always looking around for a good sign-up bonus on a card with no annual fee, then Bank of America’s travel card is a great option for you. You’ll earn a flat rate of rewards on all your purchases, giving you the freedom to shop for what you want, when you want to and still earn a decent rate.

One unique benefit of this card is that if you happen to have a Merrill or a Bank of America account you can earn a boosted rewards rate with Preferred Rewards.

Higher sign-up bonus

Though not the most valuable sign-up offer currently available, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card does include a decent bonus of 25,000 online points for users who spend $1,000 in the first 90 days. If you redeem these points for travel purchases, they are worth up to $250.

Flat-rate rewards on all purchases

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card comes with one flat earning rate on all purchases – making it easy to rack up points without keeping track of bonus categories or focusing your spending in one area. Cardholders bring in 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase. The one exception to this is purchases made in the Bank of America Travel Center, which earn an additional 1.5 points per dollar for a total of 3 points per dollar spent.

Bank of America Preferred Rewards program

If you are already a Bank of America or Merrill checking or savings account holder, you might be able to boost your earning rate on the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card. This is certainly the case if you have a significant balance. Bank of America has a tiered rewards rate program that increases at incremental stages depending on how large your account balance is in your Bank of America or Merrill account. You can potentially qualify for a 75% point boost with an increased earned rate of 2.6% (up from the standard 1.5% per dollar spent) by qualifying for Platinum Honors – Bank of America’s highest Preferred Rewards tier.

Bank of America Preferred Rewards tiers and earning rates

As you can see, even if you don’t have a balance over $100,000 in your Bank of America or Merrill account you can still earn either a 25% or 50% boost to your rewards rate.

When combined with some of the other benefits of this card, even a 1.9% earning rate makes this card stand out despite the fact some flat-rate rewards cards have a slightly higher rate.

Flexible point redemption

Points earned with the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card are worth the same amount whether you book travel with the bank or another site – unlike other travel cards that offer a boost on certain purchases. However, this gives the card some added flexibility and means you can think less critically about how you want to use those points.

You can redeem points for any travel purchase made on your card in the last 12 months. That means you can find a better deal on a third-party travel site and still use your rewards to cover the cost. You may also redeem points for a statement credit to pay for dining purchases, a cash redemption or gift card.

Bank of America Travel Rewards redemption options

Solid intro apr for new purchases and balance transfers.

In addition to easy-to-earn rewards and flexible redemption, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card offers a 0% introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for new purchases (19.24% to 29.24% variable thereafter) and for balance transfers made within the first 60 days (after which, the 19.24% to 29.24% variable APR applies). There is a 3% intro balance transfer fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.

Very few travel cards offer an intro APR on both balance transfers and new purchases, so this card could be an ideal pick if you need to pay off debt or chip away at the cost of a new purchase in the short term, but want to focus on earning travel rewards long term.

This can be a great perk for users who have a big purchase to make and want to pay it down over time without racking up interest. You’ll have a little more than a full year to make slow payments without having to worry about additional charges. Just be sure not to charge more than you can pay off in the introductory period, as the ongoing APR can be high.

Why you might want a different travel rewards card

If you’re familiar with rewards programs, know which categories you spend your money the most and can plan accordingly to use different cards for every purchase, you might want to opt for a more elaborate card strategy that takes advantage of higher earning cards. A rate of 1.5 points per dollar spent is a decent rate, but it’s by no means the best offer out there.

That said, there are a few shortcomings the Bank of America Travel Rewards card has that makes it fall a little further down the list of best travel rewards cards.

No bonus for travel redemption

Redemption through an issuer’s travel portal is a competitive feature on a travel rewards card that comes with some other cards in this category. Unfortunately, points redeemed for travel through the Bank of America Travel center won’t see an increase in value like on some other issuer’s cards. This puts Bank of America’s card a little further down the list.

Although purchases made through the travel center will earn double points, redeeming those points for travel won’t increase their value. Meaning you’ll need to spend more to increase the worthiness of your rewards, while with another card it might mean spending less and redeeming for more.

For example, points earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earn an additional 25% value when redeemed through the Chase Travel℠, making points (normally worth 1 cent each) worth 1.25 cents each.

The most value you can get out of a Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card point is 1 cent per point, other travel cards can often outpace its value. When comparing to another card, be sure to keep point value in mind because, like Chase, some issuers have increased point value.

Low rewards rate

While earning 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase is convenient and it can be boosted if you’re a Bank of America or Merrill account holder, for a general cardholder who’s looking for a solid travel rewards card, it’s a little low. Even the 3 points per dollar on travel booked through Bank of America’s Travel Center is comparatively low to other cards, especially considering the points’ low value for redemption.

If you want to step into travel rewards and fly higher, you might benefit from a card that earns at a higher rate on general purchases and pair it with a card from the same issuer that earns a high rate for travel. This may allow you to pool your points and redeem them through that issuer’s rewards portal.

For instance, you might be better served with a 2% cash back card like the Citi Double Cash® Card (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay) paired with the Citi Premier® Card (The Citi Premier Card is no longer available) . While the Premier Card has an annual fee of $95, depending on how much you spend you may be able to offset that fee by earning more rewards than you would with the Bank of America Travel Rewards card.

No standout perks

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card has a few benefits that make it valuable for frequent travelers, but it doesn’t have many extensive perks.

• No foreign transaction fee – When traveling abroad, you won’t pay any surcharge on foreign transactions.
• Car rental insurance – If your rental car is damaged or stolen, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card can reimburse you in excess of the company’s insurance policy.
• Add PIN for international travel – The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is an EMV chip card, and you can add a PIN for easy use when traveling overseas.

While certainly not the most impressive travel perks available on a rewards card, all these benefits could potentially save frequent travelers some money on their next trip — but in comparison to other travel rewards cards, you could get a much better lineup of perks than with this card.

How does the Bank of America Travel Rewards card compare to other cards?

The flat earning rate on the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card makes it easy to rack up points with this no-annual-fee option, but savvy spenders might be able to get more out of a travel card with a different structure. Here are a few popular alternatives:

Bank of America Travel Rewards vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred

A fan-favorite travel card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a good rewards rate and a valuable sign-up bonus. If you redeem all 75,000 points (after spending $4,000 in the first three months to earn the bonus) for travel in the Chase Travel portal, they are worth more than $900. The biggest drawback to the Sapphire Preferred in comparison to the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card is its $95 annual fee, though heavy spenders can probably offset this cost with a great earning rate on travel and restaurant purchases.

See Related :  Bank of America Travel Rewards vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Which is best for you?

Bank of America Travel Rewards vs. Capital One VentureOne

Like the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card, the Capital One VentureOne doesn’t charge an annual fee and offers a flat rate of miles on most purchases – 1.25 miles per dollar. The Capital One VentureOne also charges no foreign transaction fee. However, the VentureOne also comes with a higher low-end and high-end APR rate (19.99% to 29.99% variable) than the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card does. Miles with the VentureOne are also worth that same as Bank of America points at 1 cent apiece. However, with a lower earning rate, the VentureOne won’t compete well with cards that have a high point value and a high earning rate.

Bank of America Travel Rewards vs. Wells Fargo Autograph

The Wells Fargo Autograph is another popular no-annual-fee travel card, thanks to its extensive list of categories that qualify for the 3 point-per-dollar rate. Cardholders can earn 3 points per dollar on restaurants, travel, transit, gas station purchases, select streaming services and phone plans as well as 1 point per dollar on other purchases. This makes it easy to rack up plenty of points. Plus, cardholders who also have a Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card may earn even more cash rewards on purchases.

How to use the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card:

• Spend at least $1,000 in the first 90 days to earn the sign-up bonus.
• Put all your purchases on the card to take advantage of a generous flat rewards rate.
• Consider purchasing travel through the Bank of America Travel center to earn double points.
• If you are eligible, sign up for Preferred Rewards to boost your earnings.

Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card right for you?

If you are the type of cardholder who prefers to put all their purchases on one card and not worry about keeping track of bonus categories, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card offers a good rate of points for a card with no annual fee. Plus, Bank of America account holders with a significant balance can boost their rewards rate and fast-track their way to their next vacation.

On the other hand, if the realm of rewards earning sparks your curiosity and you want to maximize how much you get back for what you spend, you might consider a more strategic approach. That said, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card is a terrific option for newcomers to rewards or for those who aren’t confident in their ability to offset the annual fees they may face with more beneficial cards.

Need more information on this card? See related articles:

• Bank of America Travel Center: How to book flights, hotels and vacations.
• Card Comparison – Bank of America Travel Rewards vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred
• Card Comparison – Bank of America Travel Rewards card vs. Bank of America Cash Rewards card
• Card Comparison – Bank of America Travel Rewards vs. Capital One Venture Card

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Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Worth It?

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The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers you a simple way to earn valuable rewards on a travel credit card with a $0 annual fee. This is a good card to consider if you don’t like the restrictions of airline and hotel loyalty programs but want straightforward earning and easy redemption options.

Here are the features to consider when deciding whether the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card will be worthwhile for you.

Valuable welcome offer

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card currently has a nice 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.

Reward earnings

This card offers a very straightforward way to earn rewards. You don’t have to worry about rotating categories or extra rewards in certain purchase categories. You simply earn 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases. If you book travel with the Bank of America Travel Center, you earn 3 points per dollar.

If you are a member of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® Rewards program, your points-earning rate on the card goes up.

To qualify for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program, you need to hold a certain minimum balance in a Bank of America® checking or savings account or through investments with Merrill Lynch or Merrill Edge.

Gold members in the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program earn a 25% bonus when they use this card while Platinum status Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members get a 50% bonus and top tier Platinum Honor members get a 75% bonus.

» Learn more: How to choose a travel credit card

Redeeming your points

Redeeming your rewards for travel expenses is extremely easy. There are no complicated award charts or blackout dates to worry about.

You have the flexibility to book your travel however you want, then use your points to redeem as a statement credit against your travel charge at a rate of 1 cent per point. It's that simple.

The points from your Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card can be used for flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, baggage fees, zoos, amusement parks, tolls and many other travel expenses. In most cases, you have up to 12 months after you make a travel purchase to redeem your points for a statement credit.

If you redeem your points for cash back instead of travel credits, your points are worth about 0.6 cent per point. For example, if you redeemed 2,500 points for cash, you would receive $15 in rewards. So your points have more value when redeemed for travel charges than for cash back.

» Learn more: 3 surprising ways you can redeem your Bank of America Travel Rewards

Foreign transaction fees

If you look at other popular no-annual fee credit cards, they charge up to a 3% foreign transaction fee.

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has no foreign transaction fees, which makes it a great choice when traveling outside the country.

Other benefits

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has a few other benefits useful for travelers:

Bank of America® offers a great benefit for museum lovers. Your Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card gives you access to Museums on Us. Through this program, you will get access to more than 225 museums across the country, for free, on the first full weekend of every month.

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card features chip technology for extra security and easy use at over 130 countries.

Fraud protection is also a stable of the card and you'll be protected with a $0 Liability Guarantee and also get alerted of suspicious activity on your account.

Is the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card worth getting?

Even though this credit card offers no annual fee and has a valuable welcome offer, unless you hold Platinum or Platinum Honor status with the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program, this credit card has a reward rate that's less than a 2% cash back credit card.

But, if you have higher levels of status with Bank of America®, this could be a great option for earning great rewards with no annual fee.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Review 2024

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a good travel credit card for beginners or those who prefer simplicity in earning and redeeming rewards. It's got a solid bonus for a no-annual-fee card, and you can use your points toward a wide variety of travel purchases.

Earn 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases

0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles for purchases and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening

19.24% - 29.24% Variable

Earn 25,000 online bonus points

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earns 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee or foreign transaction fee
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Some cards earn more rewards, though usually only in bonus categories
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. You can't transfer points to travel partners (though you can use points to cancel out travel purchases on your statement)

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a good travel credit card for beginners or those who prefer simplicity in earning and redeeming rewards.

• 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 as long as your account remains open.
• 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.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
• Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Bottom Line

If you're in search of a no-annual-fee travel credit card that offers a straightforward points program, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is worth considering. This card offers a flat earning rate of 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, and you can redeem your rewards toward travel expenses you charge to your card.

However, if you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, the card can be much more lucrative. Depending on your rewards tier, you can earn 25% to 75% more points with this card.

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a good choice if you don't like dealing with complicated frequent flyer or hotel rewards programs that limit award availability and make their points hard to use. And on the earning side, there are no bonus categories or spending caps to track, either. If you're new to travel rewards, this could be a great way to start earning and redeeming points.

Detailed Overview

Welcome bonus.

With the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, you can earn a welcome bonus of 25,000 online bonus points after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening of account opening. Each point is worth 1 cent, so the welcome bonus offer is worth $250 in travel.

0% Intro APR

New cardholders also receive a 0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles for purchases and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening, after which a 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR applies. This can save you money if you plan to make a large purchase but want to spread the payments out over several months — as long as you have a plan to pay off the debt before the introductory period runs out.

How to Earn Points From the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card cardholders earn 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, with no categories or limits to keep track of. 

Things get more interesting if you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer. The amount of money you have on deposit (like savings or investments) with Bank of America and Merrill (Bank of America's wealth management division) determines your rewards tier. Depending on your tier, you could earn 25% to 75% more rewards.

One other way to boost your returns from the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is by purchasing travel through the Bank of America travel center. In that case, you'll earn 3 points per dollar (instead of 1.5 points per dollar) for your purchase.

With the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, you'll earn points that are easy to redeem for a wide variety of travel expenses. Once you charge a travel purchase to your card, you can apply points at a rate of 1 cent each toward a statement credit to cover the purchase. The minimum redemption amount is 2,500 points ($25), and you'll have 12 months from the transaction date to apply your points.

Bank of America has a broad definition of travel, including some purchases most would classify as entertainment. Categories that qualify for a Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card travel statement credit include:

• Trailer parks
• Recreational vehicle rentals
• Campgrounds
• Car rental agencies
• Truck and trailer rental
• Cruise lines
• Travel agencies
• Tour operators and real estate agents
• Operators of passenger trains
• Boat rentals
• Parking lots and garages
• Tolls and bridge fees
• Tourist attractions
• Exhibits like art galleries
• Amusement parks, carnivals, circuses, aquariums, and zoos

If you're not traveling, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card allows you to use points for non-travel redemptions, but the rates aren't as attractive. For example, you can use points for gift cards starting at 3,125 points ($31.25), and the value per point varies.

If you prefer cash back, you can redeem points for a check or electronic deposit into a Bank of America checking or savings account, or for credit to an eligible Cash Management Account with Merrill. In that case, your points are only worth 0.6 cents apiece, which is not a great value.

Benefits and Features

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card doesn't have a ton of valuable cardholder perks, which is common among credit cards with no annual fee .

Introductory 0% APR on purchases 

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card comes with a 0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles for purchases and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening. After that, there's a 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR.

Using a 0% APR credit card offer can be a good way to spread out payments for a big purchase over time without incurring huge interest charges, but you'll want to be sure you have the means and a plan to pay it off. Otherwise, you'll end up with high-interest debt after the introductory period expires.

Keep in mind there are longer intro periods on the best 0% APR credit cards  available right now, and some also include balance transfers in their offers.

No foreign transaction fees

Good travel credit cards don't charge foreign transaction fees , and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is no exception. Because it doesn't tack on these fees, you can use the card for international purchases and not get stung with extra charges.

Free FICO score 

Primary cardholders with the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card can check their FICO score for free through Bank of America's online banking, mobile website, or mobile banking app for iPhone and Android. This is a useful tool for keeping tabs on your credit, especially if you don't have another credit card that offers free credit scores , 

Overdraft Protection

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card comes with an optional Balance Connect overdraft protection feature that lets you link your eligible Bank of America deposit account to your card. If you choose to use the service, Bank of America automatically transfers funds from your credit card account to cover overdrafts on your deposit account, as long as you have credit available on your credit card.

You won't be charged overdraft fees for this service, but you'll pay interest on the cash advance.

Mobile Wallet

When you add your Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card to digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay, you can use it for in-person, online, or in-app transactions. Because your actual card number isn't stored on your device or shared with most merchants, you'll have more security when you make purchases.

$0 Liability Guarantee

Losing a credit card or having it stolen stinks, but you won't have to worry about fraudulent or unauthorized transactions on your Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card as long as you report the issue promptly.

Along with not having an annual fee and offering an intro APR, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card doesn't add foreign transaction fees, which makes it a good pick to have in your wallet when you travel abroad.

As with most other cards, you'll pay fees for balance transfers, cash advances, and late or returned payments.

Card Comparison

Before you decide on the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, you'll want to consider similar no-annual-fee cards, because some have better earning rates and more flexible options for redeeming rewards. For example, the  Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card earns 2% cash rewards on purchases, and you can use your rewards for whatever you like — not just travel.

Similarly, the Discover it® Miles earns 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases, and at the end of the first 12 billing cycles, Discover will match all the rewards you earn. This means you'll effectively earn 3 miles per dollar in the first year, and while it's framed as a travel card, you can also redeem your miles for cash back at the same rate of 1 cent per mile.

If you're more interested in cash back, Bank of America also has cash-back cards available; you can read our Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card review . Or, if you're looking for a higher-tier travel rewards card and are open to an annual fee, you can read our Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card review .

Frequently Asked Questions

Most people who are approved for the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card have at least a good credit score. That means a FICO score of at least 670 or a VantageScore of 700 or more.

You still have options if your credit score is below that range. Our guides to the best credit cards for fair or average credit  and for bad credit include some cards that earn solid rewards. Keep in mind there's also a student version of this card — the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students — that offers most of the same benefits and can be easier to qualify for if you're a college student. 

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is worth it if you're looking for a simple way to earn and use credit card rewards for travel without paying an annual fee. It's best suited for beginners or those who don't want to mess with complicated award programs, but to that end, it doesn't come with a lot of benefits.

Yes, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers trip cancellation and interruption coverage, trip delay coverage, as well as lost luggage coverage like many other top travel rewards cards. This is a great benefit for those who want an additional layer of protection. 

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a Visa Signature card.

Why You Should Trust Us

Business Insider's experts evaluated the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card relative to other no-annual-fee credit cards that earn points. It's a strong option for beginners getting into travel rewards, especially if you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member.

For a closer look at our methodology, see how we rate credit cards at Business Insider.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

• Main content

5 lesser-known perks of the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card

There's a travel credit card that doesn't get as much love as some other popular choices , and it's called the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card . For those not familiar with this card , it comes with a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 within the first 90 days of account opening.

For a $95 annual fee, the Bank of America Premium Rewards card highlights include a 2-points-per-dollar earning rate on travel and dining purchases, 1.5 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases, and an up-to-$100 airline credit to cover ancillary purchases such as seat upgrades, baggage fees, inflight services and more. Every four years, you'll also get up to a $100 Global Entry credit, which you can use for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry — something every frequent traveler should have in their arsenal.

Aside from these benefits, some perks aren't as widely advertised but can be just as valuable, so let's go over the top five lesser-known perks of the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card .

Lost luggage reimbursement

No one wants to lose their luggage when they travel. There's a lot to worry about, from working with the airline and trying to get your bag back to going without all of your essentials. But the Bank of America Premium Rewards card offers something to help ease that pain.

If you pay for your trip costs with this card, the lost luggage coverage protects both your luggage and the contents inside of it if it's lost or stolen due to theft or misdirection by the common carrier. Bank of America defines common carriers as airlines, buses, trains and cruise ships.

Baggage delay protection

Along the same lines as the lost luggage reimbursement, the Bank of America Premium Rewards also offers coverage if your bags are delayed . When your checked baggage is delayed for at least six hours with a common carrier, you can receive up to $100 per day for up to five days that your baggage is delayed. The card's benefit is limited to expenses incurred for essential items, such as toiletries, clothing and chargers for electronic equipment.

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

If something comes up with your trip, the Bank of America Premium Rewards travel insurance helps to ensure that you're not completely losing everything you spent. If you have to cancel your trip due to a covered reason, the benefit will cover up to $2,500 per trip for any unused, prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses .

Covered nonrefundable expenses include airfare and other common carrier fares (such as cruises, buses and trains), hotel costs, tours booked through a tour operator, prepaid rental cars, rented recreational vehicles, change fees and commercial recreational excursions.

Your trip will be covered by Bank of America Premium Rewards travel insurance for reasons such as accidental injury, a change in military orders, a call to jury duty, a named storm warning and more. However, not all expenses are covered: Some examples are a change in plans, a change in financial circumstances, any loss because of unused vouchers, tickets, credits or coupons, and more.

Purchase Protection

If you run into a problem with a purchase you just made, the Bank of America Premium Rewards purchase protection covers you whether the item is stolen or damaged.

Say, for example, you bought a new iPhone, and you drop it right on its face just a few days after having it. The screen completely shatters and it isn't useable. If you didn't purchase Apple Care, the purchase protection of your Premium Rewards Card could come into play here.

The Bank of America Premium Rewards purchase protection will repair, replace or reimburse you for an eligible item purchased with your card that is stolen or damaged within 90 days of purchase. You'll be covered for up to $10,000 per claim.

Along the same lines, the Bank of America Premium Rewards also offers an extended protection benefit . This perk doubles the time period of the manufacturer's warranty for up to one additional year on warranties of three years or less.

Visa Signature luxury hotel collection

This benefit gives you access to Visa Signature's portfolio of premium hotels . Stay with one of the hotels in the collection and pay with your Bank of America Premium Rewards. You'll get benefits that include a best rate guarantee, late checkout, free daily breakfast for two, automatic room upgrades (if available) and a $25 daily food or beverage credit.

Related: Book through Visa Signature Hotels for elite-like perks

Bottom line

While the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card has plenty of perks, some of its greatest benefits aren't widely advertised.

From reimbursing you for lost luggage to offering you special treatment at a collection of premium hotels, the card offers value in various ways.

Official application link: Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card .

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Stella Shon.

Updated 06/05/2023.

Everything you need to know about purchase protection on Bank of America credit cards

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There are dozens of reasons to pay for your purchases with a credit card instead of a debit card or cash, including the prospect of earning rewards. After all, the best rewards credit cards let consumers earn cash back, flexible points or travel rewards for each dollar they spend, and many offer a large initial sign-up bonus as well.

Not only that, but paying with plastic is easily more secure than other payment methods since most credit cards come with zero liability for fraudulent purchases . Further, many credit cards come with added consumer protections and insurance products that can help you save money or avoid financial losses in specific situations.

Purchase protection is one such benefit, and some Bank of America credit cards offer this perk through Visa. This guide goes over Bank of America purchase protection, how it works and how you can file a claim if you need to.

What is purchase protection on Bank of America cards?

Purchase protection is a credit card perk that can provide you with reimbursement or the repair of an item that is damaged or stolen within a specific period after you buy it. You have to pay for the item with a credit card that offers this coverage for it to apply.

As an issuer, Bank of America itself doesn’t offer purchase protection. However, Visa provides this benefit on Bank of America cards on the Visa network.

On eligible Bank of America Visa cards, purchase protection is good for 90 days from an item’s date of purchase. Coverage limits vary by card.

How does purchase protection work on Bank of America cards?

For your Bank of America purchase protection to come into play, you need to be a cardholder of a Bank of America Visa Signature credit card that offers this perk. If the item you purchase is lost or damaged during the coverage period of 90 days from the date of purchase, then you can apply for reimbursement or repair coverage with Visa.

As an example of how purchase protection works , imagine you purchased a new tablet from Best Buy and paid with an eligible Bank of America Visa credit card that offers purchase protection. If your tablet stopped working 30 days after you bought it, you would probably be pretty miffed, yet you wouldn’t be able to return your tablet to Best Buy since they have a strict 15-day return period in most cases.

With purchase protection from your Visa credit card, however, you could apply for repair or replacement of your tablet regardless of Best Buy’s policy.

What kind of purchases does purchase protection cover on Bank of America cards?

Purchase protection can cover almost any purchase you make with your eligible Visa credit card ranging from a new laptop computer to a sweater or a kitchen full of appliances. However, this is only true provided damage or theft occurs within the 90-day window from the date of purchase.

What does purchase protection on Bank of America cards not cover?

Purchase protection on Bank of America cards does come with a standard set of exclusions. Items that will not receive purchase protection, even if you pay with your credit card, include (but are not limited to):

• Animals and live plants
• Antiques and collectibles
• Boats and watercraft
• Computer software
• Items purchased for resale
• Items that mysteriously disappear
• Purchases in the care of a common carrier (e.g. airline, cruise line, etc.)
• Medical equipment
• Perishables
• Real estate
• Rented or leased items
• Purchases that are used or pre-owned

Which Bank of America credit cards are eligible for purchase protection?

Visa Signature offers purchase protection on the following Bank of America Visa Signature cards:

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Bank of america® travel rewards credit card, bank of america® premium rewards® credit card.

There are also a few co-branded Bank of America Visa Signature cards that come with this perk.

Purchase protection on Bank of America Visa Signature cards

As you can see, most of these cards offer up to $500 per claim in purchase protection, except for the Premium Rewards with a generous limit of $10,000 per claim. If you are eager to gain this important protection for items you buy, the Premium Rewards card should be on your radar.

The Bank of America Premium Rewards card starts you off with 50,000 points worth $500 when you spend $3,000 on your card within 90 days of account opening. You can also earn unlimited 2X points on travel and dining purchases and 1.5X points on everything else. A $95 annual fee applies, but you’ll qualify for perks like up to $100 airline incidental statement credits annually, up to $100 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership every four years and no foreign transaction fees.

Consumer protections you’ll receive with the Bank of America Premium Rewards card include purchase protection, trip delay reimbursement, trip interruption and cancellation insurance, coverage for lost and delayed baggage, emergency evacuation and transportation coverage, return protection , extended warranty on eligible items , roadside dispatch and more.

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is a flexible rewards card that earns 3 percent cash back in your category of choice, including gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores or home improvement or furnishing purchases, plus 2 percent at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 of combined purchases each quarter in both bonus categories, then 1 percent). All other purchases earn 1 percent back.

As a welcome offer, you can get $200 cash back by spending at least $1,000 in combined purchases during your first 90 days.

You’ll also get Visa Signature perks, including extended warranty coverage, Visa Signature® Concierge, roadside dispatch and travel and emergency assistance.

With the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, you can earn 1.5 points per dollar on all qualifying purchases. Despite being a travel card, the Travel Rewards works more like a cash back card, allowing you to redeem rewards toward statement credits on travel or dining purchases.

Unlike many other travel credit cards, the Bank of America Travel Rewards doesn’t have much to offer when it comes to additional perks. Besides basic benefits, like free access to your credit score and overdraft protection, you’ll get Visa Signature perks and access to BankAmeriDeals.

Currently, the card is offering 25,000 bonus points after you spend at least $1,000 in qualifying purchases within 90 days of opening the account.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card information last updated on 10.22.2021

How to file a claim with purchase protection on Bank of America cards

If you want to file a purchase protection claim, you can start the process by calling 1-800-VISA-911 or the number on the back of your credit card within 60 days of the damage or theft. From there, the benefits administrator will ask you some basic questions about your claim and send you a claim form to fill out.

At this point, you’ll need to complete your claim form and return it to Bank of America within 90 days of the damage or theft. The documentation you’ll need to provide includes:

• Your completed and signed claim form
• The receipt for your purchase
• A police report filed within 48 hours of the incident in the case of theft
• A copy of your primary insurance policy’s declarations page to determine your deductible
• Documentation of any other settlement regarding the damage or theft
• Any other documentation needed to prove your claim

The bottom line

Purchase protection may not seem as important as rewards and other cardholder perks, but this coverage can come in handy if you need it. This is especially true for pricey purchases you might pay for with your credit card, and it’s nice to know that Bank of America purchase protection can keep you covered.

Related Articles

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Credit cards that offer purchase protection

Guide to American Express purchase protection

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