When it comes to choosing a Bank of America credit card, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the different options available. But whether you’re a frequent traveler or a college student looking for your first credit card, there could be a Bank of America card for you.

　　Best for students: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for students

　　Best for rewards with no annual fee: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

　　Best for travel rewards: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Visa® credit card

　　Best for balance transfers: BankAmericard® credit card

　　Best for small business: Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

　　Best for students: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for students

　　Here’s why: While many student credit cards offer few rewards beyond their credit-building capabilities, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for students is different.

　　The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for students delivers, allowing you to earn 3% cash back in your choice category, choosing from gas purchases, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores or home improvement/furnishings. And you can get 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. You get the bonus cash back rate on up to $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter, after which you’ll get 1% back on those purchases. You’ll also earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

　　Plus, you’ll get a $200 online cash rewards bonus if you spend at least $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of your account is open.

　　The card also offers an introductory 0% APR for 12 billing cycles from account opening on purchases and on balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening the account (with a 3% or $10-minimum balance transfer fee). After the intro period, the regular variable APRs for each will range from 13.99% to 23.99%. That means you can pay down big school purchases — like textbooks or a laptop — for up to 12 months without worrying about interest charges.

　　On top of that, this card has no annual fee.

　　Check out more offers for credit cards for college students on Credit Karma.

　　Best for rewards with no annual fee: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

　　Here’s why: You can still earn valuable cash back rewards without paying an annual fee. If you spend a lot of money on gas, groceries and purchases at wholesale clubs, this might be the right card for you.

　　Like the student version of the card, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card offers excellent rewards for a card with no annual fee. You can earn 3% cash back in a category of your choice (choose from gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores and home improvement/furnishings) and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Those bonus rates apply only on up to $2,500 in combined purchases for both categories each quarter. You’ll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. That means you can earn rewards just for your routine spending.

　　As an added incentive, you can also get a $200 online cash rewards bonus if you spend at least $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.

　　Learn more about the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card in our review.

　　Best for travel rewards: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Visa® credit card

　　Here’s why: The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Visa® credit card has solid rewards with a competitive annual fee of $95. You’ll earn two points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases, and 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. You can redeem those points for statement credit, deposits into your eligible Bank of America or Merrill accounts, gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.

　　The card also offers a nice 50,000-point sign-up bonus after you make $3,000 in purchases within 90 days of account opening. That sign-up bonus is worth up to $500.

　　You’ll get access to a suite of travel benefits, like a $100 airline incidental-fee credit and up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application-fee credit. There are also added protections that can make your travel easier, like trip cancellation insurance and lost luggage reimbursement. This card’s foreign transaction fee? None.

　　Read our review of the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Visa® credit card.

　　Best for balance transfers: BankAmericard® credit card

　　Here’s why: If you’re looking to pay off debt, this card offers a 0% introductory APR for 18 billing cycles on eligible purchases and balance transfers made within the first 60 days after you open the account.

　　After that, the ongoing variable APR for both purchases and balance transfers increases to 12.99% - 22.99%. And there’s a balance transfer fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.

　　But keep in mind that the card doesn’t offer rewards, so you might not find much extra value in the card once those introductory offers end. The good news is there’s a $0 annual fee.

　　For more details, read our review of the BankAmericard® credit card .

　　Best for small business: Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

　　Here’s why: The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card lets you earn valuable miles that can offset your business travel expenses.

　　If you travel often for business, you can rack up rewards quickly with the card. You can earn three points per $1 spent on travel purchases, including flights, rental cars and hotels when you book through the Bank of America Travel Center. Plus, you can earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. As long as your account remains in good standing, your points never expire, and there’s no limit to how much you can earn.

　　Its annual fee is $0. And foreign transaction fees? Also $0 — which makes it an ideal choice for traveling overseas. And currently, you can get a 30,000-point sign-up bonus after making at least $3,000 in net purchases within the first 90 days of account opening — a $300 value when redeemed as a statement credit toward travel purchases.

　　Click here for our picks for the best business travel credit cards.

　　How we picked these cards

　　Bank of America offers a wide range of credit cards, so we divided them into audience-specific subcategories to address the unique needs of a few large groups. When evaluating each Bank of America credit card, we decided to focus on five main categories: cards for students, cards for travelers, small-business cards, cards with no annual fee and balance transfer cards.

　　We reviewed each credit card that Bank of America currently offers, carefully considering factors like sign-up bonuses, potential rewards and relevant fees. We tried to balance the value of rewards against the cost of maintaining your account to come up with picks that won’t require constant attention.

　　How to make the most of these Bank of America credit cards

　　When it comes to maximizing the value of your Bank of America credit card, there’s another feature you should know about, regardless of the type of card you have.

　　If you have a Bank of America card, it could make sense to link (or sign up for) an active Bank of America checking or savings account or a Merrill investment account so that you can utilize the company’s Preferred Rewards program.

　　When you enroll in the program, you can earn higher rewards on eligible Bank of America credit cards depending on how much money you have deposited in your account. There are three tiers — Gold, Platinum and Platinum Honors — with different account thresholds and rewards levels. The Gold tier offers a 25% bonus on points for eligible Bank of America credit cards, while the Platinum Honors tier offers the highest bonus rate at 75%.

　　Even the Gold tier requires keeping a serious amount of money ($20,000) in your account, so these added benefits aren’t for everyone. It’s best to think of the tiers as an add-on benefit and not a core component of your Bank of America credit card.

　　Best Bank of America Credit Cards of June 2021

　　Bank of America may be a household name, but it's never been high on the list when it comes to rewards credit cards. However, between partnerships with major travel brands and the recent release of a premium rewards credit card, it's clear that Bank of America is stepping it up. Simple and effective, these Bank of America credit cards can give your wallet a great boost.What is Bank of America?Bank of America is a financial services corporation that offers banking, lending, investing, wealth management and other services. If you've spent time in the United States, you've heard of Bank of America. Not only is it one of the biggest banks in the United States, it's also among the biggest in the world.

　　As a credit card issuer, Bank of America's card products can meet plenty of different financial needs. Its co-branded cards are an area where the bank stands out, with a diverse collection of partnerships. There are co-branded cards through travel partners, such as Alaska Airlines and Norwegian Cruise Lines. It also has cards with brands that aren't travel-related, including MLB®, the World Wildlife Fund, and Susan G. Komen®.What are the top perks of Bank of America?One of the best Bank of America perks is its Preferred Rewards program. If you're in this program and you have a qualifying Bank of America credit card, you'll earn an extra 25% to 75% on all your credit card rewards. To get Preferred Rewards benefits, you must maintain a minimum combined balance across your banking and investment accounts with Bank of America and Merrill Lynch.

　　The Preferred Rewards program doesn't just boost your credit card rewards. It entitles you to extra benefits with all Bank of America services you use. For example, you could get a higher savings account interest rate, a lower auto loan interest rate, and a reduction in your mortgage origination fee.

　　The bottom line is that Bank of America likes to give special treatment to its most loyal clients. If you're part of that group, that's good news.

　　In addition to the Preferred Rewards program, Bank of America credit cards have quite a few useful features, including:

　　High rewards rates, with both cash back cards and travel rewards cards

　　0% intro APR offers for purchases and balance transfers

　　Large sign-up bonuses

　　Premium travel perks

　　What could be improved about Bank of America?Bank of America's main flaw is the lack of a big credit card rewards program. Several of its competitors have built topnotch rewards programs for their flagship cards. These programs let cardholders transfer their points to airline and/or hotel partners for award travel bookings.

　　Even though Bank of America has travel rewards credit cards, it only lets you use your points towards cash travel purchases. Let's say you have the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card. You can use your rewards to book cash travel purchases at a fixed rate of $0.01 per point. You could also redeem rewards as a statement credit towards previous travel purchases. But you can't transfer your points anywhere. If you could, you'd be able to get more value from them.Who should get a Bank of America card?If you qualify for the Preferred Rewards program, then you should get a Bank of America card. Bank of America credit cards already have competitive rewards rates, so an additional 25% to 75% makes those rates even better. You'll need a combined balance of at least $20,000 to qualify for the Preferred Rewards Gold tier, and higher balances can qualify you for the Platinum or Platinum Honors tier.

　　Even if you're not an existing Bank of America client, its credit cards still have some strong benefits. Its cards are worth a look if you're interested in travel rewards, cash back, or 0% intro APR offers.

　　Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

　　Who is this card best for?

　　The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is a good option for those who don’t want to be locked into pre-selected bonus categories that earn a higher cashback rate as the card allows you to select from six of the following categories every month: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings.

　　It’s also a good choice for frequent spenders at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, as you’ll earn a decent cashback rate on purchases in those categories: 3% cash back in the category of your choice, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases), 1% cash back on all other purchases.

　　This card isn’t for people who don’t spend a lot in the bonus categories, as you’ll earn a subpar rate on all other purchases. You would be better off with a flat-rate card that earns you a consistently high rate on all purchases like the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer or a rewards card that is more aligned with your spending.

　　If you have a balance on an existing high-APR card or plan on making a large purchase, there is also a good 0% intro period for transfers and purchases — 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days and 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. After both intro periods end, a 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR will apply. These 0% intro APR periods can save you a tidy sum on interest charges.

　　For those who need a longer time to pay off a balance, know that there are other cards with 0% intro periods of 18 to 20 months.What we like

　　SIGN-UP BONUS

　　The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card offers a fairly easy-to-earn bonus for new cardmembers: Earn $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

　　FLEXIBLE CASHBACK PROGRAM

　　Cardholders have the ability to choose from one of six categories to earn 3% cash back each month: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores, or home improvement/furnishings. Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases), 1% cash back on all other purchases.

　　The ability to change the bonus cashback category each month is unique since many cards only allow you to opt into pre-selected new bonus categories every quarter or don’t allow you to choose at all.

　　REDEMPTION BONUS

　　Bank of America Preferred Rewards member cardholders with an active personal (nonbusiness) checking, savings or individual retirement account with Bank of America or who are a member of Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or U.S. Trust (excluding 401(k) or other employer sponsored plans and 529 plans) can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase when cash back is redeemed into a Bank of America® checking or savings account.

　　GENEROUS 0% APR INTRO OFFERS FOR PURCHASES AND BALANCE TRANSFERS

　　If you’re planning a large purchase that you need to finance over time or have high-interest debt you’d like to move to a no-interest card for more than a year, new Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card cardmembers can save with this card’s intro offer deals.

　　What to watch out for

　　BONUS CATEGORY SPENDING LIMIT

　　This card falls short in the quarterly $2,500 maximum it has on bonus categories.

　　Since the cap applies to spending across all bonus categories, big spenders in these categories may not earn the best cashback rate and may benefit more from both a grocery card and gas card.

　　However, the cap is higher than you’ll get with some other cards that cap bonus category spending at $1,500 a quarter.

　　BALANCE TRANSFER FEE

　　While the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card offers a generous 0% intro APR offer for balance transfers, there is a fee involved: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater. The fee will be added to any balance transferred to the card.

　　LIMITED BENEFITS

　　The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card comes with few benefits that are offered by other cards, such as car or travel insurance or extended warranty or purchase protections.

　　How to use the card most effectively

　　To get the most value out of the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, be sure to use it for all of your gas, grocery, and wholesale club purchases. This will allow you to earn the higher cashback rate on these purchases (until you hit the cap).

　　For all other spending, it’s a good idea to use a flat-rate card like the Citi® Double Cash Card so you can earn a higher rate than if you only used the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card. Also, make sure to spend the required amount in the given time period to earn the signup bonus.

　　If you plan on taking advantage of the 0% intro APR period for a large purchase, make sure you complete the purchase as soon as possible so you can take advantage of the long intro period. For those who want to complete a balance transfer, be aware you have to transfer your balance within 60 days from account opening, and there is a transfer fee.

　　Alternate cashback card

　　Compare it to the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

　　If you spend large sums at supermarkets, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers a ongoing higher cashback rate of 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) compared to the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, which offers a lower 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases. However, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card also includes wholesale clubs at 2% cash back.

　　If offsetting gas expenditures are top of your list, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is a better choice since you can earn higher cash back after you select gas stations as the bonus category. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express earns a lower cash back at U.S. gas stations.

　　Rewards programs aside, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express provides more added benefits than the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, such as travel accident insurance, cell phone protection, free two-day shipping with ShopRunner (enrollment required) and more.

　　To see the rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.

　　Is this card right for you?

　　The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card offers a unique cashback program for those who spend a lot at gas stations, supermarkets and wholesale clubs, as well as offering a decent 0% intro APR period for purchases and balance transfers. But if you think opting into a new bonus spending category every month will be too much of a hassle, then you may be better off with a cashback card that offers a flat-rate cashback rate on all purchases.