Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $0
• APR: 0% intro for 15 billing cycles, then 17.74%–27.74% variable
• Rewards: 1.5X points on all purchases, 3X through Bank of America Travel Center
• Bonus: 25,000 points ($250 value) after $1,000 spend in first 90 days
• Best For: No-fee travel rewards, Bank of America customers with Preferred Rewards
• Credit Needed: Good to Excellent (670+)

Overview

The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card is a straightforward no annual fee travel rewards card that earns unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases. Perfect for those who want to earn travel rewards without paying an annual fee or tracking bonus categories, this card offers simplicity combined with valuable benefits like no foreign transaction fees and a 15-month 0% intro APR period.

What makes this card exceptional for Bank of America customers is the Preferred Rewards program. With qualifying combined balances at Bank of America and Merrill, you can earn an additional 25%–75% bonus on every purchase. This transforms the base 1.5X rate into an impressive 2.625X unlimited earning rate for Platinum Honors members—all with no annual fee. Add in the 3X earning rate when booking through the Bank of America Travel Center (which becomes 5.25X with Platinum Honors), and this no-fee card delivers premium-level rewards.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles, then 17.74%–27.74% variable
• Balance Transfer APR: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then 17.99%–27.99% variable
• Cash Advance APR: Variable APR (contact issuer for current rate)
• Penalty APR: Variable (contact issuer for current rate)
• Balance Transfer Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Note: Extended 15-month 0% intro APR makes this excellent for large purchases or debt consolidation while earning travel rewards.

Benefits Overview

Travel Benefits

• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Use your card abroad without paying extra fees—perfect for international travelers
• 3X Earning at Bank of America Travel Center: Triple points when you book travel through Bank of America's travel portal
• Travel and Emergency Assistance Services: 24/7 hotline for help with travel emergencies, lost luggage, emergency travel arrangements, and more
• Visa Signature Benefits: Access to Visa Signature concierge services, travel and emergency assistance, and more (if issued as Visa Signature)

Everyday Benefits

• $0 Fraud Liability: You won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information
• FICO Score Access: View your FICO credit score for free in Online Banking and the Mobile Banking app
• Contactless Cards: Tap to pay for a fast, easy and secure way to pay in-store with your contactless-enabled card
• Digital Wallet Compatibility: Add your card to your digital wallet for a convenient way to pay in stores, in apps or online
• EMV Chip Technology: Added security when you use your card at chip-enabled terminals

Lifestyle Benefits

• Set-It-and-Forget-It Rewards: No categories to track or activate—just use your card
• No Caps or Limits: Earn unlimited points on all purchases
• Points Never Expire: Travel rewards points never expire as long as your account remains open
• Preferred Rewards Multiplier: Earn 25%–75% more points on every purchase with qualifying Bank of America/Merrill balances
• Flexible Redemption: Redeem for travel statement credits, cash back, gift cards, or merchandise

Rewards & Cash Back

• Unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases
• 3 points per $1 on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center
• No caps or limits on earning
• No categories to track or activate
• Points never expire as long as your account remains open
• Points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed

Preferred Rewards Bonus Earning Rates

With Preferred Rewards membership, your earning rates increase significantly:

Gold Tier ($20,000+ combined balance):

• 1.875X points on all purchases
• 3.75X points when booking through Bank of America Travel Center

Platinum Tier ($50,000+ combined balance):

• 2.25X points on all purchases
• 4.5X points when booking through Bank of America Travel Center

Platinum Honors Tier ($100,000+ combined balance):

• 2.625X points on all purchases
• 5.25X points when booking through Bank of America Travel Center

Redemption Options

• Travel statement credits: Redeem points to offset travel purchases at 1 cent per point
• Statement credits: Apply points to your account balance at 1 cent per point
• Direct deposit: Transfer cash value to your Bank of America checking or savings account
• Gift cards: Redeem for gift cards at various retailers
• Merchandise: Shop the rewards catalog
• Charity donations: Donate your points to participating charities

Key Insight: With Platinum Honors status earning 2.625X unlimited on everything with no annual fee, this card rivals premium travel cards costing $95+ annually.

Welcome Bonus

Earn 25,000 online bonus points after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening—that's a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.

This welcome bonus has an easy-to-meet spend requirement ($1,000 over 3 months) and provides excellent value for a no annual fee travel card. The bonus alone is worth $250 in travel statement credits.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $0
• Foreign Transaction Fee: $0 (no foreign transaction fees)
• Balance Transfer Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount transferred, whichever is greater
• Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater (contact issuer to confirm)
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40

Who This Card Is Best For

Ideal For

• Budget-conscious travelers who want travel rewards without an annual fee
• Bank of America customers who can leverage Preferred Rewards bonuses
• International travelers who need a card with no foreign transaction fees
• Diverse spenders whose purchases don't fit neatly into bonus categories
• Balance transferers needing 15 months of 0% APR while earning travel rewards
• First-time travel rewards cardholders who want simplicity
• Platinum Honors members who can earn 2.625X unlimited (elite-level rate)
• Those who book through travel portals to maximize 3X earning

Not Good For

• Category optimizers who want elevated rates on dining, groceries, or gas
• Transfer partner seekers looking for airline/hotel point transfers
• Non-Bank of America customers who can't access Preferred Rewards
• Premium rewards seekers without Preferred Rewards (1.5X is modest)
• Those wanting travel insurance beyond basic Visa Signature coverage
• Lounge access seekers (no airport lounge membership)
• Those needing airline fee credits or premium travel perks

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• No annual fee makes it accessible for long-term use
• Simple unlimited 1.5X earning rate on all purchases
• Solid 25,000 point welcome bonus worth $250
• Extended 15-month 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
• No foreign transaction fees—great for international travel
• Preferred Rewards program dramatically boosts all earning rates by 25%–75%
• With Platinum Honors, earn 2.625X on all purchases and 5.25X through Travel Center
• Points never expire while account is open
• Flexible redemption options for travel statement credits
• 3X earning rate when booking through Bank of America Travel Center
• Great starter travel card with no annual fee

Cons

• Base 1.5X earning rate is lower than some premium travel cards
• Welcome bonus ($250) is smaller compared to cards with annual fees
• No elevated categories for dining, groceries, or gas (except Travel Center bookings)
• Preferred Rewards benefits require maintaining significant balances ($20K–$100K+) with Bank of America/Merrill
• Points redemption value is fixed at 1 cent per point (no transfer partners)
• Variable APR can be high (up to 27.74%) after intro period
• To maximize value, you need Preferred Rewards status
• No premium travel benefits like lounge access or travel insurance
• Travel Center bookings may not always offer the best prices

Alternatives to Consider

Card	Best For	Annual Fee	Rewards	Credit Needed
Capital One VentureOne	1.25X unlimited + 5X hotels/rentals	$0	1.25X–5X tiered	Good+
Chase Freedom Unlimited®	3%–1.5% tiered cash back	$0	3%–1.5% tiered	Good+
Wells Fargo Autograph℠	3X travel/dining/gas/transit	$0	3X broad, 1X else	Good+
Discover it® Miles	1.5X doubled first year	$0	1.5X (3X first year)	Good+

How the Rewards Add Up

Example Annual Value (Without Preferred Rewards)

If you spend $18,000 per year on typical expenses:

Category	Annual Spend	Reward Rate	Earned Value
All purchases	$18,000	1.5X ($0.01/pt)	$270
Welcome bonus	—	—	$250

Total First Year Value: $520

Category	Annual Spend	Reward Rate	Earned Value
All purchases (ongoing years)	$18,000	1.5X ($0.01/pt)	$270

Ongoing Annual Value: $270/year

Example Annual Value (With Platinum Honors - 75% Bonus)

Same $18,000 annual spending with Platinum Honors tier:

Category	Annual Spend	Reward Rate	Earned Value
All purchases	$18,000	2.625X ($0.01/pt)	$472.50
Welcome bonus	—	—	$250

Total First Year Value: $722.50

Category	Annual Spend	Reward Rate	Earned Value
All purchases (ongoing years)	$18,000	2.625X ($0.01/pt)	$472.50

Ongoing Annual Value: $472.50/year

Example: Booking Through Travel Center (Platinum Honors)

If you book $2,000 in travel annually through Bank of America Travel Center:

Category	Annual Spend	Reward Rate	Earned Value
Travel Center bookings	$2,000	5.25X ($0.01/pt)	$105
All other purchases	$16,000	2.625X ($0.01/pt)	$420

Total Annual Value: $525 (with no annual fee!)

Key Insight: Platinum Honors members earn an extra $202.50 per year on $18K spending compared to the base rate—without any annual fee or category management. This rivals many premium travel cards that charge $95+ annually.

Should You Get This Card?

You Should Get It If…

• You want a no annual fee card to earn travel rewards
• You're a Bank of America or Merrill customer with Preferred Rewards status
• You can benefit from the 15-month 0% intro APR for purchases or balance transfers
• You prefer flat-rate rewards across all spending without tracking categories
• You travel internationally and need a card with no foreign transaction fees
• You're a Platinum Honors member looking for 2.625X unlimited travel rewards
• You want flexible redemption options for travel statement credits
• You occasionally book travel through portals to maximize 3X/5.25X earning
• You value simplicity over maximizing every spending category
• You're new to travel rewards and want an easy entry point

You Should Skip It If…

• You want elevated rates on dining, groceries, gas, or other specific categories
• You prefer transferable points to airline/hotel partners for maximum value
• You don't have Bank of America accounts and can't access Preferred Rewards
• You're looking for premium travel benefits like lounge access or travel insurance
• You want higher base earning rates without needing $100K+ in balances
• You prefer cards with comprehensive travel protections
• You rarely travel and would benefit more from a cash back card
• You want to maximize travel rewards with category bonuses beyond 3X at the Travel Center

Apply Now

Apply for Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card

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Information accurate as of December 2025. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit the issuer's website for the most current information.