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.
$0
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
- Earns 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fee
- Some cards earn more rewards, though usually only in bonus categories
- 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.
Bank of America Travel Rewards Card- 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 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.
Rewards
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:
- Airlines
- Hotels
- Motels
- Timeshares
- Trailer parks
- Motor home
- 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
- Buses
- Taxis
- Limousines
- Ferries
- 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 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.
| Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card | Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Discover it® Miles | |
| Annual fee | $0 | ||
| Rewards rate | 1.5x points on all purchases | 2% cash rewards on purchases | 1.5x miles on all purchases |
| Welcome bonus offer | 25,000 online bonus points after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening | $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening | None, but Discover will automatically match all the Miles you've earned at the end of your first year |
| Card benefits | 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 (then a 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR)No foreign transaction feesFree FICO score | 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening (then a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR)Cell phone protectionVisa Signature® ConciergeRoadside dispatchTravel and emergency assistance servicesEmergency cash disbursement and card replacementAccess to the Visa Signature Hotel Collection | 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APRFree FICO scoreNo late payment fee on your first late payment (then up to $41)No foreign transaction fees |
| Review | Discover it Miles card review |
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do you need for the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card?
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.
Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards card worth it?
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.
Does the Bank of America Travel Rewards card have travel insurance?
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.
Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards a Visa or Mastercard?
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.
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.
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