Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Review: A Straightforward Travel Card With No Annual Fee
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Written by
Lee Huffman
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Edited by
Emily Gadd, CCC
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card earns unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on purchases, and those rewards can be redeemed as statement credits for travel and dining purchases. Customers who qualify for Preferred Rewards® can earn up to 75% more points every month with no annual fee.
It offers a respectable welcome bonus of 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. But while it’s marketed as a travel credit card, it lacks many of the extras you’ll find on other cards in this category, such as travel insurance.
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Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
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 17.74% – 27.74% Variable APR will apply.
Intro Bonus
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
Rewards
1.5x – 3x Points 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases.
3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25% – 75% more points on every purchase.
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
Annual Fee
$0
CardCritics™ Opinion
The Bank of America Travel Rewards card is ideal for travelers who prefer a straightforward rewards program. You don’t need to remember bonus categories or learn complicated redemption options. It’s a simple way to earn points on all of your expenses, and then redeem them for travel and dining purchases. The card also includes an intro APR offer so you can pay off purchases or existing credit card debt over time without incurring interest charges.
Our Critical Analysis:
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
- Solid welcome bonus and rewards earning
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members can earn up to 75% more points
- Intro APR offer
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
PROS
- No bonus categories
- Redemption value varies
- No transfer partners
- No travel protections
CONS
Bank of America Travel Rewards Benefits
The Bank of America Travel Rewards card comes with benefits that can boost your earnings and save you money.
Earn up to 75% More Rewards
Bank of America rewards customers with larger banking and investment relationships. You can earn up to 75% more rewards on your purchases with the Bank of America Travel Rewards card if you qualify for Preferred Rewards based on your linked Bank of America deposit balances and Merrill Lynch investment accounts. This means you can earn up to 2.62 points on every dollar you spend with the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card.
Intro APR Offer
New cardholders receive a 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 17.74% – 27.74% Variable APR will apply. This no-interest financing eliminates interest charges, so 100% of your payment goes toward reducing your balance. Balance transfers must be made within the first 60 days to qualify for the promotional interest rate and a reduced balance transfer fee of 3%. After that, the balance transfer fee increases to 4%.
No Annual Fee or Foreign Transaction Fees
Rewards cards that charge annual fees require users to spend to earn enough rewards to just break even. With no annual fee, all of the rewards you earn are a bonus on your spending. If you travel internationally, you won’t incur hidden foreign transaction fees, which can add up to 3% on your purchases outside the US.
Bank of America Travel Rewards Drawbacks
The Bank of America Travel Rewards card includes several valuable features, but it is important to understand the card’s drawbacks before applying. Here are a few downsides that you need to know about.
No Bonus Categories
Bonus categories allow you to earn extra rewards on eligible purchases. With unlimited 1.5x points on every purchase, the Travel Rewards card doesn’t offer any bonus categories to maximize rewards, except for extra points when booking travel through the bank’s portal. For my wallet, I like rewards credit cards whose bonus categories align with my biggest spending areas.
No Transfer Partners
One of the best ways to receive outsized value for your credit card rewards is to transfer them to airline and hotel partners. Bank of America’s credit cards don’t offer transfer partners, so the value you’ll receive is fixed.
Limited Redemption Options
Bank credit card rewards programs typically allow cardholders to redeem points in a variety of ways and receive full value. To receive 1 cent per point in value, points must be redeemed for statement credits on dining or travel purchases. Cash back or gift card redemptions receive just 0.6 cents per point, which is a loss of 40% in value.
Who Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card Best For?
The Bank of America Travel Rewards card is one of the best Bank of America credit cards for travelers who want a simple, straightforward rewards program. This card earns unlimited 1.5x points on every purchase, so you don’t need to remember bonus categories, activate limited-time promotions or deal with spending caps. Redemptions are simple as well, since your points turn into statement credits to cover eligible travel and dining purchases.
People who need extra time to pay off purchases or want to eliminate credit card debt will benefit from the card’s intro APR offer. When I have a large purchase coming up, I often apply for a new card with an intro APR offer so I can easily earn the welcome bonus and spread out my payments over time.
If you’re someone like me who prefers booking award travel and transferring points to airline and hotel loyalty programs, this card isn’t a good option. I would choose the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card or Wells Fargo Autograph® Card over this card if I’m looking for a travel credit card with no annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers excellent value if you’re willing to pay a reasonable $95 annual fee.
Is It the Right Card for You?
Every person’s spending habits and goals are unique, so figuring out if the Bank of America Travel Rewards card is right for you depends on a variety of factors. Here are a few situations where this card excels:
- You prefer a simple rewards structure for earning and redeeming points
- You have large banking and investment balances and want to be rewarded for your banking relationship
- You need extra time to pay off your purchases or existing credit card balances without incurring interest charges
- You don’t need travel protections (like trip delay or rental car coverage) or other perks that come with many travel credit cards
Alternatives to the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card
While the Bank of America Travel Rewards card is the best no-annual-fee travel credit card for many people, it isn’t the right card for every situation. Before applying, consider one of these cards that might be a better fit:
- Capital One VentureOne Card: The VentureOne Card earns an unlimited 1.25x Capital One miles on every purchase. While this rate is lower than the Bank of America card, VentureOne cardholders have access to Capital One’s airline and hotel transfer partners. Capital One also has a travel portal that earns up to 5x miles and includes valuable features like price prediction on flights and free price drop protection.
- Wells Fargo Autograph Card: Instead of a flat rewards structure, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers 3x bonus points on dining, travel, gas stations, transit, phones plans and popular streaming services. Wells Fargo also has a limited number of transfer partners that cardholders can use to book award travel for a potentially higher value. It also includes complimentary cell phone protection and rental car insurance, which the Bank of America card doesn’t offer.
Card Details From Bank of America
- 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.
- 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.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
- 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 17.74% – 27.74% 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%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- 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. You could earn 3.75-5.25 points for every $1 you spend on travel purchases made through the Bank of America Travel Center.
- 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.
How Does the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Stack Up Against Competitors?
Here’s how the Bank of America Travel Rewards card compares to competing cards.
| Bank of America Travel Rewards card | Capital One VentureOne Card | Wells Fargo Autograph Card | |
| Welcome Bonus | 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 | For a limited time, earn $300 in travel bonuses. Enjoy $100 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $300 in travel. Offer ends 12/8/25 | Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value. |
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| APR | 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 17.74% - 27.74% Variable APR will apply. | 0% intro on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable) | 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, followed by a 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% Variable APR. A 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% Variable APR will apply for balance transfers. |
| Rewards Rate | 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25% - 75% more points on every purchase. | Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. | Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases. |
| Standout Feature | Straightforward rewards earning and redemption | Transfer miles to Capital One airline and hotel partners | Transfer points to Wells Fargo airline and hotel partners |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card
What are the benefits of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card?
With no annual fee, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card includes a limited set of benefits. Benefits include an intro APR offer, no foreign transaction fees, a welcome bonus and the ability to earn bonus points for Preferred Rewards members. It does not include purchase or travel protections that many people want from a travel credit card.
How much are 25,000 points worth for Bank of America?
The value of your Bank of America travel points varies based on how they’re redeemed. You’ll receive $250 in value when redeeming 25,000 points points for travel and dining purchases, while cash back gets you just $150 (0.6 cents per point).
Is it hard to get a Bank of America Travel Rewards card?
For the best approval odds, you should have good to excellent credit when applying for the Bank of America Travel Rewards card. This means you need a FICO score of 670 or higher. If your score is too low, take steps to improve your credit by paying down your credit card balances, making all payments on time and avoiding unnecessary hard inquiries.
What is the difference between Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card and Travel Rewards card?
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is a travel credit card that offers 2x points on dining and travel and 1.5x points on everything else, compared to 1.5x on everything with the Travel Rewards card. While the Travel Rewards card has no annual fee and limited perks, the Premium Rewards credit card has a $95 annual fee and includes up to $100 in airline fee credits each year and up to $100 towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years. The Premium Rewards credit card also includes complimentary travel protections, rental car insurance and purchase protections that the Travel Rewards card doesn’t offer.
What is the 2/3/4 Rule for Bank of America?
Banks implement rules to limit how often customers can apply for new credit cards. The 2/3/4 rule for Bank of America means that customers can get approved for a maximum of two new cards within 30 days, three within a 12-month period and four within 24 months.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.
