Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Review

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Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America’s website

Details

Rewards

Earn an unlimited 1.5 points for each dollar you spend on your card

Intro offer

25,000 online bonus points after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

18.49% – 28.49% Variable

Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

0% intro APR for the first 18 billing cycles on purchases and on balance transfers made within the first 60 days

Pros & Cons

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Earns 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase

A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.

No annual fee or foreign transaction fee

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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)

Highlights

• Click “APPLY NOW” to apply online
• 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.
• 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% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 17.49% – 27.49% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
• If you’re a 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.

Additional Reading

Read our review

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.

Review: Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards the best credit card for you?

If you’re in search of a no-annual-fee travel rewards 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.

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.

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.

New cardholders also receive a 0% intro APR for the first 18 billing cycles on purchases and on balance transfers made within the first 60 days, after which a 18.49% – 28.49% Variable APR applies. This could save you money if you plan to make a large purchase but 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.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

How to earn points from the Bank of America Travel Rewards 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.

How to use points from the Bank of America Travel 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.

Bank of America Travel Rewards card 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 18 billing cycles on purchases and on balance transfers made within the first 60 days. After that, there’s a 18.49% – 28.49% 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.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card fees and costs

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.

Comparison: Bank of America Travel Rewards vs other Bank of America credit cards

*On the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card, earn 3% and 2% cash back on up to the first $2,500 spent in these categories combined each quarter, then 1% cash back

***Eligible Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card 3% categories are gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings

Bank of America Travel Rewards vs other no-annual-fee credit cards

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.

Bank of America Travel Rewards frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Methodology: How we reviewed the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

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.

That said, its points aren’t as flexible as those from comparable cards, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and the Discover it® Miles.

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