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Bank of America Travel Rewards Review

The Bank of AmericaTravel Rewards credit card is packed with features designed to provide exceptional value both at home and abroad.

Bank of America Travel Rewards
Source: Bank of America Travel Rewards

For the smart traveler who values simplicity and hates fees, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is a standout choice. This card is engineered to be your perfect travel companion, stripping away the complexity of categories and airline alliances to offer one straightforward benefit: earn unlimited points on everything you buy. It’s a card designed to get you on your next adventure faster, without costing you a dime in annual fees.

More Than 10 Incredible Benefits

  1. Unlimited 1.5X Points on Everything: This is the heart of the card’s simplicity. Earn a consistent, unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases, everywhere, every time. No categories to track, no hoops to jump through.
  2. Generous Welcome Bonus: Kickstart your travel fund with 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. That’s worth a $250 statement credit toward travel or dining!
  3. $0 Annual Fee: Enjoy all the fantastic benefits and rewards of this card without paying an annual fee, ever.
  4. $0 Foreign Transaction Fees: This is a must-have for any traveler. Use your card for international purchases online or abroad without being charged the typical 3% foreign transaction fee.
  5. The Preferred Rewards Supercharge: This is the card’s secret weapon for Bank of America customers. If you have a qualifying Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank account, you can earn 25% to 75% more points on every purchase. 
  6. Ultimate Redemption Flexibility: Redeeming your points is incredibly easy. Simply book travel however you want—on any airline, at any hotel—and then pay yourself back by redeeming your points for a statement credit against travel and dining purchases.
  7. Long 0% Introductory APR on Purchases: Get a great head start on financing your next big trip with a 0% introductory APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases from the date of account opening.
  8. Visa Signature Benefits: As a Visa Signature card, you gain access to valuable perks like travel and emergency assistance services and an auto rental collision damage waiver.
  9. Free FICO Score Access: Keep track of your credit health with free access to your FICO Score, updated monthly through your online banking or mobile app.
  10. Museums on Us: This unique Bank of America perk gives you free general admission to more than 225 cultural institutions across the U.S. on the first full weekend of every month.
  11. $0 Liability Guarantee: Shop with confidence knowing you are protected against fraudulent transactions.
Bank of America Travel Rewards
Source: Bank of America Travel Rewards

Who Can Apply

To apply for the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card, you should generally meet the following criteria:

  • Credit Score: It is recommended that applicants have good to excellent credit (typically a FICO score of 670 or higher).
  • Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
  • Residency: You must be a U.S. resident with a valid physical U.S. address.
  • Identification: A Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is required.

How to Apply

Applying for the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is a straightforward online process.

  1. Visit the Bank of America Website: Navigate to the official Travel Rewards credit card application page.
  2. Check for Prequalification (Recommended): Bank of America has a tool that allows you to see if you are pre-qualified for card offers with no impact on your credit score. This is a great way to gauge your approval odds before applying.
  3. Complete the Application: Fill out the secure online application with your personal, contact, and financial information.
  4. Review Terms and Submit: Carefully read the card’s terms, rates, and fees before submitting your application.
  5. Await a Decision: You will often receive a decision within minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How exactly do I redeem the points for travel?
    It’s incredibly flexible. You don’t have to use a special travel portal. Simply pay for your travel purchase (like a flight, hotel, rental car, or even baggage fees) with your card. Then, within 12 months, log into your account online or in the app and apply your points as a statement credit against that purchase. The same process works for dining purchases as well.
  • What purchases count as “travel” for redemption?
    Bank of America has a very broad definition of travel, which includes airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, trailer parks, motor homes, recreational vehicle rentals, car rentals, cruise lines, travel agencies, tour operators, and real estate agents.
  • How does the Preferred Rewards bonus work?
    Your bonus is based on your total qualifying balances with Bank of America and Merrill. For example, if you are a Platinum Honors member (with $100K+ in qualifying balances), you get a 75% bonus. This means a $1,000 purchase that would normally earn 1,500 points will instead earn you 2,625 points (1,500 + 1,125). It dramatically increases the card’s earning power.
  • Is this a good card even if I’m not a Bank of America banking customer?
    Yes. A no-annual-fee card that offers a flat 1.5x points on all purchases and has no foreign transaction fees is a very strong product on its own. While its value becomes truly exceptional for Preferred Rewards members, it remains one of the best and simplest no-fee travel cards on the market for anyone.
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