2021 Review: The Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card
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Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
The Bank of America Premium Rewards Card earns 2X points per dollar for travel and dining, and 1.5X points for everything else. It’s a good choice for a travel card, coming with an impressive selection of travel protections as well as an annual $100 incidental airline fee credit and an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓.
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Our Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars
We give the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card (Review) 5 out of 5 Stars because it essentially pays for itself. For frequent travelers, it’s a strong addition to your wallet.
Why We Like It
- 50,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- Earn points on travel and dining purchases
- $100 airline credit
- $100 credit for Global Entry or $85 for TSA Pre✓
- Eligible Bank of America banking customers can earn more rewards
- No foreign transaction fees
Why It Could Be Better
- Can’t transfer points to airline or hotel loyalty programs
- No introductory APR for balance transfers or new purchases
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$95
- Regular APR15.99%–22.99% Variable
- Receive 50,000 bonus points – a $500 value – after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase
- No limit to the points you can earn and your points don’t expire
- Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill Edge® and Merrill Lynch® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center
- Get up to $200 in combined airline incidental and airport expedited screening statement credits + valuable travel insurance protections
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Low $95 annual fee
- 2X points per dollar for:
- Travel
- Dining
- 1.5X points per dollar for all other purchases
Introductory bonus
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR15.99%–22.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee3%, $10 minimum
- Penalty APRUp to 29.99% Variable
- Late FeeUp to $40
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $29
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction FeeNone
Traveling can be stressful. But if you’re vacationing without a travel rewards credit card, you’re making it more stressful than it needs to be.
A good travel card can help you earn points for your trips and other purchases, and provide you with peace of mind through benefits like auto rental insurance and trip cancellation coverage.
If you’re looking for a new travel card, the Premium Rewards card might be for you.
With a $95 annual fee, this credit card offers 2X points per $1 spent on dining and travel and 1.5X points per $1 spent on all other purchases. Those points are worth 1 cent each, so you can get a cash back equivalent of 2%. But if you’re a Bank of America banking or Merrill Lynch investment customer, you can earn even more. Depending on your account balance you can get an extra rewards bonus, letting you earn as much as 3.5% cash back.
Cardholders also get access to a nice suite of travel benefits, particularly a $100 airline credit and a $100 statement credit for the application fee of Global Entry or TSA Pre✓.
The Premium Rewards card is a good mid-range option for travelers, offering valuable rewards and useful benefits for a moderate fee of $95. However, if you’re looking for other features and perks, check out the alternatives below.
Insider Advice: Getting the Most Out of Your Card
- For dining and travel: Use the card to book your trips and to pay for meals at restaurants, where you’ll earn 2X points per $1 spent.
- Take advantage of the introductory bonus: Be sure to spend enough in the first few months to get the bonus, a valuable offer that can help pay for your next trip.
- Use the $100 airline credit: Use your card to pay for incidental fees on flights, such as WiFi, entertainment, or drinks to get up to $100 in statement credits.
- Sign up for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓: Streamline your travel experience by applying for one of these airport security programs, and you’ll get a statement credit for the cost of the application fee ($85 for TSA Pre✓, $100 for Global Entry).
- Check your benefits before traveling: Before your trip, check what benefits are available to see where you can save. For example, you can skip the car rental company’s insurance because the card gives you coverage, instead.
- Use a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch account: If you do your banking with Bank of America or invest with Merrill Lynch, you can be a part of Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program. Depending on your account balances, you can get a reward point bonus as large as 75%.
The Rewards
You can earn the equivalent of 1.5% to 2% cash back on your purchases, depending on how you use your card. If you’re part of the Preferred Rewards program, the cash back equivalent can be as high as 3.5%.
Earning
| Spending Rewards |
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The travel category is fairly broad, covering expenses you normally wouldn’t think of, like toll bridges and parking lot fees. The dining category covers restaurants, fast food, and bars, but does not include food purchased at grocery stores, bakeries, or other merchants that may sell food.
| Travel Category | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airlines | Hotels | Buses | Taxis | Trains | Vehicle rentals |
| Parking lots and Garages | Tolls and Bridge fees | Travel agencies | Limousines | Campgrounds | Cruises |
| Boat rentals | Ferries | Timeshares | Theme parks | Tourist attractions | Art galleries |
| Dining Category | ||
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | Fast Food | Bars and Taverns |
Points are worth 1 cent each, so at these rates you’ll earn 2% cash back on travel and dining purchases, and 1.5% cash back on everything else.
However, if you enroll in the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program you can earn even more. Through this program, the total balances of your Bank of America bank accounts and Merrill Lynch investment accounts determine the bonus tier you receive. The bonus is applied at the time of purchase, so you’ll earn more points whenever you pay for something.
| Preferred Rewards Tier | Combined Balance Required | Cash Back Bonus | Points Earned (Travel/Dining Category) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | $20,000 | 25% | 2.5X |
| Platinum | $50,000 | 50% | 3X |
| Platinum Honors | $100,000 | 75% | 3.5X |
For example, if have at least $20,000 in a banking account, you’ll qualify for the Gold Tier, which gives you a 25% rewards bonus. That means if you would have earned 1,000 points, you’d get an additional 250 points for a total of 1,250. That’s a cash back equivalent of 2.5%.
Depending on your bank account balance, you could qualify for a reward bonus as high as 75%, giving you a cash back equivalent of 3.5% on travel and dining.
As long as your account remains open and in good standing, your points never expire.
Redeeming
Your points are worth 1 cent each, regardless of your redemption method.
Redemptions for statement credits and account deposits tend to be the fastest and easiest methods, so we recommend sticking with them. However, there are several different ways to redeem your points:
- Statement credits
- Deposit into a Bank of America checking or savings account
- Contribution to eligible Merrill Lynch investment account
- Travel expenses
- Gift cards
You must have at least 2,500 points to redeem, which provides $25 in value. To earn 2,500 points, you’d have to spend $1,250 at the 2X rate.
The Benefits
You can earn a lot of rewards with the Premium Rewards Card. However, its benefits offer a ton of value, too. Frequent travelers will enjoy these perks, as they can enhance and streamline your trips.
For more information about the shopping and travel protections, in particular, visit this Premium Rewards web page.
- $100 airline incidental statement credit: Use your Premium Rewards Card to pay for incidental purchases on a flight – such as WiFi, baggage fees, or drinks onboard – and you’ll get statement credits up to $100 each calendar year.
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ application fee credit: Use your card to pay for the application fee – $85 for TSA Pre✓ or $100 for Global Entry – and you’ll get a statement credit for that amount within seven days. This credit is only available once every four years, and can only be used for one program, not both.
- Luxury Hotel Collection: Want to feel like a VIP? The Luxury Hotel Collection by Visa Signature gives you special perks at select hotels all over the globe that enhance your experience.
- Visa Signature concierge: With the Premium Rewards Card, you get access to the Visa Signature Concierge Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You’ll get help from a real person, helping you to coordinate trips, book tickets, secure reservations, or even send flowers.
- Free FICO credit score: Check your FICO Score 8, based on data from your TransUnion credit report.
- Purchase security: If an eligible purchase is damaged or stolen within 90 days after you bought it, you can get reimbursement of up to $10,000 per claim to repair or replace the item.
- Extended warranty: If you purchase an eligible item with your Premium card, Bank of America will double the manufacturer’s warranty, up to one additional year. Only warranties of three years or less are eligible.
- Return protection: If you’re not satisfied with an eligible purchase and the retailer won’t accept it as a return, you can be reimbursed for the item. You can get up to $250 per item, up to $1,000 per year.
- Trip delay reimbursement: If your trip is delayed for more than 12 hours due to a covered hazard, you can get up to $500 per ticket purchased for you and your eligible family members to cover incidental expenses, like meals or a hotel stay.
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: If you have to cancel a trip for a covered reason, you’ll get trip reimbursement up to $5,000 per person, per trip.
- Baggage delay coverage: If your bags are delayed at least six hours when traveling by a common carrier, you can get up to $100 per day for up to five days to cover reasonable essentials, like clothing.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: If your luggage is lost or stolen, you’ll get coverage for the bags and their contents.
- Common carrier travel accident insurance: If you travel by common carrier and are injured, you’ll get coverage against loss of life, limb, or sight.
- Travel and emergency assistance: If you’re sick or injured while traveling, you can get help with medical referrals and legal services.
- Emergency evacuation and transportation coverage: If you or a family member is severely injured or ill when traveling and requires emergency evacuation, you could be covered for eligible medical and transportation costs.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Decline the rental company’s own insurance and pay with your Premium Rewards Card, and you’ll get reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft.
- Roadside dispatch: You can get access to a 24/7 network for help handling roadside emergencies, such as flat tires or breakdowns.
The Terms & Fees
| Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
|---|---|---|
| 15.99%–22.99% Variable | 15.99%–22.99% Variable | 18.99%–27.24% Variable |
| Annual Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|
| $95 | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee |
|---|---|
| 3%, $10 minimum | See Terms |
| Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 29.99% Variable | Up to $40 | Up to $29 |
There is no introductory offer for new purchases, so any new purchases you make will start accruing interest unless you pay the statement balance in full. We recommend doing so, because it will help keep your credit utilization low in addition to preventing interest charges. It doesn’t really make sense to use this card for balance transfers, as it doesn’t have a low APR offer for that.
There are no foreign transaction fees, so it’s a great card to use when traveling outside the country.
Insider tip
The Bank of America Premium Rewards Card doesn’t offer a low introductory APR for new purchases or balance transfers. Look for another credit card if you need to complete a balance transfer or need time to finance a big purchase.
The Bottom Line
If you love food and travel, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card (Review) offers good value and benefits.
To decide whether or not it’s right for you, consider how often you travel and eat out. If you eat out several times a month and travel at least once a year, you’ll quickly earn rewards.
Between its rewards and introductory bonus, along with benefits like the $100 airline credit and $100 Global Entry/TSA Pre✓ credit, there are plenty of ways to save money and offset the $95 annual fee.
However, if you’re looking for a travel card with a different set of perks, like the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel programs, you’ll have to look elsewhere. You’ll need to find another card, like some of the ones mentioned below.
How Do I Apply for the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card?
To apply for the Premium Rewards Card, follow the link below and complete the online application. Most people will receive a response within seconds, but in some cases, it could take longer.
If approved, you’ll get a notification. If you’re not approved, you’ll receive a letter in the mail explaining why you were denied.
What Credit Scores Do I Need for the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card?
It’s recommended that you have good credit before applying for the Bank of America Premium Rewards card.
To qualify for good credit, your FICO score needs to be at least 670, or your VantageScore needs to be at least 700.
However, it’s important to note credit card issuers take additional information aside from credit scores into account as well. Things like income and monthly rent or mortgage payments are also considered, meaning you could be approved even if your credit scores aren’t at the recommended level. But that also means you could still be denied even if your scores are where they should be.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Must be 18 to apply
- Personal information: SSN, email address, phone number
- Financial information: Total annual income, source of income, monthly mortgage/rent payment
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$95
- Regular APR15.99%–22.99% Variable
- Receive 50,000 bonus points – a $500 value – after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase
- No limit to the points you can earn and your points don’t expire
- Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill Edge® and Merrill Lynch® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center
- Get up to $200 in combined airline incidental and airport expedited screening statement credits + valuable travel insurance protections
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Low $95 annual fee
- 2X points per dollar for:
- Travel
- Dining
- 1.5X points per dollar for all other purchases
Introductory bonus
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR15.99%–22.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee3%, $10 minimum
- Penalty APRUp to 29.99% Variable
- Late FeeUp to $40
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $29
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction FeeNone
Frequently Asked Questions
What benefits come with the Bank of America Premium Rewards card?
The best benefits include an annual $100 airline incidental fee credit and a Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ application credit. There are also quite a few shopping and travel protections like travel accident insurance, rental car insurance, and return protection.
You can see the entire list of benefits right here.
What rewards does the Bank of America Premium Rewards card earn?
This card earns 2X points per dollar for travel and dining and 1.5X points for all other purchases.
However, if you enroll in the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program, you can get a 25%–75% boost to your rewards. In order to qualify, you’ll need to have a certain amount of money within your Bank of America bank accounts and Merrill investment accounts.
Check out our in-depth breakdown of this card’s rewards.
What is the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card’s credit limit?
If approved for the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card, your credit line will be at least $5,000.
You can also request a credit line increase at any time. If you want a higher limit, we recommend requesting an increase after 6 to 12 months.
Alternatives to the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card
- Rose Gold is back. You can now choose between Gold or Rose Gold.
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- Get up to 12 complimentary months of an Uber Eats Pass subscription when you enroll with your Gold Card by 12/31/21.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
If you’re looking for a card that offers more luxurious benefits than the Premium Rewards Card, the American Express® Gold Card (Review) may be for you. A metal card that comes in gold (or rose gold), frequent travelers can find a lot of value in the rewards and benefits.
With the Gold card, you can earn Membership Rewards points quickly provided you love food and travel. Unlike the Premium Rewards Card, the Gold Card provides rewards at U.S. supermarkets, a handy category to have along with restaurants. That can be a nice perk if you like to cook at home. Depending on what you buy, you could get a cash back equivalent of up to 8% back on your purchases, blowing the Premium Rewards Card out of the water.
And its high annual fee drops to a far more manageable $130 thanks to the $120 dining credit. It comes along with quite a few shopping and travel protections, too.
| Spending Rewards |
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Point transfers could increase the value of your rewards. You could get 2 cents per point or more, depending on the deal you find. That works out to a cash back equivalent of 8% when spending in the 4X categories, 6% cash back when spending in the 3X categories, 4% cash back when spending in the 2X category, and 2% cash back on all other purchases.
- $120 annual dining credit: Earn up to $10 in statement credits per month for purchases at eligible restaurants and food delivery services.
- Point transfer: To airline and hotel loyalty programs, like JetBlue, Southwest, Marriott, and Hyatt
- Up to $120 in Uber Cash: Add the Gold Card to the Uber App to get up to $10 in Uber Cash per month; U.S. Eats orders and rides only.
- Uber Eats Pass: Get unlimited $0 delivery fees and 5% off orders at eligible restaurants for 12 months; must enroll by 12/31/21. Taxes and service fees may apply and do not count toward the order minimum. Eats Pass will start auto-billing 12 months from enrollment, at then-current monthly rate. Learn more.
- The Hotel Collection: Provides up to $100 in credits for every eligible hotel stay of two nights or more, along with other perks.
- Amex Offers: Find discounts and extra point opportunities at a changing selection of merchants (offers are limited; enrollment required).
- ShopRunner membership: ShopRunner provides free two-day shipping and returns at participating online retailers.
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $250
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees)
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
- Our best offer ever! Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,250 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 100,000 points are worth $1,250 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash’s subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Review) is pretty similar to the Bank of America card, but it has the upper hand when it comes to redemption options.
You can redeem points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards for a 25% bonus. Or, you can transfer your rewards to one of Chase’s travel partners where you may be able to find an increased value for them.
However, you won’t get any airline fee or application fee credits like you would with the Bank of America card. Those credits could save you both time and money, so you’ll have to decide what you’d get the most out of. You’ll still get a wide selection of travel protections with the Sapphire Preferred, including primary rental car insurance, which is pretty rare.
| Spending Rewards |
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Like the Premium Rewards Card, Chase Ultimate Reward points are generally worth 1 cent each. But redeem them for travel expenses through Chase Ultimate Rewards and you’ll get a 25% bonus, so your points will be worth 1.25 cents each.
That gives you a cash back equivalent of 2.5% for travel and dining, with 1.25% everywhere else. That introductory bonus would be worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
You can get more value from your points by transferring them to an airline or hotel program. By doing a point transfer, you could get 2 cents per point or more, giving you a cash back equivalent of 4% for travel and dining purchases, and 2% on everything else.
- 1:1 point transfer: 1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs at full value – that means 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points equal 1,000 partner miles/points. The travel and hotel partners include Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, United, World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG Rewards Club.
- DoorDash membership: You’ll get a free DoorDash membership for at least a year, known as a DashPass. That’ll get you free delivery and reduced service fees for orders over $12.
- Referral bonus points: You can invite friends to apply for the Sapphire Preferred, and for every friend who’s approved you’ll get 20,000 bonus points. You can earn up to 100,000 bonus points per year in this way.
- Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection is provided by Chase, and includes benefits at over 1,000 locations around the world.
- Shop through Chase: Cardholders can get more points at select retailers with the Shop through Chase marketplace.
- Chase Offers: Receive exclusive offers from a variety of different merchants through Chase.
- Credit Journey: Monitor your VantageScore 3.0 credit score based on your TransUnion credit report, and get advice to improve your credit.
- Visa Signature Concierge: You can call 1-800-953-7392 to speak with your Visa Signature Concierge, 24/7.
- Travel protections: Trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, travel and emergency assistance, travel accident insurance, primary auto rental collision damage waiver, and roadside dispatch
- Shopping protections: Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
- Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card after you use your new Card to make $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Earn a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
- Annual fee: $95, $0 first year
- Terms Apply.
If you stay at Hilton hotels or resorts often, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Review) could be a good choice.
It’s very rewarding, and if Hilton is your favorite hotel, you’ll rack up points quickly. You’ll get at least 30X points per dollar at eligible Hilton properties (12X points from the card and 18X points for Hilton Honors Gold status). If you value those points at 0.4–1 cent each, you’ll be getting a cash back equivalent of 12%–30% at Hilton properties.
You can earn a much better return on your spending with the Surpass Card than with the Premium Rewards card. However, the rewards have more limitations. To get the best value you’ll need to spend and redeem for stays or other purchases with one specific hotel brand (Hilton), whereas you have more flexibility with the Premium Rewards card,
If you’re not a fan of Hilton hotels, you can find similar deals with other hotel chains.
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- Hilton Honors Gold status: Includes an 80% point bonus, room upgrades when available, complimentary breakfasts, and more
- Priority Pass Select membership: 10 free visits to Priority Pass lounges per year; additional visits cost $32 per person
- Annual Weekend Night Award: For spending $15,000 in a calendar year
- ShopRunner membership: ShopRunner provides free two-day shipping and returns at participating online retailers.
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty, Baggage Insurance Plan, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Global Assist Hotline
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95, $0 first year
Enrollment required for select benefits; terms and limitations apply.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees)
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The information related to Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
- Balance Transfer Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.99% – 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (Review) earns a flat cash back rate for every purchase.
It’s a pretty simple card. You’ll earn 1% cash back when you make the purchase, and the other 1% once you pay it off (as long as you pay at least the minimum amount due). While the Bank of America card earns 2X points per dollar (which equates to 2% cash back) on travel and dining, the Double Cash earns 2% cash back for every purchase. So it’s just as rewarding but you don’t have to pay attention to where you should use it.
However, you’ll receive fewer benefits than you would from the Bank of America card.
| Spending Rewards |
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- Free FICO credit score: See your Equifax-based FICO Bankcard Score 8 on statements, online, and by mobile app.
- Citi Concierge: Get restaurant suggestions, reservations, travel arrangements, shopping research, and more.
- Citi Entertainment: Get preferred access and pre-sale tickets to events and experiences, from music to movies.
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable)
- Annual fee: $0
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$95
- Regular APR15.99%–22.99% Variable
- Receive 50,000 bonus points – a $500 value – after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase
- No limit to the points you can earn and your points don’t expire
- Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill Edge® and Merrill Lynch® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center
- Get up to $200 in combined airline incidental and airport expedited screening statement credits + valuable travel insurance protections
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Low $95 annual fee
- 2X points per dollar for:
- Travel
- Dining
- 1.5X points per dollar for all other purchases
Introductory bonus
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR15.99%–22.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee3%, $10 minimum
- Penalty APRUp to 29.99% Variable
- Late FeeUp to $40
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $29
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction FeeNone
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Kat Tretina
Kat Tretina is a contributor to Credit Card Insider who writes about credit cards and other personal finance topics. Her work has appeared in publications like the Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Business Insider, and more.
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