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The BankAmericard offers 0% introductory APRs for both purchases and balance transfers, giving you plenty of time to pay off big expenses or credit card debt. There are no rewards and few benefits, so if you don’t need to pay off a balance it might not be the card for you.
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We give the BankAmericard® Credit Card 5 out of 5 Stars. It’s an uncomplicated, no-frills card that can save you money with its introductory interest rates.
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The BankAmericard was the first personal credit card, issued back in 1958. While this card has the same name, the concept has come a long way since then. Now, it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a balance transfer or a way to avoid high interest rates on big purchases.
While it offers no rewards, it features long 0% interest periods for both balance transfers and purchases.
By transferring a balance from another card to this one, you can avoid paying interest charges as you pay it down. And by using this card for larger purchases like appliances or furniture (or just any purchase in general), you can pay them off while the balance accrues no interest for a set amount of time. Getting rid of debt can put you on track towards excellent credit.
If you’re a student, Bank of America offers the BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students. It’s pretty much the same card, but student cards are usually easier to be approved for.
The primary focus of this card is to prevent you from paying needless interest on existing balances or new purchases. It doesn’t really offer much else, but some of its perks could prove useful in certain situations.
Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
---|---|---|
0% for 18 billing cycles, then 12.99%–22.99% Variable | 0% for 18 billing cycles, then 12.99%–22.99% Variable | 15.99%–28.99% Variable |
Annual Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee |
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$0 | 3% |
Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee |
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3%, $10 minimum | 5%, $10 minimum |
Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
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None | Up to $40 | Up to $29 |
The BankAmericard® Credit Card is a good offer if you’re looking to avoid paying interest for a while.
There isn’t a rewards program and it comes with few benefits, so unless you need to transfer a balance or make a large purchase, you won’t really get much out of this card. If you do need to take advantage of either promotion, it could be a good idea to pair it with a general rewards credit card so you can earn rewards while you save money from interest charges.
And if this isn’t the balance transfer credit card for you, there are plenty of others to choose from.
To apply now for the BankAmericard, simply follow the link below. You’ll be directed to the credit card issuer’s site where you can fill out an application. You should typically hear back instantly unless Bank of America asks for additional information.
The BankAmericard is designed for good credit — that typically means a FICO credit score of 670–739, or higher.
But this is just a rough guideline. You have a chance of being approved with lower credit scores, and a chance of denial with good or better credit.
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Just head over to Bank of America’s website and plug in your login information in the appropriate box. You’ll get to access your account and take advantage of your card features. From there, you can pay your bill and monitor your spending.
The BankAmericard doesn’t offer any rewards. Instead, it’s a good card if you need to take advantage of a balance transfer or pay down a large purchase over time without worrying about interest charges.
Your credit limit will be determined by several factors. These include your credit scores, credit history, income, and more. If you’re not satisfied with your initial credit limit, however, you can request an increase.
The BankAmericard isn’t currently offered as an EDD card. Instead, Bank of America features a different EDD debit card.
If you’ve experienced fraud related to a Bank of America EDD card, contact the bank. If you need additional tips, our guide about dealing with fraud and identity theft could be of some help.
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card (Review) offers one of the longest 0% APR periods in the game.
You’ll have quite a bit longer than the BankAmericard to pay off any new expenses or old debts:
There aren’t any rewards with this card either, and the benefits are just as sparse, but you might find more value in them. The U.S. Bank card will likely come with a selection of Visa Platinum benefits, like cell phone insurance, which sound a bit more useful.
Because it’s a Visa Platinum, cardholders will likely get a selection of Visa Platinum benefits like shopping and travel protections, in addition to what’s listed below.
The Wells Fargo Platinum card (Learn More) (Review) is another card that forgoes rewards and instead features a long 0% intro APR offer for balance transfers and purchases.
Like the BankAmericard, its primary function is to help you avoid interest charges. If you need a bit more time to either pay down an existing balance or a large purchase, this card can help.
You’ll likely get better benefits with this card than the BankAmericard too. It has better protections and can still keep an eye on one of your credit scores.
The Citi Simplicity® Card – No Late Fees Ever (Review) features fewer fees than most credit cards and a long 0% introductory APR.
The Simplicity boasts no late payment fee, penalty rate, or annual fee. So if you miss a payment, you won’t be immediately penalized like you would with other cards (but even if you don’t get a fee, late and missed payments can still severely damage your credit!).
You’ll also get more time than the BankAmericard offers to pay off a balance from a balance transfer, or from a large purchase, before either begins to accrue interest.
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (Review) has an introductory APR for balance transfers, and earns rewards for everything you buy.
This credit card offers 1% cash back when you first make a purchase, and the other 1% once you pay it off (you must pay at least the minimum due to earn rewards).
This card isn’t a bad choice to pair with the BankAmericard, particularly if you plan on using the BankAmericard for a balance transfer. You can pay that balance down and use the Double Cash to earn rewards for your new purchases. The benefits aren’t much to speak of, but the balance transfer offer and the rewards for no annual fee are incentive enough to consider this card.
Spending Rewards |
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Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
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Has the BankAmericard helped you avoid interest charges? Let us know how you like it in the comments below!
Read more Best 0% APR Credit Cards of April 2021Evan graduated from SUNY Oswego with a degree in journalism and creative writing. In his professional writing career, he strives for precision and comprehension in his work. He’s written news articles, blog posts, and copy, working across a slew of different mediums. With in-depth research and great care for accuracy and detail, he now works to bring you the most up-to-date credit information.
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