Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
vs. Citi Double Cash® Card

Updated: November 18, 2024

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Both the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Citi Double Cash Card offer compelling cash back rewards without an annual fee, making them strong contenders for your wallet. However, the Citi Double Cash edges ahead with its straightforward 2% cash back on all purchases, appealing to those who value simplicity and consistent rewards.

On the other hand, the BofA Customized Cash card is a strong option for those who can maximize the higher cash back in customizable categories. While neither card is co-branded, they both cater to consumers with good to excellent credit, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of applicants.

Credit Card logo for Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Credit Card logo for Citi Double Cash® Card
Citi Double Cash® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.0/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the BofA Customized Cash if you spend consistently in specific categories like gas or groceries and can maximize the 3% cash back offer. The $200 bonus for new cardholders and the 0% introductory APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers can also be a significant draw if you have good to excellent credit.

You might prefer the Citi Double Cash if you value simplicity in your cash back rewards, earning a flat 2% on all purchases without worrying about specific categories. The longer 18-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers can help manage existing debt. This card is a strong choice if you have good to excellent credit and prefer straightforward rewards.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and other features will illuminate which card will suit you. Use this section to discern the nuances, like BofA Customized Cash's bonus categories versus Citi Double Cash's flat-rate rewards.

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    Regular APR: BofA Customized Cash

    The BofA Customized Cash offers a lower starting APR of 18.24% compared to the Citi Double Cash card's lower APR of 19.24%.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the BofA Customized Cash and the Citi Double Cash cards have no annual fee, making them equally attractive for users looking to save on costs.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    For balance transfers, the Citi Double Cash offers a 0% APR for 18 months, longer than BofA Customized Cash's 15 billing cycles, but with a higher transfer fee (5% vs. 3%). However, only BofA Customized Cash offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles.

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    Rewards: Citi Double Cash

    Citi Double Cash is better for rewards, offering a flat 2% on every purchase — 1% when you buy and an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. This simplicity and higher effective reward rate of 5, along with a limited time offer of 5% back on travel booked through Citi Travel, provide versatile and valuable rewards for cardholders.

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    Welcome Offers: Bank of America Customized Cash

    The BofA Customized Cash card offers a better welcome bonus, with a higher intro offer ROI (return on investment) of 20% and a lower spending requirement of $1,000 in the first 90 days, compared to the Citi Double Cash's ROI of 13% and a $1,500 spending requirement.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both cards require a credit score range of 670 to 850, indicating they are accessible to individuals with good to excellent credit.

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    Penalties and Fees: BofA Customized Cash

    The BofA Customized Cash card is slightly better for penalties and fees, with a lower late fee and a simpler cash advance fee structure compared to the Citi Double Cash card. Both cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee and have a similar penalty APR.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: BofA Customized Cash

    For issuer satisfaction, Bank of America leads with a rating of 4.5, compared to Citibank's 4.1.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both cards offer unique perks. BofA Customized Cash provides no expiration on rewards, secure contactless transactions and extra cash back for Preferred Rewards members. Citi Double Cash offers 5% back on travel booked through Citi Travel until 12/31/24 and the flexibility of ThankYou Points.

Rewards Comparison

The Citi Double Cash card simplifies earning with a flat 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% when you buy and another 1% as you pay. The BofA Customized Cash card offers 3% cash back in a chosen category, which includes a range of options that cater to varied spending habits. While not as universally rewarding as the Citi Double Cash, it can yield higher returns in these specific areas. The best bonus category for BofA Customized Cash is the customizable 3% option, which can surpass the Citi Double Cash if your spending is concentrated in one of the eligible categories.

For BofA Customized Cash, you can choose one category from the following to earn 3% cash back: gas — now including electric vehicle charging (EVC) stations; online shopping — now including cable, streaming, internet and phone services, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvements and furnishings. With BofA Customized Cash you can get 2% back on grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Citi Double Cash also offers 5% back on travel booked through the Citi Portal.

Following this section, you'll find a detailed table of bonus categories for both cards to help you compare at a glance.

Category
BofA Customized Cash
Citi Double Cash

Choice Category

3% on category of choice

1% when you buy + 1% as you pay

Grocery Stores

2% for the first $2,500 combined spend limit on 2% and 3% categories each quarter/1% thereafter

1% when you buy + 1% as you pay

Wholesale Clubs

2% for the first $2,500 combined spend limit on 2% and 3% categories each quarter/1% thereafter

1% when you buy + 1% as you pay

Dining

3% on category of choice

1% when you buy + 1% as you pay

Gas

3% on category of choice

1% when you buy + 1% as you pay

Redeeming Rewards

Moving from earning to using your rewards, both the Bank of America Customized Cash and Citi Double Cash offer flexible redemption options. With the Bank of America Customized Cash, you can redeem your cash back as a deposit into Bank of America checking or savings accounts, as a statement credit, or for other options. There's no rush to redeem, as your cash back doesn't expire as long as your account is open.

Citi Double Cash also provides a straightforward redemption process. You can receive your cash back as a direct deposit, statement credit, or even a mailed check. Similar to its competitor, there's no expiration date on rewards, giving you the freedom to redeem them at your convenience.

Methodology

MoneyGeek examines credit cards like the Bank of America Customized Cash and Citi Double Cash based on their performance in various use cases. For our comparison, we focus on the cash back category, where each card's highest scores are highlighted. The evaluation considers several factors, with the most weight given to the effective reward rate and the return on investment for card offers. Other significant factors include the cost of annual fees and the value of introductory purchase offers. These elements combine to form a comprehensive score that reflects the card's overall value in cash back scenarios.

FAQ: BofA Customized Cash vs. Citi Double Cash Card

What are the cash back rewards for each card?
Do either of the cards have an introductory APR offer for purchases?
Are there any annual fees for these cards?
How do balance transfer offers compare between the two cards?
What is the recommended credit score for each card?

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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