Updated: August 8, 2024
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The Bank of America® Travel Rewards and the BankAmericard® Credit Card offer long introductory APR periods and no annual fee. For everyday spenders and frequent travelers, the BofA Travel Rewards offers unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent, a 25,000-point bonus offer and no foreign transaction fees.
For paying down debt, BankAmericard has a longer 0% introductory APR period of 18 billing cycles than BofA Travel Rewards' 15.
You might prefer the BofA Travel Rewards if you travel often and want to earn points on every purchase without foreign transaction fees. The sign-up bonus and rewards on all spending offer great value, especially for travel redemptions.
You might prefer the BankAmericard if you need a longer 0% APR period for a large purchase or balance transfer. It’s also a good choice if you want a lower minimum APR after the intro period and don’t need rewards.
Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and other features will help you find the right card. The BofA Travel Rewards is a great choice for avoiding foreign transaction fees. If you need a longer 0% intro APR for balance transfers, the BankAmericard might be better.
Regular APR: BankAmericard
The BankAmericard has a lower regular APR range of 16.24%–26.24% than BofA Travel Rewards' 18.24%–28.24%.
Annual Fee: Tie
The BofA Travel Rewards and the BankAmericard have no annual fee, helping cardholders avoid extra costs.
Introductory 0% APRs: BankAmericard
For longer introductory 0% APR periods, the BankAmericard offers 18 billing cycles for purchases and balance transfers, compared to BofA Travel Rewards' 15 billing cycles. The BankAmericard also has a steady 3% balance transfer fee, while the BofA Travel Rewards charges 4% after the first 60 days.
Rewards: BofA Travel Rewards
The BofA Travel Rewards provides unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. Points don't expire and can be redeemed for travel, dining or cash. The BankAmericard doesn't offer rewards.
Welcome Offers: BofA Travel Rewards
The BofA Travel Rewards gives 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days, equivalent to a $250 statement credit for travel purchases. The BankAmericard doesn't offer a welcome bonus.
Recommended Credit Score: Tie
Both cards require a good to excellent credit score of 670–850.
Penalties and Fees: BofA Travel Rewards
The BofA Travel Rewards card is better for international travelers as it has no foreign transaction fees, even though its penalty APR is higher than BankAmericard's.
Issuer Satisfaction: Tie
Since Bank of America issues the BofA Travel Rewards and the BankAmericard, they share the same issuer satisfaction rating of 4.5.
Other Features and Perks: Tie
The BankAmericard provides free FICO® Score access, while the BofA Travel Rewards gives 25% to 75% more points on every purchase to Preferred Rewards® members.
MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards using a tailored scoring system for various use cases, like balance transfers and travel rewards. The highest-scoring use case for the BofA Travel Rewards and the BankAmericard is balance transfers.
Our evaluation considers factors such as the balance transfer offer and regular APR. To learn more about our scoring process, you can review our ranking methodology.
The BofA Travel Rewards offers 1.5 points per $1 on all purchases, while the BankAmericard doesn't have a reward program.
The BofA Travel Rewards is one of the cards without foreign transaction fees, while the BankAmericard charges a 3% fee per international transaction.
The BankAmericard offers a longer 0% introductory APR on balance transfers and purchases for 18 billing cycles, compared to BofA Travel Rewards' 15.
The BofA Travel Rewards gives 25,000 bonus points after you meet the initial spending requirement.
The BofA Travel Rewards and the BankAmericard are cards with no annual fee.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
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.
