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

Both the Citi Custom Cash Card and the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card offer enticing cash back rewards without an annual fee, a common ground for those seeking value from their credit card choices. The Citi Custom Cash edges ahead with its higher cash back rate in your top spending category.

However, the BofA Customized Cash has high-yield cash back categories. While neither card is co-branded, both offer introductory 0% APR periods, making them attractive for new purchases or balance transfers.

You might prefer the Citi Custom Cash if you're looking for simplicity and higher rewards rates in your top spending category each billing cycle, without the need to track or sign up for rotating categories. With a 5% cash back on your top eligible spend up to $500 each cycle, and an easy-to-earn $200 cash back bonus, this card adapts to your spending habits and maximizes your rewards automatically.

You might prefer the BofA Customized Cash if you value choice and the ability to earn bonus rewards through a banking relationship. With the option to select your own 3% cash back category and the potential to earn even more through the Preferred Rewards program, this card offers flexibility and benefits for loyal Bank of America customers, along with a similar $200 welcome offer and no annual fee.

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards, introductory offers and other features will illuminate the strengths of the Citi Custom Cash and BofA Customized Cash cards. This section provides a detailed breakdown to guide your choice, whether you prioritize low fees, high rewards or specific spending categories.

The Citi Custom Cash Card has 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent. This can be particularly lucrative for consistent spending in one category.

However, the BofA Customized Cash Card's most compelling bonus category is its 3% cash back on a chosen category, which includes a broader range of options such as gas, dining and online shopping. While the Citi Custom Cash is generally better for rewards, the BofA Customized Cash may offer more flexibility for some users with its customizable 3% category.

For the Citi Custom Cash Card, users should research the eligible categories to maximize their 5% cash back. The BofA Customized Cash offers 3% cash back on a category of choice, including 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. There's a combined spend limit on 2% and 3% categories each quarter, which is important to keep in mind.

Below is a table of bonus categories to help you compare the rewards programs of both cards.

After accumulating rewards, the next step is redeeming them. The Bofa Customized Cash allows redemption through various methods, including deposits and statement credits, with the assurance that cash back doesn't expire as long as the account remains open.

The Citi Custom Cash offers redemption for statement credits, gift cards, travel or direct deposits, with no expiration on points and no cap on earnings. There's no minimum redemption threshold for most options, except for a $5 minimum for checks.

MoneyGeek's ranking process evaluates credit cards across various use cases, such as balance transfers and cash back. For the Citi Custom Cash and BofA Customized Cash, the highest scoring category is cash back.

The factors influencing their scores include the effective reward rate, which accounts for the majority of the score, and the return on investment for card offers. Other considerations include annual fees, issuer satisfaction and penalty rates.