Bank of America® Travel Rewards® Credit Card
Simple 1.5x everywhere with no annual fee
Practical Recommendation
Want no-annual-fee travel points without homework? This is it. You get 1.5x on literally everything and 3x when you book travel through the bank's portal, then redeem points at a clean 1¢ each for travel or dining statement credits.
If you bank with Bank of America, the BofA Rewards boost quietly adds 10%–75% to what you earn and makes this punch above its weight. Just note that the program was reshuffled in May 2026: the old 75% tier at $100,000 in balances now pays 50%, and 75% takes $1 million. If you need lounges or chunky credits, look elsewhere. Bottom line: simple, flexible, and easy to keep long term.
Perks
- Earning, at a glance – 1.5x on all purchases with no caps; 3x on travel booked through BofA Travel (the bank's portal). Use the portal when prices match or beat booking direct.
- BofA Rewards boost (10%–75%) – A Bank of America checking account alone gets you Member tier and a 10% bonus; balances move you to Preferred Plus ($30k, 25%), Preferred Honors ($100k, 50%), or Premier ($1M, 75%). At the top that turns 1.5x into 2.625x and portal 3x into 5.25x.
- Redemptions that are simple – Redeem for statement credits toward travel or restaurant purchases at 1¢ per point (travel/dining), or as cash into eligible Bank of America/Merrill accounts. Redemptions typically start at 2,500 points.
- No foreign transaction fees – Safe pick for international trips and foreign merchants; no 1%–3% surcharge.
- Introductory interest offer – Often includes a 0% intro period on purchases; good for planned expenses you can pay off before interest.
Protections
- Rental car insurance (secondary collision damage waiver) – Covers theft/damage to the rental car when you pay with the card and decline the agency's coverage; typically secondary in the U.S.
- Lost luggage reimbursement – Helps when a carrier misplaces your bags; caps and exclusions apply.
- Extended warranty – Adds extra warranty time on eligible purchases; useful on electronics and appliances.
- Purchase security – Short window of coverage for theft or accidental damage on eligible new items.
- Travel & emergency assistance; concierge – 24/7 help services (not insurance).
BofA Rewards: How to Boost Your Travel Points
If you bank with Bank of America or Merrill, you can boost your travel points by 10% to 75%. Bank of America replaced Preferred Rewards with BofA Rewards on May 27, 2026. Here's how it works:
How to Qualify
Step 1: Open a Bank of America checking account (that alone gets you the Member tier and a 10% boost, with no balance minimum)
Step 2: Maintain qualifying balances across your accounts to move up:
- What counts: Any mix of Bank of America deposits + Merrill accounts (IRAs and 529s included)
- How to qualify: Keep the tier's 3-month average, or get early enrollment by hitting the balance within 30 days of opening your checking account
$30,000 - $99,999
$100,000 - $999,999
$1,000,000+
What It Does to This Card
BofA Rewards boosts your earned travel points by:
- Member: +10% boost (just a BofA checking account, no balance minimum)
- Preferred Plus: +25% boost
- Preferred Honors: +50% boost
- Premier: +75% boost (maximum for credit cards)
The boost applies to your earned travel points after purchase, making your effective earning rates much higher.
Your Effective Rates
Important Notes
- Redemption value: Points are worth 1¢ each when redeemed for travel or dining statement credits
- No foreign transaction fees: Safe to use internationally without extra charges