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Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card review Unique rewards flexibility

You know your spending habits the best, so this card lets you choose your top earning category Written by Credit Card Reviews Writer Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card, Oct. 3, 2022 Edited by Credit Cards Editor Nouri Zarrugh is a writer and editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, focusing on product news, guides and reviews. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards Oct. 3, 2022

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Snapshot

4.3 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon Bottom line Choice category cash back cards seem to be picking up steam, and the Bank of America Customized Cash card is one of the most flexible and rewarding, especially for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members. That said, the shared bonus categories’ quarterly spending limit could be a bit low for many cardholders. on Bank of America's secure site

Best for flexible rewards categories

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Rewards rate Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases). Earn automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases). Earn unlimited 1% on all other purchases. Annual fee Intro offer $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening Regular APR Recommended Credit Score A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card overview

If you want a higher reward rate than what is offered by the standard 1.5 percent flat-rate cash back card, but need more consistency month-to-month than a 5 percent rotating category card, you're in luck. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card is one of a few of the on the market that allows you to not only pick one of six 3 percent cash back bonus categories, but also swap out your choice once per month. This feature can be incredibly helpful for both big purchases on the horizon and a range of everyday expenses-especially once you consider the card's ongoing 2 percent cash back rate at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. However, there's a catch that could be a deal-breaker for big spenders. Your 3 percent and 2 percent categories share a $2,500 spending limit on combined purchases per quarter, after which your rewards rate drops to just to 1 percent cash back. Read on to see if the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card's benefits outweigh this drawback.

What are the advantages and disadvantages

Pros

Cardholders can swap 3 percent categories once per month, adding to the power you have to match your spending to your earning. Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can earn up to 75 percent more cash back on all purchases Generous intro APR periods on purchases and balance transfers

Cons

The 3 percent and 2 percent categories share a combined $2,500 spending limit per quarter Sign-up bonus spending requirement is double that of rival cards Few major perks outside the rewards program

A deeper look into the current card offer

Quick highlights

Rewards rate: 3 percent cash back on category purchases of choice, including gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstore or home improvement; 2 percent cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 of combined 3 and 2 percent category purchases each quarter, then 1 percent), plus 1 percent on all other purchases Welcome offer: $200 online cash rewards after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening Annual fee: $0 Purchase intro APR: 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles Balance transfer intro APR: 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on balance transfers made in the first 60 days. A 3 percent fee (min. $10) applies. Regular APR: 16.99% – 26.99% Variable APR

Current welcome offer

You can earn $200 online bonus cash back by spending at least $1,000 in combined purchases during your first 90 days. That's a solid payday and the spending requirement should be easy to meet for most cardholders. That said, several competing cards award the same $200 sign-up bonus in the same timeframe for half the spending requirement. One such card is the , which offers $200 cash back for spending $500 within the first three months. But if you're looking to to a new card, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards takes a huge lead thanks to its 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on any balance transfers made within the first 60 days and on purchases (16.99% – 26.99% variable APR after the introductory period ends). Compared to other rewards and cash back cards, that's one of the longest intro APR periods available on both purchases and balance transfers, with many competing cards offering only 15 months of 0% intro APR.

Rewards rate

Although bonus category cash back cards are a dime a dozen, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card has the distinct advantage of allowing you to change your 3 percent category each month. That makes it more flexible than rewards cards with quarterly rotating categories that you must activate every three months. If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25 percent to 75 percent more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn up to 5.25 percent cash back on purchases in your choice category.

How you earn

You can choose to earn 3 percent cash back on gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstore or home improvement and furnishing purchases. You'll also earn 2 percent back at eligible grocery stores and at wholesale clubs-which can be a hard-to-come-by category for ongoing rewards (up to $2,500 in combined choice category, grocery store and wholesale club quarterly purchases). Naturally, you'll net 1 percent cash back on all other purchases, too. Bank of America also defines its bonus categories much more broadly than many other issuers. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards has established itself as one of the because its bonus category encompasses a variety of retailers in addition to staples like Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target.com, including specialty merchants like Etsy and Ticketmaster.com. If you want to make the most of your Customized Cash Rewards card and you have an eligible Bank of America, Merrill or Merrill Edge account, aim for a Bank of America Preferred Rewards membership. On top of a pile of other benefits, you can earn up to 25 percent to 75 percent more cash back on all purchases depending on your membership tier.

How to redeem

True to its name, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card only allows you to redeem for cash rewards. You can redeem your rewards at any time or amount for , direct deposits to a Bank of America checking or savings account or for credit to an eligible Merrill account. However, you should keep in mind that you have to earn a minimum of $25 in cash rewards to redeem them automatically through Bank of America direct deposits or a qualifying Merrill 529 account.

How much are the rewards worth

Like other cash back programs, your Bank of America cash back rewards are worth 1 cent per 1 percent earned. For example, your 3 percent category purchases will earn 3 cents per dollar. You'll need a minimum of $25 to redeem for automatic Bank of America account direct deposits or a qualifying Merrill 529 account, however.

Other cardholder perks

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card's main focus is , so it's a bit light on the extra perks outside its intro APR offers and typical features as a Visa card.

Bank of America Preferred Rewards

Bank of America's most valuable perk unique to their rewards cards is the . By maintaining a specific three-month average balance across your Bank of America deposit and Merrill® investment accounts, you may qualify for one of three Preferred Rewards status tiers that come with a variety of perks, including a 25 to 75 percent rewards rate bonus: Preferred Rewards Gold (at least a $20,000 balance): 25 percent boost for 3.75 percent on choice category purchases, 2.5 percent on grocery store and wholesale club purchases along with 1.25 percent on all other purchases (2.06 percent average rewards rate) Preferred Rewards Platinum (at least a $50,000 balance): 50 percent boost for 4.5 percent on choice category purchases, 3 percent on grocery store and wholesale club purchases along with 1.5 percent on all other purchases (2.47 percent average rewards rate) Preferred Rewards Platinum Honors (at least a $100,000 balance): 75 percent boost for 5.25 percent on choice category purchases, 3.5 percent on grocery store and wholesale club purchases along with 1.75 percent on all other purchases (2.88 percent average rewards rate)

BankAmeriDeals

BankAmeriDeals is Bank of America's version of a card-linked program like Amex Offers or Chase Offers. By logging into your account and activating certain promotional offers, you can typically earn 5 to 15 percent extra cash back at select restaurants and other participating merchants. BankAmeriDeals also grants you "coins" for using the program, which allow you to access even better deals. Although you won't make stacks of cash back with BankAmeriDeals, it can provide an extra sprinkle of rewards.

Visa Signature Benefits

Since the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards is a Visa Signature credit card, you have access to a roster of based on your credit limit, annual fee and other factors. Contact your issuer to be certain of which features your card carries. Stepping up to the Visa Signature level grants you perks like extended warranty coverage Visa Signature® Concierge, roadside dispatch and travel and emergency assistance.

Museums On Us

This benefit is a bit on the obscure side, but frequent museum visitors will be sure to love it. For over 20 years, all Bank of America credit cards and debit cards have provided free general admission to 225-plus "cultural institutions" during the first weekend of every month. All you have to do is present your Bank of America card and a valid photo ID.

Rates and fees

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card is a relatively low-cost card - there is no annual fee, a 0% intro APR on purchases and any balance transfers (made within the first 60 days) for 18 billing cycles and a reasonably low ongoing variable APR of 16.99% – 26.99% variable APR. Its intro APR periods provide enough wiggle room to make the Customized Cash Rewards card a viable balance transfer card, and the minimum interest rate that follows is just below the . However, there's a standard 3 percent ($10 minimum, whichever is greater) balance transfer fee to watch out for, as well as a 3 percent foreign transaction fee.

Bankrate staff experience

Flexible cash back that you can adapt to your upcoming expenses is reason enough to , and Bankrate editor has found that its choice categories are a rewarding match for her budget. The ability to customize my 3 percent category is super valuable. I usually keep my choice rewards category set on dining. I know that's where I consistently spend the most because the app shows my average spending in each of the rewards categories. However, when I'm about to book a flight that costs a few hundred dollars, I'll change the rewards category to travel to get an easy lump of cash back. Then I'll revert back to dining the next month. For me, the $1,500 quarterly limit on the 2 and 3 percent categories isn't restrictive. I try to budget about $70 per week for groceries ($840 per quarter) and $30 per week for dining ($360 per quarter). That leaves me $300 short of the quarterly limit. But if you're feeding a family, you might surpass this limit pretty quickly. - Mariah Ackary,

How the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card compares to other cash back cards

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card stands out among some of the for its versatile rewards program. Even so, new approaches to flexible categories and more comprehensive flat-rate cards are gaining traction and providing people with versatile alternatives to the Customized Cash card.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon Bankrate Score Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. on Bank of America's secure site Annual fee Intro offer $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening Rewards rate Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases). Earn automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases). Earn unlimited 1% on all other purchases. Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

on Citi's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. Rewards rate Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

on Chase's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! Rewards rate Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service 1.5% on all other purchases Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card vs. Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

Rather than asking you to swap your categories each month, the automatically adapts to your spending by earning 5 percent cash back on your top spending category each billing cycle out of 10 possible bonus categories-which includes all of the Bank of America Customized Cash card's categories except online shopping and wholesale clubs. However, the drawback is that it only earns 5 percent on the first $500 in the category you spend the most in each month and all other spending only earns 1 percent back. The Citi Custom Cash could seem like a more rewarding card all around considering it carries a sign-up bonus worth $200 (20,000 ThankYou points after spending only $1,500 on purchases within the first six months), and a comparable intro APR offers on purchase and balance transfers -and it may be, depending on your spending. Choosing between the card comes down to how much you spend each month and how much control you want over your categories. Based on our average yearly rewards model, consistently maximizing your bonus categories will earn you an average of $399 with the Citi Custom Cash and $359 with Bank of America's Customized Cash card. On the other hand, bigger spenders, Bank of America Preferred Rewards members and cardholders who want to choose their monthly categories will likely find more value with the Customized Cash Rewards card.

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card vs Chase Freedom Unlimited

If you're a big spender, the Bank of America Customized Cash card's $2,500 quarterly spending cap in 2 and 3 percent rewards categories and sparse benefits may curtail the potential value you'd get from the card. The will help you avoid the limitations you typically find with bonus category cards. The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is a prime choice for its unlimited cash back in several categories on top of its 1.5 percent base cash back rate for all purchases and platter of valuable perks. For starters, you'll rake in an extra 5 percent cash back on travel and Lyft rides (Lyft offer through March 2022), plus 3 percent on dining and drugstore purchases. These rewards can then be redeemed for up to 50 percent more value toward travel when paired with an eligible Ultimate Rewards credit card. The Bank of America Customized Cash card does have a notable leg up over the Freedom Unlimited if you spend a good deal of your budget at wholesale clubs, online retailers and gas stations. According to for calculating each card's average ongoing rewards value (based on and an assumed $15,900 yearly spend), the Customized Cash card could be slightly more valuable on average if you routinely maximize your bonus categories' quarterly spending limit. However, that would only earn you $6 more in cash back per year on average ($359 versus $353) when the Freedom Unlimited would take much less effort for a similar rewards yield.

Best cards to pair the with the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card

A one-size-fits-all card like the is great for picking up purchases that aren't covered by the Customized Cash Rewards card's categories or when its categories are maxed out. Similarly, the is an excellent choice for raking in boosted rewards beyond the Customized Cash card's spending limits and any retailers that aren't covered by typical bonus categories - like Walmart, Target and other grocery-carrying superstores, for example. Plus, both cards' reward rates can be boosted if you're a Preferred Rewards member. Otherwise, a flat-rate cash back card or a rewards card from another issuer that covers any of your major spending categories that the Customized Cash Rewards card misses could be a solid play.

Bankrate s Take Is the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card worth it

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card is an excellent no-annual-fee card if you wouldn't spend enough with a 1.5 percent flat-rate cash back card to outpace the total rewards you'd earn by maximizing this card's higher bonus categories. If you're not concerned with the quarterly spending limit, the Customized Cash Rewards card should be a winning choice thanks to its intro APR offers, broadly defined bonus categories, Bank of America Preferred Rewards member bonus cash back and ability to swap bonus categories each month.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to redeem cash rewards

You can redeem your cash rewards as soon as you’d like at any amount, unless you’re redeeming for an eligible Merrill 529 account one-time contribution or a check, which require you to have built up at least $25 of cash rewards first. Automatic direct deposit redemptions to a Bank of America or Merrill account also have a $25 cash back minimum.

Once you redeem your rewards, you can expect to receive your cash back for purchases in that billing cycle once the billing statement is generated—so usually within 30 days of that purchase.

How do I get my $200 cash rewards bonus from Bank of America

Instead of receiving a predetermined cash back option like a statement credit or direct deposit, the $200 intro offer (must spend $1,000 on purchases within your first 90 days) will be posted to your online rewards balance within eight to 12 weeks after you qualify. That way, you can redeem your cash rewards for whichever method of cash back you prefer.

Is the Bank of America Customized Cash card a Visa or Mastercard

The Bank of America Customized Cash card is on the Visa network, specifically issued as a . You’ll receive staple Visa Signature perks, including extended warranty protection on qualifying purchases and travel perks like 24/7 pay-per-use roadside dispatch. Be sure to read your card agreement carefully or contact your issuer for a full list of your Customized Cash card’s specific set of Visa features.

How do I change the category for my Bank of America Customized Cash card

You can change your Bank of America Customized Cash card’s 3 percent category by logging into the Bank of America “Online Banking” portal or the “Mobile Banking” app.

You’ll be able to change your category once per calendar month, and it will stay the same as your last choice until you decide to swap it out. Before you choose your category for the first time, it will cover gas purchases by default.

Is the Bank of America Customized Cash card hard to get

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card is as easy to get as most other no annual fee cash back credit cards. You’ll just need to provide the typical personal information, Social Security number and total annual income through Bank of America’s online application or over the phone by calling (800) 932-2775.

For the best approval odds, you’ll need a good to excellent credit score (a FICO score of 670 to 850). You may even be able to get through their website or by using Bankrate’s tool without risking a . Written by Garrett Yarbrough Credit Card Reviews Writer Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card, credit monitoring and identity theft analysis on NextAdvisor.com, he joined the CreditCards.com and Bankrate.com teams as a staff writer to develop product reviews and comprehensive credit card guides focused on cash back, credit scores and card offers. Edited by Credit Cards Editor

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