Getting the most out of your credit card strategy doesn’t always mean you have to juggle three or more cards. You can still maximize your rewards and earn plenty of perks with just two credit cards in your arsenal. It just all depends on what you hope to accomplish.
Here are some of the best Bank of America pairings and whom they’re suited for.
[Best Bank of America Credit Cards]
Top Bank of America Pairings
One callout worth mentioning with Bank of America is you can always earn just a little bit more. With its recently updated rewards program, BofA Rewards, Bank of America customers with a personal checking account can earn anywhere from an extra 10% to 75% on their credit card rewards.
Best Overall: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card | Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card | |
| Annual fee | $95 | $0 |
| Rewards rate |
— Two points per dollar on travel and dining purchases — 1.5 points on all other purchases |
— 3% cash back + 3% first-year cash back bonus in the category of your choice: — Gas and EV charging stations — Online shopping, cable, internet, phone plans and streaming — Dining — Travel — Drugstores and pharmacies — Home improvement and furnishings — 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs — Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter — 1% cash back on all other purchases |
| Extra benefits |
— Up to $200 in combined airline incidental and TSA PreCheck/Global Entry statement credits — Travel and purchase protections — Concierge service |
— 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, then a 17.49% to 27.49% variable APR applies |
Why we chose it: The Premium Rewards credit card gives you a broad two points per dollar spent on travel and dining. It does come with an annual fee of $95, but its statement credits offset that cost. The Customized Cash Rewards card then fills in the gaps with its customizable categories. So one covers travel, dining and general spending, while the other covers your chosen high-spend category plus groceries.
This combo is best for consumers who want a premium travel card but also want to maximize everyday cash back.
Best for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Loyalists: Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card and Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
| Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card | Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card | |
| Annual fee | $95 | $95 |
| Rewards rate |
— Three points per dollar on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases — Two points on eligible gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services and local transit purchases, including ride-hailing — One point on all other purchases |
— Two points on travel and dining purchases — 1.5 points on all other purchases |
| Extra benefits |
— Free checked bag — $100 discount on an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership — 20% discount on in-flight purchases — Each account anniversary year, you can earn a $99 (plus taxes and fees from $23) companion fare when you spend $6,000 or more in the previous year. |
— Up to $200 in combined airline incidental and TSA PreCheck/Global Entry statement credits — Travel and purchase protections — Concierge service |
[Read: Airline Credit Cards]
Why we chose it: If you live on the West Coast in a hub city of Alaska Airlines (like Seattle, Portland or San Francisco), you may consider the Atmos Rewards Ascent card. This combination is ideal for the consumer who frequently flies Alaska or Hawaiian but doesn’t want their credit card strategy to revolve around just one airline.
The Atmos Rewards card gives you airline-specific perks, while the Premium Rewards card offers broader travel and dining earning along with a higher base on everyday earning. Don’t forget: Alaska also has plenty of airline partners you can transfer miles to.
Best for Cash Back Maximizers: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards and Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card | Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card | |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Rewards rate |
— 3% cash back + 3% first-year cash back bonus in the category of your choice: — Gas and EV charging stations — Online shopping, cable, internet, phone plans and streaming — Dining — Travel — Drug stores and pharmacies — Home improvement and furnishings — 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs — Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter — 1% cash back on all other purchases |
— 1.5% cash back on all purchases |
| Extra benefits |
— 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, then a 17.49% to 27.49% variable APR applies |
— 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, then a 17.49% to 27.49% variable APR applies |
Why we chose it: This is a good cash back pairing because it’s a no-annual-fee workhorse. The Customized Cash Rewards card lets you choose your top-earning category, while the Unlimited Cash Rewards provides a slightly higher base rate on all other purchases.
So the Customized Cash Rewards allows you to maximize your top bonus category and the Unlimited Cash Rewards card catches everything else that doesn’t fit, making this a great pairing for the consumer who just wants to earn cash back.
[Read: Best Credit Cards]
At a Glance
| Pairing | Best for | What each card does |
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card + Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card | Most consumers | Travel and dining earning + customizable everyday earning |
| Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card + Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card | Alaska and Hawaiian airlines loyalists | Airline perks + flexible travel rewards |
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card + Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card | Cash back maximizers | Bonus-category cash back + higher flat-rate cash back |
Whichever combination you choose, consider how the two cards complement each other. The right pairing can provide useful benefits and help you earn more rewards, all without forcing you to change the way you spend.
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Best Bank of America Credit Card Combinations originally appeared on usnews.com
