The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a lot of potential value without a lot of complexity. You can earn unlimited flat cash-back rewards and enjoy a solid 0% APR period, with no annual fee.
Learn more about all this card has to offer if you’re looking to simplify your credit card rewards:
Annual fee
$0
Welcome offer
Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Introductory APR
0% intro APR for your first 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account (variable APR applies after that; see issuer site for current APR)
Purchase APR
See issuer site for current APR
The most significant added benefit you’ll get with the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards card is a long introductory 0% APR period.
For the first 15 billing cycles after you open your account, you’ll pay 0% APR on new purchases and on balance transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening. After that intro period, any balances still left on your card will accrue interest at the regular variable APR between 17.99% and 27.99%. If you decide to transfer an existing debt balance, you’ll also pay a 3% balance transfer fee within the first 60 days; after that, balance transfers have a 4% fee.
While 15 billing cycles isn’t the longest intro period you’ll find today, it is competitive with other top 0% APR credit cards which typically range from 12 to 18 months. And with this offer, you’ll get more than a year without interest to pay off purchases you charge to your card or to get a significant head start toward paying off an existing debt balance.
Other features are standard among most credit cards today, including $0 liability for fraud, account alerts, and overdraft protection when you link your Bank of America checking account.
You’ll earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make with this card. Whether you use it when you fuel up at the gas station, buy your weekly groceries, or make an impulse purchase while browsing online, you’ll get the same 1.5% cash back on your spending.
Based on average American spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we estimate that you can earn over $423 per year in cash back when you use this card for all your everyday purchases.
You’ll earn a cash welcome bonus worth $200 when you spend at least $1,000 within the first 90 days of opening your Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards card.
That’s a solid welcome offer compared with other best cash-back credit cards today, especially given the realistic spending requirement. You’ll need to spend about $300 per month over the first three months to qualify for this bonus.
Related: Best credit card sign-up bonuses
Boosted rewards earnings don’t end with the cash welcome bonus. For your entire first year, you can also earn an increased 2% cash back on every purchase you make — instead of the standard 1.5% this card offers.
Let’s say you spend about $15,000 per year with your card, or $1,250 per month. At the regular 1.5% cash-back rate, that’s about $225 in annual rewards. But over your first year, you’ll earn an even better $300 cash back with the same spending.
You can get a significant rewards increase long-term with this card if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member. The bonus you’ll get depends on the tier you qualify for, based on your combined total balance across eligible Bank of America deposit and Merrill investment account:
Gold tier: 25% rewards bonus
Platinum tier: 50% rewards bonus
Platinum Honors and Diamond Honors tiers: 75% rewards bonus
At the highest bonus tier of Platinum Honors, you can increase your rewards rate by 75%, from 1.5% to 2.62% cash back. Using the same spending example as above, Preferred Rewards could get you a total of $393 in cash back on your $15,000 in annual spending. That’s $168 more in cash back each year over the standard 1.5%.
Bank of America cash rewards are easy to redeem anytime you want with no minimum required. You can cash in rewards for a statement credit to your card account or a direct deposit to your Bank of America checking or savings account. You can also use the cash you earn when you check out using PayPal or shop on Amazon.
The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Card excels for its straightforward 1.5% cash back on every purchase (2% for the first year). You should consider this card if you’re looking for rewards that you don’t have to strategize to earn or redeem. It’s a great option for rewards credit card beginners who have great credit but may be intimidated by complicated rewards structures and benefits.
It’s also a solid choice if you have a large upcoming purchase to make. Not only can you earn a boosted 2% cash back on that purchase if you make it within the first year of account opening, but you can also take advantage of the card’s 0% intro APR within that time frame. You’ll be able to finance your purchase for the first 15 billing cycles, though you will start to accrue interest at the card’s variable 17.99%-27.99% APR if you don’t pay down the full balance by the end of the period.
Finally, the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards card can make a good addition to your wallet if you already have a great travel or cash-back credit card with boosted rewards in your top spending categories. Adding a flat cash-back card is a great way to make sure you maximize every dollar you spend, even when your purchase isn’t captured by your other cards’ rewards categories.
No annual fee: This card doesn’t cost anything to add to your wallet, since it charges no annual fee.
Simple flat cash-back rewards: You can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase with this card, and 2% cash back on all purchases for the first year.
Introductory 0% APR: The 0% APR offer on this card applies for both new purchases and balance transfers, which can help you finance a big purchase or pay down debt you already have.
No bonus categories for boosted rewards: Because this card has a flat rewards structure, you won’t get boosted rewards in specific categories, like groceries, gas, or dining out at restaurants.
2% rewards end after the first year: The bonus 2% rewards offer only lasts for the first year after account opening. After that, you’ll earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Good credit required: For the best chances of qualifying for this card, you should have an established credit history and good credit score.
The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards card is a Visa credit card, so you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted and earn cash-back rewards each time.
However, this card does charge a 3% foreign transaction fee for purchases outside the U.S. That can get costly if you decide to use it when traveling abroad. If you travel internationally often, make sure you’re prepared with a card that has no foreign transaction fees.
Online: Log into your online or mobile account with Bank of America.
By phone: Call the number on the back of your credit card.
By mail:
In person: Bank of America has 3,700 locations across the U.S. Use the bank’s online locator to find a branch near you if you prefer to pay in person.
Bank of America customer service help for credit cards is available 24/7.
Phone number: 800-732-9194 or call 800-266-0212 for billing questions
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards login page
Before you apply, also consider these great credit card options for flat 1.5x rewards or more on every purchase:
Annual fee
$0
Welcome offer
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Introductory APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then variable 18.49% – 28.49% APR
Purchase APR
18.49% – 28.49% variable
Rewards rate
5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel1.5% cash back on all other purchases
Benefits
Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfersNo foreign transaction fees
Why we like it: Like the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards card, you’ll earn a flat, unlimited 1.5% cash back with the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. This card also has no annual fee, a long 0% introductory APR period, and a cash welcome bonus. You can get an extra cash-back boost when you use your Quicksilver card to book travel with 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Read our full Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
Annual fee
$0
Welcome offer
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Introductory Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
Introductory Purchases APR
0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
Ongoing Purchases APR
18.24% – 27.74% Variable
Rewards rate
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (includes takeout and eligible delivery service)1.5% on all other purchases
Benefits
You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accountsChase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and moreGenerous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
Why we like it: The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a no annual fee card with a minimum 1.5% cash back on every purchase, but that’s not all it offers. You’ll also earn 3% back at restaurants and drug stores and 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠. You can redeem your rewards for cash back or use them to book travel with Chase. Other Freedom Unlimited benefits include a cash welcome bonus, introductory 0% APR offer, perks for Lyft and DoorDash spending, and more.
Read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited review.
Annual fee
$0
Welcome offer
Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening, which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases
Introductory APR
0% intro APR for your first 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account (variable APR aplies after that; see issuer site for current APR)
Purchase APR
See issuer site for current APR
Rewards rate
Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on purchasesNo blackout dates or restrictionsPoints do not expire as long as your account remains open
Benefits
Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on purchasesNo foreign transaction feesGenerous intro APR offer on eligible balance transfers and purchases
Why we like it: Instead of cash back, you’ll earn an unlimited 1.5x points on every purchase you make with the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card. You can redeem your points toward travel and dining purchases you charge to your card. Other benefits are similar to those you’ll get with the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards card, like a solid welcome bonus, introductory 0% APR offer, and Preferred Rewards bonus if you’re eligible. Unlike the Unlimited Cash card, you’ll also save on spending abroad with no foreign transaction fees.
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
