Bank of America
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Flexible cash back card with 6% rewards in your choice category (first year), 2% at grocery stores, and 1% everywhere else. No annual fee. Earn $200 bonus.
Annual fee
None
Top rate
6x gas & ev charging
Quick look
Flexible Rotating Rewards
Choose your 6% category monthly
3.9
out of 5
Rewards
Fees
Welcome bonus
Perks
Value
Overall score is a weighted average: Rewards 20% · Fees 20% · Welcome bonus 20% · Perks 20% · Value 20%.
Ideal for
Bank of America customers who spend strategically in rotating categories, avoid foreign travel, and want no-fee cash back without the burden of rotating quarterly categories.
The verdict
The Customized Cash Rewards card wins on flexibility and zero fees, letting you pivot your 6% category monthly based on what you're actually spending on. That's a real advantage over cards locked into rotating quarterly categories. But the $2,500 quarterly cap on combined 6% and 2% earnings means you'll hit 1% cash back fast if you're a heavy spender, and the 3% foreign transaction fee makes it a poor choice for international travel.
It's best for people who actively manage their spending patterns and stay domestic. For everyone else—especially big spenders or frequent travelers—the limitations outweigh the flexibility.
Pros
- Monthly choice category rotation beats quarterly-locked competitors like Chase Freedom
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers eases debt consolidation
- No annual fee keeps it competitive against paid cards with lower rewards rates
- $2,500 quarterly cap per category is enough for moderate spenders averaging $835/month in bonused categories
- 2% grocery rewards stacks with the category bonus if groceries are your choice category
Cons
- Quarterly cap means high spenders hit 1% cash back fast—a household spending $3,000/quarter in bonused categories leaves the rest earning 1%
- 3% foreign transaction fee makes this risky abroad; international travelers should look elsewhere
- 1% baseline on everything else trails competitors like VentureOne (5% everywhere) and Instacart (varies by category)
- Monthly rotation requires attention and planning—not a 'set it and forget it' card
- Basic benefits list lacks premium perks like travel insurance or purchase protection found on higher-tier cards
Reward rates
| Category | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Gas & EV charging | 6x | 6% cash back when selected as your choice category for the first year, then 3% |
| Online shopping | 6x | 6% cash back when selected as your choice category for the first year, then 3% |
| Dining & restaurants | 6x | 6% cash back when selected as your choice category for the first year, then 3% |
| Flights | 6x | 6% cash back when selected as your choice category for the first year, then 3% |
| Drugstores | 6x | 6% cash back when selected as your choice category for the first year, then 3% |
| Groceries | 2x | 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs |
| Everything else | 1x | Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases |
The 6% choice category is strong against the catalog—ranked 1st in gas and drugstores, 2nd in dining, 4th in online shopping. But the $2,500 quarterly cap combined across the 6% and 2% categories means you'll earn only 1% on every purchase over that threshold. A family hitting $3,000 in quarterly bonus spending leaves $500 earning 1% instead of 3-6%. The card rewards active management; pick your highest expected category each month and you'll do well. Pick wrong and you'll leave rewards on the table.
Fees and APR
Does it pay for itself?
Zero annual fee is table stakes for cash back cards, but this one backs it up. No tricks, no spending thresholds to waive the fee. The bank makes its money from interchange, not from annual charges.
Welcome bonus
Is it worth chasing?
$200 cash rewards sounds modest next to travel card bonuses, but it's attainable—$1,000 in 90 days is roughly $333/month, reachable with a single regular purchase category. The bonus lands as cash, not points, so no conversion risk.
Other benefits
- $0 Liability Guarantee for fraudulent transactions
- Balance Connect for overdraft protection (optional service)
- Paperless Statement Option
- Digital Wallet Technology (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay)
- Online & Mobile Banking access
- Account Alerts for balances and due dates
Similar cards
Rotating 5% categories every quarter (fixed schedule) vs. this card's monthly selection—if you want control, BofA wins; if you want simplicity, Chase wins.
4% cash back in top categories vs. 6%, but no quarterly cap—better for high spenders who don't want to manage category selection.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change my 6% category mid-month?
No. You can change your choice category once per calendar month, effective immediately. If you change on the 15th, that new category earns 6% from the 15th forward through month-end. So plan ahead—if you know you're booking flights next week, move 'travel flights' to your choice category now.
What happens after I spend $2,500 on my choice category in a quarter?
Everything beyond $2,500 combined across your choice category and grocery purchases earns 1% cash back that quarter. The cap resets on the first day of the next quarter. If you hit the cap in Q1, you're earning 1% for the rest of March—plan your bigger discretionary purchases around quarter boundaries if possible.
Should I use this card for international travel?
No. The 3% foreign transaction fee will cut into any rewards you earn and add 3% to every purchase abroad. A card with no foreign transaction fee, or one that earns travel rewards, is a smarter choice. Save this card for domestic spending.
Do I lose rewards if I don't use Bank of America's Rewards program?
No, the base rewards rates (6%, 2%, 1%) are always active. Bank of America Rewards is optional—it provides bonus point multipliers if you're a BofA checking customer or have a higher account tier, but it's not required to earn cash back.
How does the 0% intro APR work for balance transfers?
The 0% applies for 15 billing cycles. Balance transfers incur a 3% fee if you initiate the transfer within the first 60 days of opening the account, then 5% after that. So if you transfer a $10,000 balance in month one, you'll pay $300, but no interest for 15 months. Do the math: 15 months of 0% APR might still beat a competitor's lower transfer fee.
Can I use this card with my Bank of America checking account for extra perks?
Yes—if you're a Bank of America Rewards member (free with a qualifying checking account), you can earn bonus cash rewards on purchases, ranging from a 10% boost for basic accounts to 75% for premium tiers like Private Client. Link the accounts and your cash back multiplies across the board.
Reviewed by YoungerFinance Editorial · Last updated August 10, 2026