A reader let us know that they received a survey from Bank of America regarding two new possible credit cards.
Bank Americard Premium Rewards
Summary of benefits:
- Card earns at the following rates:
- 2x points for every $1 spent on Travel & Dining
- 1.5x points on all other purchases
- $100 travel credit for airline incidentals
- $100 TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry Application Fee Credit (once every 5 years)
- Access to Luxury Hotel Collection
- Preferred Rewards Clients get a 25-75% bonus on every purchase (making it up to 2.625% everywhere & 3.5% on travel & dining)
- $95 annual fee
Honestly this card isn’t very interesting, it’s basically just the BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card with an annual fee slightly lower than the travel credit and 2x on travel & dining. Even with Preferred Rewards 3.5% on dining & travel isn’t that exciting.
If it comes with a decent sign up bonus, I’m sure I’ll get the card but I doubt I’ll have it long term.
Store Card
They were also presented with two options for a store credit card and asked to choose between the two:
Card A
- Save 15% on today’s purchase upon approval and use your new RETAILER Visa Card.
- No annual fee
- Earns at the following rates:
- 3% at RETAILER
- 1% everywhere else
- When you hit $10 in rewards you receive a $10 RETAILER coupon
- Free return shipping on all RETAILER purchases
- Earn 10% in rewards on enrollment in outdoor skills classes offered by RETAILER
- Special Sales & Offers from RETAILER exclusively for cardholders
- Comes with competitive APR
Card B
- Save 15% on today’s purchase upon approval and use your new RETAILER Visa Card.
- No annual fee
- Earns at the following rates:
- 5% at RETAILER
- 3% on dining & travel
- 1% everywhere else
- When you hit $10 in rewards you receive a $10 RETAILER coupon
- Free return shipping on all RETAILER purchases
- Free monogramming on apparel purchased from RETAILER
- Earn 10% in rewards on enrollment in outdoor skills classes offered by RETAILER
- Donation made to a nature conservation organization with every purchase
- Special Sales & Offers from RETAILER exclusively for cardholders
- Comes with competitive APR
I don’t really get the choice, Card B is better in every single way.
Our Verdict
Obviously these surveys don’t necessarily mean these cards will actually exist at any point. Neither card is particularly exciting, but hopefully they offer a good sign up bonus or similar. I’m also sure I read about a similar survey on reddit recently, but can’t find that thread.
Yes, your explanation sounds right to me.
I just noticed that the AAA Member Rewards card has disappeared from the BoA CC website. It’s also not mentioned on the Preferred Rewards webpages as an eligible card. (I don’t know when it happened as I hadn’t looked for a month or two.) Through googling I found a AAA (not BoA) website from which you could apply for it and it still seems to be a BoA card.
I wonder if the first surveyed card is to displace the AAA CC.
The AAA card is now split between US Bank and BOA so you cannot apply directly with BOA but you can apply through your local AAA office. I’d assume BOA just isn’t allowed to offer it to everyone and anyone anymore just because of the split relationship. But don’t think the card itself is going anywhere.
Yes, your explanation sounds right to me.
I have an idea who the Retailer is…..
Perhaps they are moving away from Barclays co-branded card…..
Sounds like L.L Bean to me….
-J
Could be!
Hey Charles, why did you approve that message from Matt personally attacking me. You are supposed to moderate these messages yet you permit this message from him which has added absolutely nothing to this discussion. I was trying to say why I thought the new Travel Rewards cards is a good upgrade to the current card due to the negative comments you put and yet I am accused of working for B of A.
Hi Gordon,
We try not to moderate comments too much as it’s extremely time consuming (the site has over 90,000 comments for example). We don’t allow sexist, racist or homophobic comments but I don’t think Matt’s comment was really that bad.
I have to disagree with you William. I think the Premium Travel Rewards card is a great upgrade to the current Travel Rewards which I currently have. The extra $100 travel credit is super. Having travel insurance included would be great. And of course the extra points will help me accumulate a lot faster. I just hope B of A will waive the annual fee for Top Tier Preferred Rewards members such as myself.
The $100 travel credit is offset by the $95 annual fee (especially if it’s only for travel incidentals). Basically only real change is the 2x categories, not a strong card IMO.
Jesus this guy sounds like he’s in Marketing for BOFA.
Bank of America is so stingy. I’ve had their cash rewards card for here years, but never an increase above my $2,500 credit limit, despite having very good credit. At least I’m not being charged an annual fee.
Typo. Meant to say *three* years.
call a senior credit analyst, take the HP, aim high, and let them counter. if you dont see request increase on your screen, then you have to call in.
If the RETAILER card has Preferred Rewards, then it’s 8.75% / 5.25% at the store / dining+travel. Too rich, not gonna happen.
Why did this end up as a reply?
Retailer card doesn’t mention Preferred Rewards, so I doubt it’ll happen. The retailer card is basically store credit anyway.
All the branded BofA cards don’t qualify for preferred rewards. This one wouldn’t either
The travel card seem interesting if the travel incidental fee could be redeemed with gcs like other cc making it essentially 5$ for us in a year
There current travel card is so so especially considering many cards give 1.5%+ cashback
The new annual fee travel card if it does get released doesn’t sound that exciting. 2x on travel and dining and 1.5 elsewhere. Unless you’re Preferred Rewards I’d think a flat 2 percent card is a better deal.
Yes kevin, i agree,the cash back aint enticing.
Only reason for me to consider this for the 100$ global entry fee and waive fee (in form of travel credit) .
My cc history is still relatively new and dont do much travel either .
Even if it was no annual fee it’s not really any better than the current rewards card.