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NEW: Bank of America Unleashes 6% Cash Back (Starting June 1, 2025)
December 12, 2024

Bank of America is shaking up the cashback credit card market with an exciting new offer launching June 1, 2025. New cardholders of the Customized Cash Rewards and Unlimited Cash Rewards cards will receive significantly higher earning rates for their first year, making these no-annual-fee cards serious contenders in the competitive rewards card landscape.
The Customized Cash Rewards card will offer a whopping 6% cashback in the category of your choice (doubled from the standard 3%), while the Unlimited Cash Rewards will earn 2% cashback on all purchases (up from the normal 1.5%). These boosted rates are in addition to the standard $200 welcome bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.
But how do these offers stack up against other leading cashback and rewards cards? Let’s dive in and compare.
The New Bank of America Cash Rewards Offers: What You Need to Know
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
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With this enhanced offer, new cardholders will earn:
- 6% cash back in the category of your choice for the first year (from: gas & EV charging stations; online shopping; dining; travel; drug stores; or home improvement & furnishings)
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- $200 welcome bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- No annual fee
The 6% and 2% rewards apply to the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter (that's $10,000 annually), after which you'll earn 1%.
After your first year, the earning rate in your chosen category drops to the standard 3%, but you'll maintain the same 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1% elsewhere.
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards
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For those who prefer simplicity, the enhanced Unlimited Cash Rewards offer includes:
- 2% cash back on all purchases for the first year
- $200 welcome bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- No annual fee
After your first year, the flat earning rate drops to the standard 1.5% on all purchases.
The Bank of America Preferred Rewards Advantage
What makes these offers potentially even more valuable is Bank of America's Preferred Rewards program. If you have significant assets with Bank of America or Merrill Edge/Lynch (starting at $20,000), you can earn bonuses on your credit card rewards:
- Gold status (20% bonus): $20,000-$50,000 in assets
- Platinum status (50% bonus): $50,000-$100,000 in assets
- Platinum Honors status (75% bonus): $100,000+ in assets
This means Platinum Honors members could potentially earn:
- Up to 10.5% in your chosen category with the Customized Cash Rewards card (if the 75% boost applies to the enhanced rate)
- Up to 3.5% on all purchases with the Unlimited Cash Rewards card (if the 75% boost applies to the enhanced rate)
Even if the boost only applies to the base rates, Platinum Honors members would still get 8.25% in the chosen category with the Customized Cash card and 3.12% everywhere with the Unlimited Cash card during the first year.
How Do These Cards Compare to Competitors?
Comparing the Customized Cash Rewards Card (6%)
vs. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express ($95 annual fee)
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "261", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Popular Cash Back Card", "headerHint": "Popular Cash Back Card"} ]]
- AmEx Blue Cash Preferred: 6% at supermarkets (up to $6,000/year), 6% on select streaming services, 3% on transit and gas stations, 1% elsewhere
- BofA Customized Cash with 6% offer: More flexible with choice of 6% category, no annual fee, but has quarterly spending cap
vs. Chase Freedom Flex® (No annual fee)
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "2883", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "No Fee Card", "headerHint": "No Fee Card"} ]]
- Chase Freedom Flex: 5% in rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 3% on dining and drugstores, 1% elsewhere
- BofA Customized Cash with 6% offer: Higher rate in your chosen category and more flexibility in category selection
vs. Discover it Cash Back (No annual fee)
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "821", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "1% Cash Back Everywhere", "headerHint": "1% Cash Back Everywhere"} ]]
- Discover it: 5% in rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter), with first-year cashback match (effectively 10% in bonus categories first year)
- BofA Customized Cash with 6% offer: More flexible with your choice of category that doesn't change, but slightly lower rate than Discover's effective first-year rate
Comparing the Unlimited Cash Rewards Card (2%)
vs. Citi Double Cash® Card (No annual fee)
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "580", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "1% Cash Back Everywhere", "headerHint": "1% Cash Back Everywhere"} ]]
- Citi Double Cash: 2% on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay)
- BofA Unlimited Cash with 2% offer: Matches Citi's rate for first year, then drops to 1.5%; however, could be higher with Preferred Rewards status
vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (Annual fee: $95)
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "438", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "High Travel Rewards", "headerHint": "High Travel Rewards"} ]]
- Capital One Venture: 2x miles on all purchases (effectively 2% if redeemed for travel)
- BofA Unlimited Cash with 2% offer: No annual fee, cash back instead of travel miles, and potential for higher earnings with Preferred Rewards status
vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (No annual fee)
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "2894", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "No Annual Fee", "headerHint": "No Annual Fee"} ]]
- Wells Fargo Active Cash: 2% on all purchases
BofA Unlimited Cash with 2% offer: Matches Wells Fargo's rate for first year, then drops to 1.5%; potential for higher earnings with Preferred Rewards statu
Who Should Consider These Cards?
Customized Cash Rewards (6% Offer)
This card is ideal for:
- High spenders in specific categories, especially online shopping, gas, or dining
- Bank of America/Merrill customers who qualify for Preferred Rewards
- Someone looking to maximize rewards without paying an annual fee
- Those who can plan their spending to stay under the quarterly cap
Unlimited Cash Rewards (2% Offer)
This card makes sense for:
- Consumers who prefer simplicity over category management
- Bank of America/Merrill customers with Preferred Rewards status
- Those who want a solid no-annual-fee option with a good welcome bonus
- Someone who plans to pair this with other cards for category spending
The Bottom Line
Starting June 1, 2025, these earning rates make the Bank of America cash rewards cards significantly more competitive in the crowded cash back credit card market. The limited-time 6% category choice option is particularly attractive and rivals or exceeds many premium cards that charge annual fees. If you're already a Bank of America customer with significant assets, these offers become even more compelling due to the Preferred Rewards boost. Even without that status, the first-year earning rates combined with the welcome bonus and no annual fee make these cards worth serious consideration

Double the Cash, Zero the Worry
Looking for consistent rewards without the hassle? The Citi Double Cash® Card rewards you twice: 1% when you buy, another 1% when you pay—for a total 2% cash back on every purchase with no categories to track. Plus, smart balance transfer options help you take control of existing debt. Simple, powerful, perfect for today's savvy spenders.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.