Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Amex Blue Cash Preferred
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
Bank of America Travel Rewards wins 3-2. No-fee travel — 1.5x flat with no FX markup, plus Preferred Rewards bumps Amex Blue Cash Preferred is still the right call if suburban families with kids — best us-supermarket card..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Bank of America Travel Rewards | Amex Blue Cash Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $95 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 1.5% (general) | 6% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 1.5% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | No FX fee | · 2.7% |
| Welcome bonus | = 25,000 online bonus points after $1,000 in first 90 days (~$250 travel) | = $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | = 700 | = 700 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Bank of America Travel Rewards
- 1.5x points on every purchase
- Up to 75% bonus for Preferred Rewards clients (1.5x → 2.625x)
- Points redeem against any travel purchase, no blackout dates
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- 6% cashback on US supermarkets (up to $6K/year, then 1%)
- 6% on streaming subscriptions
- 3% on US gas stations + transit
- 1% on everything else
- 0% intro APR for 12 months
FAQ
›Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Amex Blue Cash Preferred: which is better?
Bank of America Travel Rewards wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Bank of America Travel Rewards for its best categories, Amex Blue Cash Preferred for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Bank of America Travel Rewards: 25,000 online bonus points after $1,000 in first 90 days (~$250 travel). Amex Blue Cash Preferred: $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months.