Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Amex Business Gold
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 Business Gold is still the right call if small businesses — 4x on top 2 spend categories from a list of 6..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Bank of America Travel Rewards | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $375 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 1.5% (general) | 4% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 1.5% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 25,000 online bonus points after $1,000 in first 90 days (~$250 travel) | = 70,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 spend in 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 700 | · 720 |
| 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 Business Gold
- 4x on top 2 categories ($150K cap): airfare, gas, advertising, tech, restaurants, US shipping
- $20 monthly FedEx + Grubhub credit
- $240 Amex Business Line of Credit access
- No foreign transaction fees
FAQ
›Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Amex Business Gold: 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 Business Gold 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 Business Gold: 70,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 spend in 3 months.