Head-to-head · 🇺🇸 United States

Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Citi Strata Premier

Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.

US
Bank of America
Bank of America Travel Rewards
VISA
Wins 2 of 10
US
Citi
Citi Strata Premier
Wins 2 of 10
Verdict

It's a true tie — neither dominates. Pick the one whose boost categories match where you actually spend.

Side-by-side

CriterionBank of America Travel RewardsCiti Strata Premier
Annual fee
No annual fee
·
$95
Joining fee
=
None
=
None
Top reward rate
·
1.5% (general)
10% (travel)
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)
=
75,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 spend in 3 months
Fee waiver threshold
=
N/A (no fee)
=
No waiver
Min income
=
=
Min credit score
=
700
=
700
Editorial rating
·
4.3/5
4.4/5

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

Citi Strata Premier

  • 10x on hotels, car rentals, and attractions via Citi Travel
  • 3x at restaurants + supermarkets + gas stations
  • 1x on everything else
  • $100 hotel benefit on $500+ Citi Travel hotel bookings
  • Transfer to 16 airline + hotel partners

FAQ

Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Citi Strata Premier: which is better?

It's a true tie — pick the one whose boost categories match your spend. Bank of America Travel Rewards wins on 2 criteria, Citi Strata Premier on 2.

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, Citi Strata Premier 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). Citi Strata Premier: 75,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 spend in 3 months.