Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Bank of America Customized Cash
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Chase Sapphire Reserve wins 3-2. Annual travelers — the upgrade path from Sapphire Preferred. Bank of America Customized Cash is still the right call if choose your 3% category each month — no rotation needed..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Bank of America Customized Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · $550 | No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 10% (travel) | · 3% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | No FX fee | · 3% |
| Welcome bonus | = 60,000 points after $4,000 in first 3 months | = $200 cash rewards after $1,000 spend in 90 days |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | · 740 | 670 |
| Editorial rating | 4.7/5 | · 4.3/5 |
Benefits compared
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- 10x on hotels and rental cars booked via Chase Travel
- 5x on flights booked via Chase Travel
- 3x on all other dining + travel
- $300 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass Select + Chase Sapphire Lounge access
- 50% bonus when redeeming for travel via Chase portal
Bank of America Customized Cash
- 3% on category of your choice (gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, home improvement)
- 2% at grocery stores + wholesale clubs (up to $2,500/quarter combined)
- 1% on everything else
- No annual fee
FAQ
›Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Bank of America Customized Cash: which is better?
Chase Sapphire Reserve 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 Chase Sapphire Reserve for its best categories, Bank of America Customized Cash for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Chase Sapphire Reserve: 60,000 points after $4,000 in first 3 months. Bank of America Customized Cash: $200 cash rewards after $1,000 spend in 90 days.