Citi Premier vs Bank of America Premium Rewards
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Citi Premier wins 2-1. Travel + dining + groceries combined — broader 3x than Sapphire Preferred. Bank of America Premium Rewards is still the right call if boa preferred rewards clients — up to 2.625x with $100k relationship..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Citi Premier | Bank of America Premium Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = $95 | = $95 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 3% (travel) | · 2% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 1.5% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 60,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 in 3 months | = 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in 90 days |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 700 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | = 4.4/5 | = 4.4/5 |
Benefits compared
Citi Premier
- 3x ThankYou points on travel (incl. gas)
- 3x on dining
- 3x on supermarkets
- Transferable to 16 airline partners
- $100 annual hotel credit
- No foreign transaction fees
Bank of America Premium Rewards
- 2x on travel + dining
- 1.5x on everything else
- Up to 75% bonus for Preferred Rewards (Platinum Honors tier)
- $100 annual airline incidental credit
- $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
FAQ
›Citi Premier vs Bank of America Premium Rewards: which is better?
Citi Premier wins on more dimensions (2 vs 1). 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 Citi Premier for its best categories, Bank of America Premium Rewards for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Citi Premier: 60,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 in 3 months. Bank of America Premium Rewards: 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in 90 days.