SIDE A
A
Bank of America · Visa
Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card
VS.
×
SIDE B
B
Citi · Mastercard
Citi Premier Card
FILING
Head-to-Head · Plastic Quarterly
Both cards charge $95 annually and offer identical 60,000-point signup bonuses, but they reward different spending patterns. Bank of America's Premium Rewards focuses on travel and dining with 2x points in those categories, plus valuable travel credits and integration with its Preferred Rewards program. Citi Premier spreads its 3x bonus across five categories—restaurants, supermarkets, gas, air travel, and hotels—making it more versatile for everyday spending. The real difference emerges in how you travel and eat. If you're a frequent diner or prioritize premium travel perks, Bank of America wins. If you fill up at gas stations, buy groceries, and want broader category coverage, Citi delivers better value. Neither card is ideal for general spenders who don't max these categories.
THE VERDICT
Our ruling.
“Choose Bank of America Premium Rewards if travel is your priority and you dine out regularly. Choose Citi Premier if you want flexibility across everyday categories like groceries and gas. For most travelers, Bank of America edges ahead due to its superior travel credits and airline perks, but Citi's wider bonus categories make it better for cost-conscious households.”
CHOOSE A
Side A is for you if…
- 01You fly regularly and value the $100 airline incidental credit plus Global Entry/TSA PreCheck reimbursement—these benefits alone nearly cover the annual fee
- 02You dine out at least $300+ monthly and want 2x points consistently without category limits
- 03You're a Bank of America customer eligible for Preferred Rewards, which adds 25-75% point multipliers on top of existing rewards
- 04You prioritize premium travel protection and don't need rewards on grocery or gas purchases
CHOOSE B
Side B is for you if…
- 01You spend regularly at supermarkets and gas stations—3x points here versus 1.5x on Bank of America creates meaningful value
- 02You prefer a single versatile card rather than maximizing specific categories; five bonus categories provide more flexibility
- 03You value hotel stays with the $100 annual hotel savings benefit and want 3x points on hotel bookings
- 04You're not a frequent flyer but appreciate the ability to transfer points to 15+ airline partners for eventual redemption
THE LEDGER
Side by side.
- ISSUER
- Bank of America
- Citi
- NETWORK
- Visa
- Mastercard
- ANNUAL FEE
- $95
- $95
- APR RANGE
- 19.24% – 29.24%
- 21.24% – 29.24%
- INTRO APR (PURCHASES)
- None
- None
- INTRO APR (BALANCE TRANSFERS)
- None
- None
- REWARDS TYPE
- points
- points
- REWARDS RATE
- 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases
- 1x ThankYou points on all purchases
- SIGN-UP BONUS
- 60,000 points
- 60,000 points
- BONUS VALUE
- $600
- $600
- MIN. CREDIT SCORE
- 700+
- 700+
- FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE
- None
- None
A HIGHLIGHTS
Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card
- —2 points per dollar on travel and dining
- —Up to $100 airline incidental statement credit
- —Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
- —Preferred Rewards members earn 25-75% more points
- —No foreign transaction fees
B HIGHLIGHTS
Citi Premier Card
- —3x points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas, air travel, and hotels
- —Transfer ThankYou Points to 15+ airline partners
- —No foreign transaction fees
- —$100 annual hotel savings benefit
- —Citi Entertainment access
QUESTIONS · ANSWERS
Frequently filed.
Bank of America wins with 1.5x points on all purchases versus Citi's 1x. If you don't consistently hit bonus categories, Bank of America's baseline rewards are 50% stronger. This matters if you spend outside travel, dining, groceries, and gas.