Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

This device is too small

If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.

Skip to main content

Bank of America Credit Cards vs. Chase: Big Banks Mean Many Options

Updated
Ashley Maready
Nathan Alderman
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

If you're in the market for a new credit card to help you earn cash back, points for travel, or even a higher credit score, you've got a wide choice of issuers. Bank of America and Chase are two of the bigger banking names in the credit card business. Let's take a closer look at some of the best credit cards offered by these two issuers to see which might be a better fit for you.

As of Dec. 26, 2024
Image for
Image for
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening

$200 cash back

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Up to $300 cash back

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. 3% cash back in the category of your choice, 2% at at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases, 1% on all other purchases.

1% - 3% cash back

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases

1.5% - 5% cash back

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Regular APR:

18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Regular APR:

19.74% - 28.49% Variable

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual Fee:

$0

Highlights:

  • $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
  • Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
  • No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.49% - 28.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Highlights:

  • INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
  • Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
  • After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC
Show More Arrow graphic to expand and collapse content Show Less Arrow graphic to expand and collapse content

Why Bank of America might be the ideal choice

I initially started with Bank of America's credit cards because I had a long-standing banking relationship with it, and I was intrigued by its card options. If you're more of a cash back card fan (as opposed to interested in rewards points and maximizing their value), Bank of America credit cards are worth exploring further.

When Chase could be the better option

If you're a world traveler (or want to be), you'll likely find a lot more value in Chase's credit card options than you will from Bank of America's -- especially since some of Chase's cash back cards earn it as Ultimate Rewards points that can be redeemed for travel.

In fact, the reason people like to build a Chase Trifecta (opening three Chase cards) is because its cards play together so well. If you like the idea of developing a multi-card strategy that can help you maximize your rewards and see the world, Chase cards are worth considering.

Bank of America vs. Chase cash back credit cards comparison

Cash back credit cards are the most popular type among Americans, according to credit card research from Motley Fool Money. This isn't surprising, since using one of these cards and paying off the balance monthly can lead to cheaper credit card bills as you earn cash and redeem it for statement credits. Let's take a closer look at one of Bank of America and Chase's best cash back options.

Bank of America cash back credit cards

Of the two cards I'm discussing in this section, I've had this one for longer, and it definitely sweetens my long-term (more than two decades) banking relationship with Bank of America. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card earns cash rewards on your spending, but it does it in a unique way. This card has six 3% bonus categories that you can change as often as monthly if you like:

  1. Gas and EV charging
  2. Online shopping (including internet, streaming, and cellphone service)
  3. Dining
  4. Travel
  5. Drugstores/pharmacies
  6. Home improvement/furnishings

In addition to these rotating bonus categories, you'll also earn 2% cash rewards at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, like Costco, and 1% across the board otherwise. This card has no annual fee, and its welcome bonus is in the form of $200 cash back if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days with the card.

Chase cash back credit cards

The simpler of Chase's two biggest-name cash back cards is the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. (Its counterpart, the Chase Freedom Flex®, is also an excellent card -- its rotating 5% bonus categories make it slightly more complicated to manage.) This card earns cash back, but it comes to you in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are one of the most useful credit card "currencies" out there.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns at least 1.5% back across your purchases, with a few bonuses thrown in, including:

  • Travel booked through Chase: 5%
  • Dining: 3%
  • Drugstores: 3%
  • Other travel bookings: 2%

And these rates are even more impressive when you consider that this Chase card has no annual fee. The welcome bonus has you earning an additional 1.5% on top of the flat and bonus rates for your first year, on up to $20,000 -- that could be worth as much as $300. Not bad!

Winner: Tie

These are both excellent options. Either of these cards (and therefore, either Bank of America or Chase) could be a great fit for nearly anybody, thanks to useful bonus categories.

Bank of America vs. Chase travel rewards credit cards comparison

One of the best ways to use credit cards is to help defray the significant costs of travel. Both Bank of America and Chase offer travel card options -- might one of them be right for you?

As of Dec. 26, 2024
Image for
Image for
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

25,000 points

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

1.5 points per dollar

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR:

18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Regular APR:

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual Fee:

$95

Highlights:

  • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
  • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
  • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.49% - 28.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Highlights:

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • Member FDIC
Show More Arrow graphic to expand and collapse content Show Less Arrow graphic to expand and collapse content

Bank of America travel credit cards

My first-ever travel rewards credit card was the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card. It's a much more straightforward travel credit card than many options out there. It earns 1.5 points per $1 across your purchases, and you can then redeem those points for statement credits to defray the cost of dining and travel expenses, like hotel stays.

It doesn't come with an annual fee, and you also won't pay foreign transaction fees. Spend $1,000 in the first 90 days, and 25,000 points can be yours as a welcome bonus -- these are worth $250 in travel costs.

Chase travel credit cards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great option for those who want to get serious about credit card points (and have a card to use for international travel -- no foreign transaction fees here either). This is the cheaper of the two cards in Chase's Sapphire line -- its Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns points at a different rate and it comes with more perks, but it also comes with a whopping $550 annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card will cost you $95 per year, but you can easily rack up Chase Ultimate Rewards points with these rates:

  • 5X points on travel purchased through Chase
  • 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
  • 2X points on other travel bookings
  • 1X points on other purchases

Plus, this Chase card has a bevy of partner deals for you to enjoy -- my personal favorite has been the free year of DoorDash DashPass (you have to activate this by Dec. 31, 2027). The welcome bonus isn't too shabby either -- you can earn 60,000 bonus points in exchange for spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months with the card. This is worth up to $750 in Chase Travel℠ value if you use it to book travel through Chase.

Speaking of those Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer them to Chase's list of travel partners (including many airlines) and usually get an even higher value for them.

Winner: Chase

The utility of Chase Ultimate Rewards points (and the ability to earn scads of them with bonus category spending and a welcome bonus) gives the gold medal to Chase for this category.

Bank of America vs. Chase starter credit cards comparison

We've all gotta start somewhere, and big credit card issuers often have a few options for those new to credit (or rebuilding credit). Here's an overview of starter cards from Bank of America and Chase.

As of Dec. 26, 2024
Image for
Image for
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students Chase Freedom Rise®
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)

Good (670-850)

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening

$200 cash back

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account. With automatic payments, just pick a date and dollar amount to make sure your Credit Card gets paid on time.

$25 statement credit

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. 3% cash back in the category of your choice, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases, and 1% on all other purchases.

1% - 3% cash back

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. With Chase Freedom Rise®, you can start building credit while earning 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.

1.5% cash back offer.

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Intro APR:

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR:

18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Regular APR:

26.24%

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual Fee:

$0

Highlights:

  • $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
  • Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
  • No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.49% - 28.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • When handled responsibly, a credit card can help you build your credit history, which could be helpful when looking for an apartment, a car loan, and even a job. Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Highlights:

  • Increase your approval chances - Having a Chase checking or savings account with a balance of at least $250 will increase your chances of getting approved for Chase Freedom Rise®
  • Earn Cash Back - With Chase Freedom Rise®, you can start building credit while earning 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.
  • Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account. With automatic payments, just pick a date and dollar amount to make sure your Credit Card gets paid on time.
  • Credit Limit Increase - As a Freedom Rise cardmember, you'll be evaluated for a credit line increase in as soon as 6 months. Your credit line is the maximum amount of money you can spend on your Freedom Rise® Card
  • Free Credit Score - Track your credit score and learn how to build it with Chase Credit Journey.
  • No Annual Fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Rise® card.
  • Member FDIC
Show More Arrow graphic to expand and collapse content Show Less Arrow graphic to expand and collapse content

Information for this credit card has not been provided by the issuer.

Bank of America starter credit cards

If you're new to using credit cards and happen to be an enrolled student, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students should be on your radar. This card has features in common with the version I discussed above (including the same six bonus categories that you can change every month), but since it's marketed to students, you're likely to get a lower credit limit. The welcome bonus has the same terms, as well. This is an excellent option for students wanting to learn how to use credit cards to benefit their finances.

Chase starter credit cards

I discussed Chase's Freedom cards above -- thankfully, there's also an option for those new to credit. It's called the Chase Freedom Rise®, and it makes it easy to build credit for the first time -- plus, you don't have to be a student to qualify. Having at least $250 in a Chase bank account can help with approval, however. Don't expect to start out with a high credit limit, but over time, yours will likely increase -- provided you're making your payments on time and using your credit line responsibly.

This Chase card earns a flat rate of 1.5% cash back across purchases, which is decent indeed -- especially for no annual fee. And you can qualify for a $25 statement credit if you sign up for automatic payments within three months of opening the account. All in all, it's a good option for first-time credit card users.

Winner: Tie

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students offers the potential for more cash back -- but you need to be a student to qualify. The 1.5% cash back offered by the Chase Freedom Rise® is an attractive prospect too, and you don't have to be a student to get it.

Final take

You really can't go wrong with opening credit card accounts with either Bank of America or Chase. I think Chase has the edge over Bank of America for travel. But if you've already got a banking relationship with Bank of America and keep enough cash with it to be a Preferred Rewards member, its credit cards will be even more valuable for you.

Ultimately, the choice between Bank of America vs. Chase credit cards is yours to make -- and now you've got more information to make the decision.