The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card is most useful when one of its six selectable categories matches your regular spending—and you can keep combined bonus-category purchases within its $2,500 quarterly cap. It currently offers 6% in the selected category for the first year, then 3%, alongside 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1% on other purchases. The 6% offer is not unlimited: selected-category and grocery/wholesale-club purchases share the same cap.
How the rewards work
The card’s standard rates are 3% in one category you choose, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 1% on other purchases. For the first year after account opening, the issuer advertises an extra 3 percentage points in the selected category, bringing that category to 6% during the promotional period.
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The selected-category and grocery/wholesale-club bonuses share a $2,500 combined purchase cap per calendar quarter. Once eligible combined purchases reach that limit, additional purchases in those categories earn 1%. The first-year 6% rate is subject to the same cap.
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That shared cap affects the card’s practical value. For example, grocery spending uses part of the same quarterly allowance as the chosen category. A cardholder who reaches the cap early should not expect the bonus rate to continue on later eligible purchases that quarter.
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Which categories can you choose?
You can select one category at a time from these six:
- Gas and EV charging stations
- Online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming
- Dining
- Travel
- Drug stores and pharmacies
- Home improvement and furnishings
The current default is Gas & EV Charging Stations until you make a selection. You can change the selection once per calendar month through Bank of America Online Banking or its mobile app. If you do not update it, your existing selection stays in place.
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- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
What to check before choosing a category
Monthly changes require some attention
The category is flexible, but it is not selected transaction by transaction. Consider which category is likely to cover the most spending over the coming month, and remember to change it when your plans shift. The option is less convenient if you want rewards to adapt automatically to each purchase.
Merchant coding determines eligibility
Bank of America says merchants are classified using merchant category codes based on the products or services they primarily sell. A transaction’s label in your budget—or what you personally consider an online, travel or dining purchase—does not guarantee that it will qualify for the corresponding bonus. Check the issuer’s current card terms for the applicable category rules.
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Current offer and account terms
As listed on Bank of America’s consumer product page when accessed in 2026, the card has a $0 annual fee and a $200 online cash-rewards bonus after at least $1,000 in purchases during the first 90 days after account opening. The page also lists a 0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles on purchases and on qualifying balance transfers made within the first 60 days. After that period, the listed variable APR is 17.49%–27.49%.
The listed balance-transfer fee is 3% for transfers made during the first 60 days and 5% thereafter. Offers and rates can change; the application disclosure at the time you apply controls. The issuer announced the enhanced first-year offer in its May 16, 2025 newsroom release, but check the live application terms rather than relying on an earlier offer.
A 0% introductory APR is a financing term, not a reason to carry a balance beyond the promotional period. Before transferring a balance, compare the transfer fee with the interest you expect to avoid and check the eligible-transfer deadline and repayment terms in the application disclosure.
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The issuer says rewards can be redeemed in any amount at any time. Options include a statement credit, a deposit to an eligible Bank of America checking or savings account, an eligible Merrill account credit, and eligible purchases through Amazon.com or PayPal. Rewards do not expire while the card account remains open.
Best Value
Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards page displays conditional tier examples that raise the card’s rates: the selected category can reach 5.25%, grocery stores and wholesale clubs 3.5%, and other purchases 1.75%. These figures depend on Preferred Rewards eligibility and are separate from the card’s standard rates and its first-year promotional increase. Confirm the live program requirements and terms before using a tier rate to estimate your own return.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who is this card a good fit for?
The card is worth considering if you can identify a dependable monthly spending category, value the option to change it, and are comfortable tracking the shared quarterly cap. The first-year selected-category rate can be attractive for planned spending that falls within the cap; after the first year, evaluate the card using its standard 3%, 2% and 1% structure.
It is less compelling if your spending is spread across several categories, you prefer not to manage a monthly selection, or your combined eligible purchases regularly exceed the quarterly cap. To compare it with another cash-back card, calculate your own expected annual spending in the six selectable categories and at grocery stores or wholesale clubs, then account for the cap, any applicable Preferred Rewards tier, annual fee, introductory offer and APR terms. No single reward rate determines which card will return more for every household.
Verdict
Customized Cash Rewards offers meaningful category flexibility, but its best rate is bounded by a shared quarterly cap and requires occasional account management. It is a stronger match for someone whose recurring spending fits one selectable category and who will use the monthly change option; the standard post-promotion rates and capped bonuses matter more than the headline first-year 6% when judging its longer-term fit.
Quick Recap
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