The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card is the best overall gas card for most new applicants in 2026. With gas and EV charging selected as the category choice, it earns 6% during the first year and 3% afterward. BofA Rewards can raise the ongoing rate to 3.3%–5.25%, depending on tier. A shared $2,500 quarterly spend cap applies.
It also rewards qualifying automated fuel dispensers, including warehouse-club pumps when they post under an eligible merchant code.
Citi Custom Cash was previously a leading gas card because it offered 5% cash back on up to $500 in the cardholder’s highest eligible spending category each billing cycle. However, Citi stopped accepting new applications on May 28, 2026. (Citi)
How leading gas credit cards compare in 2026
The table below compares cards currently available to qualifying new applicants based on their first-year return, ongoing return, and the condition most likely to determine which card wins.
| Card | Gas and EV rewards | Rewards cap | Best use | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card | 6% during the first year; 3% afterward; 3.3%–5.25% ongoing with BofA Rewards | $2,500 quarterly spend caps shared among the selected category, grocery and wholesale-club purchases; purchases above each quarterly cap earn 1% | Best overall; first-year value; BofA Rewards members; qualifying warehouse-club pumps | Gas and EV charging must be selected; shared quarterly spend cap |
| Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi | 5% at Costco gas; 4% on other eligible gas and EV charging | First $7,000 in combined annual gas and EV-charging purchases; then 1% | Costco members who spend below the cap after the BofA card’s first year | Membership required; rewards are issued through an annual certificate |
| Sam’s Club Mastercard | 5% on qualifying gas and EV charging | First $6,000 in spend per calendar year; then 1% | Sam's Club members who spend below the cap after the BofA card’s first year | Membership required |
| AAA Travel Advantage Visa Signature Credit Card | 5% at qualifying traditional standalone gas and EV locations | First $7,000 in qualifying gas and EV-charging purchases per calendar year; then 1% | An ongoing 5% rate without a warehouse-club membership | Fuel purchased at warehouse clubs, supermarkets and superstores does not qualify for the 5% gas rate. |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Card | Unlimited 3X points at gas and EV-charging stations | No rewards cap | High gas spending; travelers who get more than 1 cent per point | At a cash value of 1 cent per point, 3X is only a 3% return; earning more hinges on getting higher value from travel redemptions. |
| Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express | 3% at eligible U.S. gas stations | First $6,000 in spend per calendar year; then 1% | A separate gas-category cap | Fuel purchased at warehouse clubs, supermarkets and superstores does not qualify for the 3% gas rate. |
Rewards eligibility is subject to each issuer’s current category definitions.
Customized Cash Rewards rates by BofA Rewards tier
With gas and EV charging selected, BofA Rewards can boost the Customized Cash Rewards card’s gas rate to 6.3%–8.25% during the first year and 3.3%–5.25% thereafter. The tier bonus applies to the standard 3% rate, while the separate additional 3% first-year promotional cash back is added afterward.
| BofA Rewards tier | First-year gas/EV rate | Ongoing gas/EV rate | Rewards bonus | Qualifying balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | 6.3% | 3.3% | 10% | No minimum balance |
| Preferred Plus | 6.75% | 3.75% | 25% | $30,000+ |
| Preferred Honors | 7.5% | 4.5% | 50% | $100,000+ |
| Premier | 8.25% | 5.25% | 75% | $1 million+ |
BofA Rewards replaced Preferred Rewards on May 27, 2026, so some older sources may use the former program and tier names. Tiers are based on qualifying combined average balances in eligible Bank of America deposit and Merrill investment accounts, and an eligible Bank of America personal checking account is required to enroll. The first-year rates are Wise Bread calculations based on issuer terms: the applicable tier bonus applies to the standard 3% selected-category rate, but not to the separate additional 3% first-year promotional cash back. The shared $2,500 quarterly bonus-category spend limit still applies.
First-year cash back on $3,000 of gas spending
On $3,000 in eligible annual gas spending, a 5% gas card would earn $150 and a 3% gas card would earn $90. The Customized Cash Rewards card would earn $180 to $247.50 during the first year, depending on the BofA Rewards tier.
| BofA Rewards status | First-year gas rate | Cash back on $3,000 | Extra cash back vs. a 5% card |
|---|---|---|---|
| No BofA Rewards bonus | 6.00% | $180.00 | +$30.00 |
| Member | 6.30% | $189.00 | +$39.00 |
| Preferred Plus | 6.75% | $202.50 | +$52.50 |
| Preferred Honors | 7.50% | $225.00 | +$75.00 |
| Premier | 8.25% | $247.50 | +$97.50 |
Assumes $3,000 of eligible gas spending is spread evenly across the year, and no other purchases use the card’s shared $2,500 quarterly bonus-category spend cap.
Can you use the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card at Costco Gas?
Yes. U.S. Costco Gas stations accept Visa, and the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card is a Visa. Because Bank of America includes automated fuel dispensers in its gas and EV-charging category, Costco Gas purchases coded that way can earn the card’s selected-category rate.
Does Costco Gas (MCC 5542) earn 3% cash back with the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card?
Yes. In Wise Bread’s August 2026 test, my Costco Gas purchase posted as “Automated Fuel Dispensers” (MCC 5542) and earned the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card’s 3% Gas Choice Category rate. The $77.15 purchase ultimately earned $5.83 — an effective 7.5% cash back with my first-year bonus and 50% BofA Rewards relationship bonus at the Preferred Honors tier.
The rewards record confirms the result: BofA awarded the purchase its gas and EV charging station category bonus. This Costco Gas purchase qualified for the Customized Cash Rewards card’s 3% Gas Choice Category rate — not as a warehouse club purchase.
Here’s how my Costco Gas purchase earned 7.5% cash back:
| Rewards component | Cash-back rate | Rewards earned |
|---|---|---|
| Base rewards | 1% | $0.78 |
| Gas Choice Category bonus | +2% | $1.55 |
| First-year Choice Category bonus | +3% | $2.33 |
| BofA relationship bonus (50% of regular 3%) | +1.5% | $1.17 |
| Total cash back | 7.5% | $5.83 |
The takeaway for Costco shoppers: Our test provides direct evidence that Costco Gas can code as an automated fuel dispenser (MCC 5542) and earn the BofA Customized Cash Rewards card’s elevated gas rate, with eligible promotional and relationship rewards layered on top. Merchant coding can vary by location or transaction, so the same result isn't guaranteed at every Costco Gas station.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards vs. Costco Anywhere Visa at Costco Gas
| Card comparison scenario | Customized Cash Rewards rate | Costco Anywhere Visa rate | Recommended card |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year, no BofA Rewards | 6% | 5% | BofA Customized Cash Rewards |
| First year, enrolled in BofA Rewards | 6.3%–8.25% | 5% | BofA Customized Cash Rewards |
| After year one, not in the BofA Rewards Premier tier | 3%–4.5% | 5% | Costco Anywhere Visa |
| After year one, in the BofA Rewards Premier tier | 5.25% | 5% | BofA Customized Cash Rewards |
| After Costco card’s $7,000 annual gas/EV spend cap | 3%–5.25%, if quarterly capacity remains | 1% | BofA Customized Cash Rewards |
The Customized Cash Rewards card provides faster access to cash back. Eligible statement-credit or deposit redemptions are available without waiting for the Costco card’s annual cash-back certificate, which is issued after the February statement closes.
Bottom line: The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card is the better card at Costco Gas during its first year, for BofA Rewards Premier members on an ongoing basis, and after the Costco card reaches its annual gas-and-EV spend cap. Below both caps after year one, the Costco Anywhere Visa generally wins for cardholders who are not in the BofA Rewards Premier tier.
Is Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards better for Sam’s Club gas?
Yes. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card can beat the Sam’s Club Mastercard during its first year, for BofA Rewards Premier members after year one, and after the Sam’s Club card reaches its $6,000 annual gas-and-EV spend cap. Below both caps after year one, Sam’s Club generally wins for cardholders below the BofA Rewards Premier tier.
Sam’s Club accepts Visa and other major U.S.-issued credit cards, so members are not required to use the Sam’s Club Mastercard. The card earns 5% back in Sam’s Cash on the first $6,000 in qualifying gas and EV-charging purchases each calendar year, then 1%.
| Card comparison scenario | Customized Cash Rewards rate | Sam’s Club Mastercard rate | Recommended card |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year, no BofA Rewards | 6% | 5% | BofA Customized Cash Rewards |
| First year, enrolled in BofA Rewards | 6.3%–8.25% | 5% | BofA Customized Cash Rewards |
| After year one, below both spend caps and below Premier | 3%–4.5% | 5% | Sam’s Club Mastercard |
| After year one, BofA Rewards Premier | 5.25% | 5% | BofA Customized Cash Rewards |
| After the Sam’s Club Mastercard’s $6,000 annual gas-and-EV spend cap | 3%–5.25%, if quarterly capacity remains | 1% | BofA Customized Cash Rewards |
Customized Cash Rewards rates assume gas and EV charging is selected and capacity remains under the card’s shared $2,500 quarterly bonus-category spend cap.
Unlike the Costco card, the Sam’s Club Mastercard does not make cardholders wait for a single annual rewards certificate. Sam’s Cash earned through the card is made available according to the billing cycle.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards vs. Wells Fargo Autograph and Blue Cash Everyday
For drivers who aren’t choosing a warehouse-club credit card, the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express are two commonly recommended gas-rewards alternatives. Their baseline gas rewards—3X points or 3% cash back—make them useful benchmarks for the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card’s 6% first-year rate and 3% to 5.25% ongoing range.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards vs. Wells Fargo Autograph
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card earns unlimited 3X points at gas stations. At a cash value of 1 cent per point, that equals a 3% return. Cardholders can transfer points to select travel loyalty programs, but any value above 1 cent per point depends on the specific award redemption.
For straightforward cash back, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card wins during its first year; after the first year, it is still the better card for cardholders in every BofA Rewards tier while quarterly bonus capacity remains. Even the Member tier raises the ongoing gas rate to 3.3%. Autograph’s clearest advantage is its unlimited 3X earning, which can make it the better option for additional gas spending after the Customized Cash Rewards card reaches its shared $2,500 quarterly spend limit.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards vs. Blue Cash Everyday
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card earns 3% cash back on the first $6,000 in spend per calendar year at eligible U.S. gas stations, then 1%. The phrase “eligible U.S. gas stations” is the critical restriction: American Express says superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline are not considered gas stations. It specifically lists Target and Walmart as examples where fuel purchases do not earn additional gas rewards, leaving cardholders with the card’s base 1% rate instead of 3%.
By contrast, Bank of America expressly includes qualifying automated fuel dispensers in its gas and EV-charging category, subject to merchant coding. That gives the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card access to its selected-category rate at qualifying warehouse-club pumps that Blue Cash Everyday excludes. Customized Cash Rewards also wins during its first year and at every BofA Rewards tier while quarterly capacity remains. Blue Cash Everyday’s narrower advantage is as a 3% fallback after the Customized Cash Rewards card reaches its shared quarterly spend cap.
Why the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best overall gas card in 2026
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card is the best overall gas card for most new applicants in 2026. No other card in this comparison combines a 6% first-year gas rate, coverage at qualifying warehouse-club pumps, monthly category flexibility, and a 5.25% ongoing gas rate for BofA Rewards Premier members within the shared quarterly spend cap.
Another card can be better in narrow cases. After the first year, the Costco Anywhere Visa or Sam’s Club Mastercard generally wins at its respective warehouse club for cardholders who are not in the BofA Rewards Premier tier and remain below the club card’s annual gas spend cap. AAA Travel Advantage offers 5% at qualifying standalone gas stations and EV-charging locations, up to $350 cash back annually. After Customized Cash Rewards reaches its shared quarterly spend cap, Wells Fargo Autograph’s unlimited 3X or Blue Cash Everyday’s 3% at eligible U.S. gas stations may earn more on additional gas spending. Those are narrow exceptions; the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card is a stronger overall package for most new applicants.
