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Maximize Your Cash Back With Enhanced 3% Categories

by Wise Bread Staff - Last updated Aug 31, 2023

Curated by Wise Bread Team

Customers changed their spending habits and Bank of America responded. 

Significant Enhancements Make This Fantastic Card Even Better.

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card has always been a great deal. We’ve always liked this no annual fee card’s $200 online cash rewards bonus and low Intro APR offers. But with the launch of the new enhanced cash back categories, this card has reached a whole new level, offering even more ways to maximize your cash back.

Earning the $200 online cash rewards bonus is fairly easy – simply make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of opening the account.

NEW

Bank of America enhanced 3% cash back options based on customer feedback

 Gas now includes:
  • Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) Stations

You now have more choices than ever for your 3% cash back categories. This is one of the best feature updates we've seen this year! 

 Online Shopping now includes:
  • Cable
  • Streaming (such as Netflix, Spotify)
  • Internet
  • Phone Plans (land lines and mobile)

This card also offers a generous 3% cash back in the category of your choice and 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.

You can choose from one of the following 6 categories:

  • Gas / EV Charging Stations
  • Drug Stores / Pharmacies
  • Home Improvement / Furnishings
  • Travel
  • Online Shopping & More
  • Dining
Gas / EV Charging Stations
Drug Stores / Pharmacies
Home Improvement / Furnishings
Travel
Online Shopping & More
Dining

You choose the category you want to get 3% cash back for, and it stays on that category until you change it. You can change the category once per calendar month. Unlike some other high cash back cards, there is no monthly activation required, and the categories don’t rotate. 

Why We’re Excited About the Enhanced Categories

The 3% for online shopping is already a crowd favorite, as most of us are buying more things online. Bank of America made this category even better by expanding the online shopping category to include cable, streaming, internet, and phone plans (land lines and mobile). This is a big upgrade considering:

  • The average cable package costs $217 per month.
  • 60% of American households subscribe to four or more streaming services.
  • The average cell phone bill is now $144.
  • Americans pay an average of $64 a month on Internet.

If you are spending a lot in these areas, this new enhanced 3% online shopping category can save you a bundle. 

Another nice enhancement is the addition of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations to the 3% gas category.  Now you can save money on fuel regardless of the type of car you drive.

The beauty of this card is its flexibility – and these recent enhancements have made this card more versatile than ever. This card is ready to take on whatever you want to tackle. 

Bank of America Actively Listening to its Customers

Bank of America made these category expansion based on input from its customers, the bank said in a statement.

“We are constantly looking for ways to enhance our products to align with our clients’ needs and have observed growing demand for electric vehicle charging and streaming services,” said Jason Gaughan, Head of Consumer Credit Card Products at Bank of America. "We're thrilled to introduce these new additions to our Customized Cash Rewards product and to offer our clients more ways to maximize rewards based on their own personal spending habits.” 

Bank of America saw a 44% growth in electric vehicle charging transactions during the first half of 2023. The bank also observed that 65% of active Customized Cash Rewards cardholders have used their card to pay for cable, streaming, internet, and phone plans.

Who Should Get This Card

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards is a great fit for most people — who doesn’t love an extra $200 in their pocket, solid Intro APR deals, and no annual fee?

The high 3% cash back on so many categories is unusually generous for a no annual fee credit card. 

This combination of features is too good to pass up. Click here to learn more about this card today.

Apply Now
at Bank of America's secure site
Apply Now
at Bank of America's secure site