Bank of America Customized Cash vs. Blue Cash Everyday: When Blue Is Better
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The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offer the same big draws: bonus rewards on groceries and gas, similar 0% introductory APR periods and welcome offers for new cardholders, and no annual fee.
With this in mind, which card you should choose depends less on those features and more on where you bank.
on Bank of America's website
on American Express' website
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms Apply.
3% cash back on the category of your choice, from a list (including gas/EV charging; online shopping, including cable, streaming, internet and phone plans; dining; travel; drugstores; or home improvement/furnishings), and 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on up to $2,500 per quarter in combined spending; 1% cash back on all other purchases.
3% back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 spent per year.*
3% back at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 spent per year.
3% back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 spent per year.
1% back on other purchases.
(terms apply — see rates and fees).
Higher reward rates are possible through the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program. (See below for more.)
None.
None.
Home Chef: A $180 credit for this meal kit delivery service, in the form of a monthly $15 statement credit.
The Disney Bundle: An $84 credit for this streaming subscription which includes Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+, in the form of a $7 monthly statement credit.
Terms apply.
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 18.74%-28.74% will apply.
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-29.49% Variable APR. Terms apply.
What's the same for both
An annual fee of $0.
Bonus rewards for spending on groceries and gas (see below for specifics).
The welcome offers for new cardholders are comparable.
Both require good to excellent credit for approval (learn about the range of credit scores, or get your free credit score on NerdWallet).
Rewards rate
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 a year in spending, then 1%) and 1% on all other purchases (terms apply — see rates and fees).
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: 3% cash back on the category of your choice (including gas/EV charging; online shopping, including cable, streaming, internet and phone plans; dining; travel; drugstores; or home improvement/furnishings) and 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on up to $2,500 per quarter in combined spending; 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Which is better?
If you spend a big chunk of your budget on groceries, you’ll probably earn more rewards with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. While both cards impose spending caps on popular categories, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express earns 3% (up to $6,000 spent) on groceries, whereas the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card tops out at 2%.
There are some important caveats here, though. For one thing, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card offers far more customization, so it might be the better choice if your budget is unpredictable from month to month, and if you're a relatively low spender generally. Plus, if you're already a Bank of America® customer, you could come out significantly ahead because of loyalty bonuses available on the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card.
If you have at least $20,000 in combined balances in eligible Bank of America® or Merrill accounts, you could earn higher reward rates through the Preferred Rewards program. For combined balances of at least $20,000, the bonus is 25%; when balances reach $50,000, the bonus bumps to 50%; and balances of $100,000 or more get you a 75% bonus.
Bonus for new cardholders
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms Apply.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Which is better?
It's a draw.
Interest rates
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-29.49% Variable APR.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: 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 18.74%-28.74% will apply.
Which is better?
Interest rates and introductory APR offers can change frequently. Choose the one that fits your goals.
If you're looking to save money on existing debt, you should know that some of the best balance transfer cards may offer a $0 balance transfer fee or a lengthier interest-free period than either of these cards.
Extra statement credits
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express:
Home Chef: A $180 credit for this meal kit delivery service, in the form of a monthly $15 statement credit.
The Disney Bundle: An $84 credit for this streaming subscription which includes Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+, in the form of a $7 monthly statement credit.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card:
None.
Which should you get?
If you're not a Bank of America® customer: For most people, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express will deliver more rewards than the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card.
If you qualify for Bank of America Preferred Rewards®: The bonuses for those with big account balances can supercharge your rewards, earning effective rates as high as 5.25% for gas (or your preferred choice in that category) and 3.5% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
Find the right credit card for you.
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