Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students review: A strong choice for young travelers

Written by: Tim Devaney
• Updated •2 min read
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In a Nutshell

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students is a great option for anyone studying abroad or planning a summer vacation or spring break trip. You can earn a sign-up bonus that’s unparalleled for a student card, and you can redeem rewards points for a number of different travel expenses. You might be able to find a better travel credit card after you graduate, but this one might be your best bet while in school.
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The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students can help you build credit

Typically, students don’t have enough credit history qualify for traditional credit cards. At the same time, students have to build their credit somehow — and it’s often easiest to do so with a credit card. It’s a Catch-22 that baffles many young adults.

Thankfully, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students is among several credit cards designed for students who want to build credit. These cards give students who qualify a chance to demonstrate they are responsible with the money they borrow.

If you’ve never had a credit card or been an authorized user, and have little to no credit history, you might get a lower credit limit than if you have some sort of positive credit history to show. Similarly, students with a negative credit history may struggle to get approved for any credit card.

Understanding your points and redemption options

The points you earn through the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students can be redeemed for travel, cash back or gift cards. Additionally, your points won’t expire as long as you keep your account open and in good standing.

When you redeem your points for travel, they’re worth 1 cent each. But your points are worth less than a cent (6/10th of a cent to be exact) when you redeem for cash back. The value you’ll receive for gift card redemptions varies, but it may also be less than 1 cent.

Redeeming your points for travel is likely to give you both the best value and flexibility. There are no limits on specific partners or blackout dates, so you can redeem for all kinds of different trips and travel expenses.

Plus, if you book a trip and don’t redeem your points right away, Bank of America allows you to request the redemption up to 12 months after the purchase posts to your account.

Who this card is good for

The name doesn’t lie — the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students is great for students who plan to travel.

Whether you’re studying abroad, taking a summer vacation or letting loose on spring break, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students can help you pay for your next trip.

You’ll also save money on foreign transaction fees if your trip takes you overseas.

Plus, there’s no pesky annual fee to worry about.

About the author: Tim Devaney is a personal finance writer and credit card expert at Credit Karma. He’s a longtime journalist who prides himself on being a good storyteller who can explain complex information in an easily digestible wa… Read more.