Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students Review

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Pros

Good for students who need to build credit
Sign-up bonus is unparalleled among student credit cards
Competitive rewards rate for everyday spending
No foreign transaction fees
No annual fee

Cons

High ongoing purchase APR after promotion ends could catch you off guard
Missed payments can cost you

From our partner

Offer Terms
Annual Fee	Intro Purchase APR	Intro Balance Transfer APR	Regular Purchase APR	Regular Balance Transfer APR
$0	0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases	See Terms*	18.74% – 28.74% Variable APR on purchases	18.74% – 28.74% Variable APR on balance transfers

Offer Terms
Annual Fee
$0
Intro Purchase APR
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
Intro Balance Transfer APR
See Terms*
Regular Purchase APR
18.74% – 28.74% Variable APR on purchases
Regular Balance Transfer APR
18.74% – 28.74% Variable APR on balance transfers

Additional Rates and Fees

Cash Advance Rate	See Terms*
Cash Advance Fee	See Terms*
Late Fee	See Terms*
Penalty APR	up to 29.99% APR
Balance Transfer Fee	3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%
Foreign Transaction Fee	$0
Return Payment Fee	See Terms*

Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
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. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
When handled responsibly, a credit card can help you build your credit history, which could be helpful when looking for an apartment, a car loan, and even a job. Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

^*See the online provider's credit card application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However, all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button, you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the provider's website.

See details, rates & fees

3 things you should know about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students

1. It 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.

2. The intro 0% APR offer could help pay for emergencies

It’s always a good idea to pay your credit card bill in full (and on time) every month.

But sometimes emergencies come up, and not everyone can rely on their parents to take care of the problem.

That’s when the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students could come in handy. It features an introductory 0% APR on purchases during the first 15 billing cycles after opening the account.

If you do pay for an emergency with your credit card, it’s important you pay it off as quickly as possible, because your APR will go up significantly after the promotional period ends — you’ll pay a variable purchase APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.

The card also offers 0% APR on any balance transfers made within 60 days for 15 billing cycles from account opening. Balance transfers come with a fee: 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%. And after the intro period ends, the regular variable balance transfer APR goes up to 18.74% - 28.74%.

3. You can get a lot out of the travel rewards

College students who study abroad could find a lot to love with this card.

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students comes with a sign-up bonus of 25,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases during the first 90 days after opening the account. That’s the best we’ve seen for a student credit card, and it comes with no annual fee.

We certainly don’t want to encourage you to spend more than you normally would just to earn the sign-up bonus, but there’s a good chance you’re already facing some big expenses if you plan to study abroad or take a vacation.

You’ll also earn 1.5 points for each $1 you spend on everyday purchases.

You can use the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students as you normally would while you’re out of the country because it doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees.

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.

Not sure this card is right for you? Consider these alternatives.

Students may have more options than they realize when it comes to opening a credit card.

Discover it® Student Cash Back: This card is a nice choice for students who want to build credit.
Discover it® Student Chrome: This card could be the right choice for students who commute to their classes.

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.

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

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Pros

Cons