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Amex Gold vs Bank of America Premium Rewards: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The American Express® Gold Card is a premium card for foodies and travelers, offering high reward rates on dining, groceries at U.S. supermarkets, and flights.
- The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card is a strong choice for earning simple, flat-rate rewards on travel, dining, and all other everyday spending.
American Express® Gold Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a breakdown of what makes the American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) a top choice for foodies and travelers alike.
- The card earns high rewards on everyday spending at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. Terms Apply.
- Travelers benefit from bonus rewards on flights and comprehensive travel perks. Terms Apply.
- Points are flexible and can be redeemed in various ways, and you can choose between a classic gold or rose gold design. Terms Apply.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Pros
- Excellent rewards for foodies and travelers, with high earning rates at restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and on flights. Terms Apply.
- Valuable annual credits for dining and Uber that can be used monthly. Terms Apply.
- Flexible Membership Rewards® points that can be transferred to a variety of airline and hotel partners. Terms Apply.
Cons
- A significant annual fee. Terms Apply.
- Annual credits are distributed in monthly increments, and some benefits require enrollment. Terms Apply.
- Less widely accepted than Visa or Mastercard. Terms Apply.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at the benefits and perks that land the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card on our list of favorites.
- It offers a straightforward rewards program with accelerated earnings on broad travel and dining categories, plus a solid flat rate on all other spending.
- Travelers will appreciate the annual statement credits that cover airline incidentals and application fees for expedited security screening programs.
- Existing Bank of America customers can significantly boost their earnings, and all cardholders benefit from simple, flexible redemption options.
Pros
- Offers a straightforward rewards program that earns accelerated points on broad travel and dining categories, plus a solid rate on all other purchases.
- Existing Bank of America customers can significantly boost their earnings through the Preferred Rewards program, making this one of the most valuable cards for those loyal to the bank.
- Includes valuable annual credits for airline incidentals and expedited airport screening, along with a suite of travel insurance protections for peace of mind.
Cons
- Points cannot be transferred to airline or hotel loyalty programs, which limits the potential for high-value redemptions.
- It lacks premium travel perks, such as airport lounge access, that are often found on other travel cards in its class.
- The rewards structure is significantly less competitive for cardholders who are not enrolled in the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® vs American Express® Gold Card
Categories
Deciding which is better, Amex Gold or Bank of America Premium Rewards, depends heavily on your spending habits and travel style. Both cards offer compelling rewards but are tailored to different types of consumers.
- American Express® Gold Card: This card is best for frequent travelers, particularly those who spend a significant amount on restaurants worldwide and flights.
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: Also designed for frequent travelers, this card is a strong choice for those who value straightforward rewards on a broad range of travel and dining purchases.
Redemption
American Express® Gold Card: You earn Membership Rewards points that are highly flexible, particularly for travel, as they can be transferred to a variety of airline and hotel partners or used to book trips directly.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: This card offers more direct redemption value, allowing you to redeem points for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, or to book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center.
Travel Perks
- American Express® Gold Card: The Amex Gold's travel ecosystem is built around its flexible points and specific statement credits.
- Travel Portal: Cardholders can book travel through the American Express Travel portal.
- Statement Credits: The card offers up to $120 in annual Uber Cash for U.S. services and up to $120 in annual dining credits at select establishments. Terms apply. It also provides access to The Hotel Collection, which includes a $100 experience credit and room upgrades on eligible stays.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: There are no foreign transaction fees.
- Lounge Access: This card does not include airport lounge access.
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: This card focuses on straightforward travel credits and statement credit redemptions.
- Travel Portal: Travel can be booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
- Statement Credits: It offers up to $100 in annual airline incidental statement credits and up to a $100 credit for a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee every four years.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: This card does not charge foreign transaction fees.
- Lounge Access: Airport lounge access is not a feature of this card.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make the decision even easier, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to see which one truly fits your spending.
- Test Drive Cards: Simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your actual spending data before you apply.
- Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
- Approval Odds Analysis: Get a detailed analysis of your approval chances based on your credit report to apply with more confidence.
- Personalized Recommendations: The platform analyzes your spending history to discover and suggest new cards that are tailored to your unique habits.
- Exclusive Rewards: Members can access special perks, such as a $100 Kudos Kickstart+ for adding select cards or a $20 bonus for signing up with a code and making a qualifying purchase.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?
The American Express® Gold Card is tailor-made for food enthusiasts who spend a significant portion of their budget on both dining out and cooking at home. Cardholders can maximize their rewards by earning 4X points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1X. This card is also a great fit for savvy consumers who can take full advantage of up to $240 in annual statement credits for dining and Uber, effectively offsetting the annual fee (Terms Apply).
Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Premium Rewards®?
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is an excellent choice for moderate travelers and everyday spenders seeking strong, simple rewards without a high annual fee. It is especially valuable for existing Bank of America and Merrill clients who can leverage the Preferred Rewards program to earn a 25% to 75% bonus on all points. Cardholders who prefer cash-back-style flexibility will also appreciate that points hold a fixed value and can be easily redeemed for statement credits, direct deposits, or travel.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Amex Gold vs Bank of America Premium Rewards comparison has you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent rewards cards on the market that might be a better fit for your spending habits.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - Most premium cards require good to excellent credit for the best approval odds.
- Review the card’s benefits - Ensure your regular spending aligns with the card's credits and bonus categories.
- Know the rewards program - Understand if points are best used with transfer partners or for fixed-value redemptions.
Application Strategy
- Time your application strategically - Align it with a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement for the welcome offer.
- Leverage existing relationships - Some issuers, like Bank of America, may offer better rewards or approval odds to current customers.
- Prepare for post-approval steps - Be aware that some card benefits, like certain Amex statement credits, require manual enrollment after approval.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the annual fees for these cards?
The American Express® Gold Card carries a $250 annual fee, whereas the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card has a $95 annual fee.
How does the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program boost earnings?
Members of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program can receive a 25% to 75% bonus on points earned with the Premium Rewards card. The size of your bonus is determined by your tier, which is based on your combined balances in eligible Bank of America and Merrill accounts.
Is the Amex Gold a charge card or a credit card?
While traditionally a charge card requiring payment in full each month, the American Express® Gold Card now includes a Pay Over Time feature. This allows you to carry a balance on certain purchases, giving it the flexibility of a conventional credit card.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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