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Amex Green vs Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The American Express® Green Card is a strong choice for earning high rewards on a wide array of travel and dining purchases. Terms apply.
- The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card is particularly valuable for Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members who want to maximize points on travel and dining expenses.
American Express® Green Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
From its flexible rewards on travel and transit to valuable statement credits, here’s why we think the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) is a strong contender for your wallet.
- It offers generous rewards on a uniquely broad range of travel, transit, and dining purchases worldwide.
- Points can be transferred to a large number of airline and hotel partners, making the rewards program highly flexible.
- You can receive annual statement credits for select travel services to enhance your travel experience.
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
- No foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
- An attractive welcome offer is available to new cardmembers.
- Travel protections, such as trip delay insurance, provide peace of mind on the road.
Cons
- It carries a relatively high annual fee for a non-premium travel card.
- The card’s travel credits are for niche services that may not be useful for all travelers.
- Maximizing the value of your points can be complex, and some redemption options offer poor value.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at the premium travel perks and credits that make the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite a standout choice.
- Cardholders receive valuable annual statement credits that can be applied to a wide range of travel and everyday lifestyle purchases.
- Enjoy premium travel benefits including complimentary airport lounge access and exclusive perks at select hotels and car rental agencies.
- The card offers comprehensive travel protections and access to a 24/7 concierge service for peace of mind on the go.
Pros
- Generous annual credits for airline incidentals and lifestyle purchases help offset the annual fee.
- Complimentary Priority Pass membership provides unlimited airport lounge access for the cardholder and guests.
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members can earn a significant rewards bonus on every purchase.
Cons
- A major drawback is the lack of travel transfer partners, which limits how you can use your points.
- The card carries a high annual fee that may be difficult to offset if you don't use all the annual credits.
- Booking travel is restricted to the Bank of America travel portal, offering less flexibility than booking directly with airlines or hotels.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite vs American Express® Green Card
Categories
Deciding which is better, Amex Green or Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite, often comes down to your specific spending habits and travel preferences. Each card is designed to excel in different areas, catering to distinct types of cardholders.
- American Express® Green Card: This card is best categorized for its strong rewards on travel and dining. It is positioned for consumers who spend significantly in these areas and can take advantage of its broad definition of travel purchases.
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite: As a premium travel credit card, this option is built for frequent travelers who value luxury perks and benefits. It is especially advantageous for those already integrated into the Bank of America® ecosystem.
Redemption
American Express® Green Card: Points earned with this card are part of the flexible American Express Membership Rewards® program. Cardholders can transfer points to various airline and hotel partners or redeem them for travel, statement credits, and gift cards.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite: This card offers straightforward redemption options, including cash back, statement credits, or booking travel through the Bank of America Travel Center. Using points for travel can sometimes provide a better redemption value.
Travel Perks
- Travel Portals: The American Express® Green Card provides access to the AmexTravel.com portal, which is integrated into the Membership Rewards® program. In contrast, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite card utilizes the Bank of America Travel Center, where redeeming points for travel can unlock greater value.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are well-suited for international travel, as neither imposes a foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the United States.
- Lounge Access: The Premium Rewards® Elite card includes a Priority Pass™ Select membership, granting entry to a global network of airport lounges. The Amex Green card offers an annual statement credit for LoungeBuddy, which can be used to purchase single-visit lounge passes (Terms Apply).
- Travel Credits & Perks: With the Amex Green card, you receive an annual credit for a CLEAR® Plus membership to expedite airport security (Terms Apply). The Premium Rewards® Elite card offers broader travel benefits, including annual airline incidental statement credits for expenses like baggage fees and a statement credit to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make the most informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending.
- Test drive a credit card: The platform's 'Test Drive' feature uses your real spending data to simulate potential earnings before you apply, without a hard credit pull.
- Approval odds analysis: Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
- Kudos Boost rewards: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card points when shopping at participating stores.
- Centralized management: Manage multiple cards, monitor your credit score, and track spending all in one platform.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who are willing to put in the effort to maximize its benefits. This card is designed for individuals who can take full advantage of its valuable transfer partners, rich rewards on travel and dining, and generous statement credits. Ultimately, it's best suited for the savvy points-and-miles enthusiast who enjoys the challenge of optimizing rewards through airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite?
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card is best suited for frequent travelers who are already part of the Bank of America ecosystem, particularly Preferred Rewards members looking to maximize their existing relationship. These cardholders are willing to pay a high annual fee in exchange for premium travel perks like airport lounge access, comprehensive travel protections, and annual statement credits for airline incidentals and lifestyle purchases. Ultimately, this card appeals to users who prioritize a simple rewards structure and valuable credits over the flexibility of transferring points to airline and hotel partners.
Alternatives to Consider
So, the Amex Green vs Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite comparison didn't reveal a clear winner for your wallet? Let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that might be a better fit.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score – Most premium cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
- Plan your spending – Ensure you can naturally meet any welcome offer spending requirements without carrying a balance.
- Review the rewards program – Understand if points are transferable to travel partners or must be redeemed through the issuer’s portal.
Application Strategy
- Leverage existing relationships – Some issuers offer better rewards and benefits to their existing banking customers.
- Evaluate point flexibility – Decide if you prefer transferable points for travel partners or a simpler portal-based redemption system.
- Search for elevated offers – The best Welcome Offers are not always public and may require specific application channels.
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
Which card is better for someone enrolled in the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program?
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card is the clear choice for those in the Preferred Rewards program, as it offers bonus rewards that can significantly increase its earning potential. The American Express® Green Card does not integrate with this program.
How do the travel credits differ between the two cards?
The American Express® Green Card offers annual statement credits for CLEAR Plus and LoungeBuddy access (Terms Apply). The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite card provides broader airline incidental and lifestyle credits that can cover a wider range of expenses.
What is the main difference in their rewards currencies?
The American Express® Green Card earns Membership Rewards points, which are highly flexible and can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners (Terms Apply). The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite card earns points that are most valuable when redeemed for travel through the Bank of America Travel Center or as a statement credit.
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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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