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Amex Green vs Bank of America Travel Rewards: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The American Express® Green Card is best for frequent travelers who spend heavily on transit, travel, and dining worldwide and want to earn flexible rewards. Terms apply.
- The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a great choice for beginners and occasional travelers who want a simple, no-annual-fee card with a flat rewards rate on every purchase.
American Express® Green Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here's a detailed look at the perks and rewards that make the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) a favorite.
- You'll earn a high rewards rate on a uniquely broad range of travel purchases, plus at restaurants worldwide.
- The points you earn are highly flexible and can be transferred to a variety of airline and hotel partners.
- It comes with valuable statement credits for travel services, such as an expedited airport security program membership.
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
- Broad bonus rewards categories: Earns elevated rewards on a wide definition of travel—including transit—and on dining worldwide.
- Valuable travel credits: Offers annual statement credits that can help offset the cost of an airport lounge pass and a CLEAR Plus membership for expedited security.
- No foreign transaction fees: You won't pay extra for purchases made abroad.
Cons
- Relatively high annual fee: The card's annual fee is on the higher side for a non-premium travel card.
- Complex to maximize: Getting the best value requires transferring points to travel partners, which can be complicated, and some redemption options offer poor returns.
- Niche travel credits: The card's statement credits apply to specific services that may not be as broadly useful as the travel credits offered by competing cards.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Let's break down the specific features and perks that make the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card a compelling option.
- This card offers a straightforward rewards program, allowing you to earn points on every purchase without tracking complicated categories.
- You can redeem your points with great flexibility, applying them as a statement credit against a wide variety of travel and dining purchases.
Pros
- It carries no annual fee and waives foreign transaction fees, making it a cost-effective choice for international travel.
- You’ll earn unlimited flat-rate points on every purchase, with no need to track rotating categories or spending caps.
- Rewards redemption is highly flexible, allowing you to book travel with any provider and then apply your points as a statement credit.
Cons
- The card offers a flat rewards rate on all purchases, which can be less rewarding than cards with bonus categories for travel or dining.
- It lacks premium travel perks such as airport lounge access and does not allow you to transfer points to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
- To unlock the card's highest earning potential, you need to be a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, making it less valuable for those who don't bank with them.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards vs American Express® Green Card
Categories
Deciding which is better, Amex Green or Bank of America Travel Rewards, comes down to your travel frequency and how you prefer to handle rewards.
- American Express® Green Card - This card is best for frequent travelers who spend heavily on travel and dining and want to maximize their rewards by transferring points to airline and hotel partners.
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card - This card is ideal for beginners or occasional travelers who prefer a straightforward, flat-rate rewards structure and a simple redemption process.
Redemption
American Express® Green Card: You can redeem points by transferring them to various airline and hotel loyalty programs, offering flexibility and potentially higher value for your rewards. Points can also be used for travel bookings through AmexTravel.com or as statement credits.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: This card allows for simple redemptions, where you can apply your points as a statement credit against any travel or dining purchases. This straightforward method means you can book travel however you want and then erase the charge with your points.
Travel Perks
- American Express® Green Card: Cardholders get an annual statement credit for CLEAR Plus membership and a statement credit for LoungeBuddy purchases, which can be used for airport lounge access (Terms Apply). The card has no foreign transaction fees, and travel can be booked through the AmexTravel.com portal.
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: This card also has no foreign transaction fees, making it suitable for international use. You can book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center, but it lacks premium travel benefits like lounge access credits.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make the decision even easier, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards and find the best fit for your spending habits.
- Test Drive a Credit Card: Before committing, you can use the "Test Drive" feature to simulate how much you would earn with a new card. It uses your actual spending data to project annual rewards and compare potential earnings against your current cards.
- Personalized Card Matching: The platform analyzes your spending history to recommend cards that will maximize your rewards, moving beyond generic lists.
- Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you apply for a card and then find a better public welcome offer within three months, Kudos will match it.
- Approval Odds: Get a detailed analysis based on your credit report to understand your chances of being approved for a card before you submit an application.
- Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of what your credit card offers when you shop at your favorite stores through the platform.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers and diners who want to maximize rewards on their spending. This card is particularly well-suited for individuals who can take full advantage of its 3x points on travel and restaurants worldwide, along with its valuable airline and hotel transfer partners. While it requires some effort to get the most out of its perks, those willing to leverage its travel credits and point transfers will find it a rewarding option. Terms apply.
Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Travel Rewards?
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is an excellent choice for beginners and casual travelers who want a simple, low-maintenance way to earn rewards without an annual fee. Its flat 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases makes it ideal for those who prefer a single-card strategy for both everyday spending and occasional trips, especially since it has no foreign transaction fees. The card becomes particularly valuable for existing Bank of America customers who can leverage the Preferred Rewards program for a bonus of up to 75%, and a student version is also available for those just starting to build their credit history.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Amex Green vs Bank of America Travel Rewards comparison has left you feeling like neither card is the perfect match for your wallet, don't fret. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards on the market that might be a better fit.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score – Most travel rewards cards require good to excellent credit.
- Plan your spending – Ensure you can meet the welcome offer spending requirement through your normal purchases.
- Understand the rewards – Research how you will redeem points to ensure the card’s benefits align with your goals.
Application Strategy
- Try different application channels – If you do not see the best offer, try applying directly on the issuer's site or through a different browser.
- Consider the issuer’s ecosystem – Some cards, like the Bank of America® Travel Rewards card, offer enhanced benefits for existing customers.
- Choose a card that fits your style – A card focused on transfer partners may not be ideal if you prefer simple statement credits.
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 beginners?
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is often better for beginners due to its lack of an annual fee and straightforward rewards structure. The American Express® Green Card has more complex benefits and an annual fee, making it more suitable for those with some experience in travel rewards.
What are the rewards like for each card?
The American Express® Green Card earns flexible Membership Rewards® points that can be transferred to airline and hotel partners. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card earns points that can be redeemed for statement credits against travel and dining purchases.
Do both cards have an annual fee?
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has no annual fee, making it a cost-effective option. In contrast, the American Express® Green Card does have an annual fee, which is offset by various travel credits and benefits (Terms Apply).
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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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