IHG One Rewards Premier vs Bank of America Premium Rewards: Which Is Better In 2025?

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card.

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• It offers a solid, straightforward rewards structure on every purchase, with bonus points on travel and dining.
• While the card has an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, making it a good companion for international travel.
• The annual airline incidental credit can completely offset the card's annual fee each year (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Offers flexible and straightforward redemption options, allowing you to redeem points for cash back, statement credits, or travel without hassle.
• Comes with valuable travel benefits, including a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® and robust travel insurance protections.
• Provides a significant rewards bonus for eligible Bank of America Preferred Rewards members, boosting your earning potential on every purchase.

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Cons

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• The rewards program lacks flexibility, as points cannot be transferred to airline or hotel partners and have a fixed redemption value.
• To unlock the card's highest earning potential, you must be an eligible Bank of America Preferred Rewards member.
• It lacks premium travel perks commonly found on other travel cards, such as airport lounge access.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® vs IHG One Rewards Premier

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the IHG One Rewards Premier or the Bank of America Premium Rewards card, depends on your specific travel habits and brand loyalty. Each card is tailored to a different type of spender, offering unique benefits and reward structures.

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• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card - This card is built for frequent travelers who regularly stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. It is best for maximizing value at IHG properties by leveraging hotel-specific rewards and elite status benefits.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card - This card is ideal for moderate travelers and everyday spenders seeking strong, flexible rewards with a straightforward redemption process. It is especially valuable for those who already bank or invest with Bank of America.

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Redemption

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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for award nights at the wide range of properties within the IHG Hotels & Resorts portfolio. You can also use points for other travel experiences or transfer them to partner airline programs.

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Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: This card provides highly flexible redemption options, including cash back, statement credits, and travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. Points can also be redeemed for gift cards, offering straightforward value for various types of spending.

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Travel Perks

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• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: This card operates almost exclusively within the IHG ecosystem. Its primary travel perk is automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, which provides benefits like room upgrades and late check-out at IHG properties. Points are best redeemed for award nights through IHG.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: This card offers a flexible travel ecosystem, allowing you to book flights, hotels, and car rentals with various brands through the Bank of America Travel Center. It also provides an annual airline incidental statement credit but does not offer automatic hotel elite status.
• Both cards are strong choices for international travel, as neither charges a foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To find the best card for your wallet, a tool like Kudos can help you compare thousands of credit cards and get data-driven recommendations based on your unique spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: The platform’s Test Drive feature lets you simulate how much you’d earn with a new card by using your real transaction history to project annual rewards, all before you apply.
• Personalized card matching: By securely connecting your bank accounts via Plaid, Kudos analyzes your spending to match you with cards that will actually earn you the most rewards.
• Detailed approval odds: Get a comprehensive analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card within three months of applying through Kudos, the platform will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when you shop at participating stores.

Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Premier?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is tailor-made for travelers who frequently stay at IHG properties, such as Holiday Inn, Kimpton, or InterContinental hotels. These cardholders will get the most value from perks like automatic Platinum Elite status and the fourth-night-free benefit on award stays. Furthermore, the annual free night certificate can easily offset the card's annual fee, making it a smart choice for loyal IHG customers.

Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Premium Rewards®?

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The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is an excellent choice for moderate travelers and everyday spenders who want strong rewards without a hefty annual fee. It is especially valuable for existing Bank of America or Merrill clients, who can leverage the Preferred Rewards program to earn a 25% to 75% bonus on all points earned. Those who appreciate straightforward, cash-back-style flexibility will also find this card appealing, as every point is worth a fixed value regardless of how it's redeemed.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. Bank of America® Premium Rewards® comparison didn't point to a clear winner for your spending habits? Not a problem—let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that could be the right match.

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_{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.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spend for the welcome offer.
• Know your rewards strategy - Understand how you will redeem points, whether for travel, cash back, or hotel stays.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules - Some issuers, like Chase, may have unwritten rules about how many cards you can open.
• Leverage existing relationships - Some cards, like Bank of America's, offer enhanced rewards for existing banking or investment clients.
• Time your application wisely - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the minimum spending requirement naturally.

Our Methodology

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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.

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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

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How do the rewards programs for the IHG Premier and Bank of America Premium Rewards cards differ?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier card earns IHG One Rewards points, which are primarily redeemed for stays across IHG's portfolio of hotel brands. In contrast, the Bank of America Premium Rewards card earns flexible points that can be used for cash back, gift cards, or travel booked through Bank of America's portal.

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Can I use points from one card's program with the other?

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No, the two rewards programs are entirely separate, and points cannot be transferred between them. You must redeem IHG points through the IHG One Rewards program and Bank of America points through its own rewards platform.

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Which card is better for someone who isn't loyal to IHG hotels?

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For travelers who prefer not to be tied to a single hotel brand, the Bank of America Premium Rewards card is often the better choice due to its flexibility. Its rewards can be applied to a wide range of travel purchases, not just stays within the IHG network.

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