Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card Review: Rewards, Fees & Benefits

Rewards

Reward TypePoints

Base Rate1.5x / 1.5%

Point Value~0.01¢ each

Travel Portal1x

ExpirationYour points don't expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.

Redemption NotesPoints are worth $0.006 per point when redeemed for cash back, compared to $0.01 per point for travel statement credits.

Category	Rate	Type	Cap
All Other Purchases Earn 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all eligible purchases.	1.5x	Points	No cap

Benefits & Protections

No Foreign Fees

Benefit	Category	Value / Coverage
Credit Building Helps establish or rebuild your credit history with responsible use, as payments are reported to the three major credit bureaus.	Financial	Credit history reporting
Free FICO Score Access Get free access to your FICO Score within your online banking account, allowing you to monitor your credit health.	Financial	Free
No Annual Fee The card does not charge an annual fee for card membership.	Financial	$0 Up to $0
Online and Mobile Banking Access Manage your account, pay bills, monitor transactions, and set up alerts conveniently through Bank of America's online banking and mobile app.	Lifestyle	Convenient account management
Unlimited 1.5 Points Per Dollar Earn an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases. Points do not expire and can be redeemed for travel statement credits.	Rewards	1.5 points per $1 spent
Customizable Account Alerts Receive alerts for important account activity, such as transactions, payments due, or balance updates, via email or text.	Security	Real-time notifications
Zero Liability Fraud Protection You are protected from unauthorized purchases made with your card, provided you notify Bank of America promptly.	Security	Full protection against fraud
No Foreign Transaction Fees Avoid additional charges when making purchases outside the United States.	Travel	0% foreign transaction fee Up to $0

Interest Rates

Purchase APR21.24% Variable

Balance Transfer APR21.24%

Cash Advance APR29.99%

Min. Interest Charge$1

Fees

Annual Fee $0 — No Annual Fee

Authorized User FeeFree

Foreign Transaction FeeNone

Balance Transfer FeeEither $10 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance FeeEither $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

Late Payment FeeUp to $40

Returned Payment FeeUp to $40

Approval & Eligibility

580 Recommended minimum FICO · Range 580–669

300 Poor580 Fair 670 Good740 Very Good 800+ Exceptional

Approval DifficultyEasy

Credit ProfileFair

Approval OddsGood

Decision Time1-3 days

Pre-QualificationNot available

Student EligibleYes

Co-ApplicantNot allowed

Business EligibleNo

Credit Limit Range $200 – $5,000

Issuer Rules & Restrictions

Maximum Cards per Issuer

You can hold up to 7 cards from this issuer simultaneously.

Shutdown Risk Triggers

Manufactured spending, abuse of rewards/bonuses, high cumulative credit limit across all Bank of America accounts, frequent late payments, suspicious account activity, rapid opening/closing of multiple accounts, exceeding total credit exposure limits, or significant changes in credit profile.

Cliff Effect Rules

The primary 'cliff effect' for this card is its potential to graduate to an unsecured Bank of America credit card after a period of responsible use (e.g., on-time payments, low utilization). There are no specific 'family rules' that prevent application if other Bank of America cards are held, beyond the general 2/3/4 application rule which applies to all new BoA credit card applications.

International Friendly

This card works well for international travel and transactions.

Additional Issuer Rules

Eligibility for the Bank of America Travel Rewards Secured card in 2026 requires applicants to be at least 18 years old, possess a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), be a U.S. resident, and be able to provide a security deposit (typically ranging from $200 to $5,000). This card is designed for individuals with limited or poor credit history looking to build or rebuild credit. Application for this card is subject to Bank of America's known 2/3/4 rule, which restricts new credit card approvals to no more than 2 cards in the past 2 months, 3 cards in the past 12 months, or 4 cards in the past 24 months across all Bank of America products. This secured card typically does not offer a sign-up bonus; its primary benefit is credit building and potential graduation to an unsecured card.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card