Issued by Bank of America
BankAmericard Credit Card
Funding a planned large purchase you can repay across the intro period, or moving a balance with one of the lower transfer fees among major banks.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Intro APR on purchases
- 0% intro on purchases, up to 21 billing cycles
- Intro APR on transfers
- 0% intro on balance transfers made in first 60 days, same window
- Ongoing APR
- Variable; range disclosed at application
- Balance transfer fee
- 3% of each transaction (min $10); no introductory promo
- Penalty APR
- None
- Rewards
- None
- Foreign transaction fee
- 3% (verify)
What we like
- 21-billing-cycle 0% intro on purchases is at the top end of major-bank offers
- Balance transfer window of 60 days from account opening at the same 0% rate
- 3% balance transfer fee is below the 5% standard at many competitors
- No annual fee and no penalty APR
- Bank of America offers Preferred Rewards APR discounts for existing Bank of America customers with deposit balances
What we don’t
- Transfers must be initiated within 60 days; later transfers pay the regular APR
- No rewards programme; this is purely an intro-rate product
- Post-intro APR sits in the higher end of major-bank ranges
- The intro period is measured in billing cycles, not months; understand the difference for your start date
Why the 21-billing-cycle structure matters
Bank of America measures the intro period in billing cycles rather than calendar months. A billing cycle is typically 28 to 31 days; 21 billing cycles works out to about 19 to 21 months. The exact end date depends on when in the month your statement closes. Practically, you have between 19 and 21 months from account opening to clear any balance at 0%.
Mark the post-intro reversion date on your calendar from the day the card is approved. A common mistake is treating “21 months” as the marketing implies and missing the cycle-based math by a billing period or two. Bank of America discloses the exact end date in your account portal once the card is open.
The transfer fee is genuinely lower
BankAmericard’s 3% balance transfer fee (minimum $10) is below the 5% standard at most major issuers. On a $10,000 transfer that’s $300 in fees instead of $500. The difference compounds the larger the balance, and it’s a real edge over Citi Simplicity (which charges 5% after the short intro fee window) and Wells Fargo Reflect (5% throughout).
The 60-day transfer window is the catch. Transfers initiated more than 60 days after account opening accrue interest at the regular ongoing APR, not the intro 0% rate. Decide before you apply how much you’re moving and from which cards; have the account numbers ready so you can complete transfers in the first month.
Where it sits among the major-bank intro cards
BankAmericard, Wells Fargo Reflect, and Citi Simplicity occupy similar positions: 21-ish months 0%, no annual fee, no rewards. Each has one differentiator. Reflect has cell phone protection and roadside dispatch. Simplicity has no late fees and no penalty APR. BankAmericard has the lowest transfer fee.
If your primary use is a planned large purchase you’ll repay across the intro period, BankAmericard’s 21-billing-cycle 0% on purchases is the cleanest fit. If you’re primarily moving a balance and the transfer fee dominates the maths, BankAmericard’s 3% beats both competitors. If you want the most forgiving fee structure, Simplicity wins. Run all three through the break-even calculator with your specific numbers.
Bank of America Preferred Rewards bonus
Existing Bank of America customers with substantial deposit or investment balances qualify for the Preferred Rewards programme, which can reduce the APR on any Bank of America card by 25% to 75% depending on tier. For BankAmericard specifically, this matters more for the post-intro APR than during the intro period (which is already 0%).
If you have $20,000 or more parked at Bank of America or Merrill (the Platinum Honors tier requires $100,000+), the post-intro APR can drop meaningfully. The benefit is largely irrelevant if you’ll clear the balance during the intro period; it becomes important if you suspect you’ll carry past the intro window.
Compared to
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Reader questions
Frequently asked questions
How long is the actual 0% intro period?v
Bank of America advertises 21 billing cycles, which is between 19 and 21 calendar months depending on when your statement closes. The exact end date is disclosed in your account portal after approval. To get the maximum benefit, complete any balance transfers within 60 days of account opening so the full intro window applies to them.
Can I get the BankAmericard if I'm not a Bank of America customer?v
Yes. The BankAmericard is available to any qualifying applicant; you don't need an existing Bank of America deposit account. Existing customers with Preferred Rewards status (which requires substantial deposit balances) get APR discounts on the post-intro rate, but the card itself is open to everyone.
What credit score do I need?v
Bank of America typically approves BankAmericard applications from applicants with FICO Scores of 690 or higher. The lowest end of the post-intro APR range is generally reserved for FICO 740+. Bank of America offers pre-qualification tools that use a soft pull; check before formal application.
Does the 3% transfer fee apply to all transfers or just intro ones?v
BankAmericard charges 3% on all balance transfers (minimum $10), with no introductory promotional rate. The 0% APR offer applies to transfers made within 60 days of account opening; transfers after that window pay the same 3% fee but accrue interest at the regular ongoing APR. The fee is consistent throughout the card's life.
What happens after the 21 cycles end?v
Any balance you haven't paid off reverts to the ongoing variable APR (the post-intro rate). New purchases also start accruing interest at that rate from day one of cycle 22 unless you pay your statement balance in full. Plan the payoff so the balance is cleared (or close to it) before the intro window ends; Bank of America will send written notice in advance.