Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual fees: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express $95/yr, Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express on streaming, Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card on dining.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American ExpressAmerican Express · $95/yr
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardBank of America · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express$95Waived first yearBank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card$0Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American ExpressAs high as $300 cash back — offers varyBank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card$200 cash back
- Rewards
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American ExpressCash backBank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardCash back
- Foreign transaction fee
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express2.7%LowestBank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%
- Network
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American ExpressAmerican ExpressBank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Grocery Stores
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express6%HighestBank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card2%
- Streaming
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express6%HighestBank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card1%
- Cable TV
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express1%Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Highest
- Dining
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express1%Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Highest
- Drugstores
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express1%Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Highest
- Gas Stations
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express3%Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%
- Home Improvement
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express1%Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Highest
- Online Shopping
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express1%Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Highest
- Ridesharing
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express3%HighestBank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card1%
- Transit
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express3%HighestBank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card1%
- Travel
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express1%Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Highest
- Wholesale Clubs
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express1%Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card2%Highest
- Everything else
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express1%Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card1%
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Entertainment & streaming
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- $10 monthly Disney Bundle credit available · $10 monthly
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card— - Other credits
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express—Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 0% APR 15 months
Perks & access— means none on record
- Hotel status & programs
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- Amex Travel Best Price Guarantee for hotels
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card— - Other perks
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- Amex Offers
- Early access to concerts and events
- Global Assist Hotline available 24/7 worldwide
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card- No annual fee
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Rental car
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- Hertz Car Rental Benefits with upgrades
- $50,000 car rental loss and damage insurance
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card— - Purchase & returns
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- $1,000 purchase protection for eligible items
- $300 return protection per eligible item
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card- Visa Signature purchase protection
- Extended warranty
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- Extended Warranty up to one year
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card— - Other protections
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card—
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000/year ($360 max annual value)
- 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services with no annual cap
- $120 annual Disney Bundle credit effectively reduces fee to net-negative
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit with no spending cap
- 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card- 6% cash back in choice category for first year (3% + 3% bonus)
- No annual fee
- $200 welcome bonus after $1,000 spend
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- Flexible category selection - change monthly
- Cons
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- $95 annual fee after first year (offset by $120 Disney credit if used)
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international use
- 6% grocery cap at $6,000/year limits high-spending households
- Warehouse clubs (Costco, Sam's Club) do not code as supermarkets
- 1% back on non-category purchases is below average
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card- 3% foreign transaction fee
- $2,500 quarterly cap on bonus categories (combined choice category + grocery)
- 6% rate drops to 3% after first year
- Requires monthly category management for optimal returns
Category-by-Category Winner
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express wins in 3 of 3 categories. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card leads in 0. 8 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Streaming
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 6X vs 1X
Transit
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 3X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
Depends: up to $6,000/yr
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 6X when conditions are met; Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 2X (1X without restrictions)
Ridesharing
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 3X vs 1X
Dining
Depends: up to $2,500/quarter
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Drugstores
Depends: up to $2,500/quarter
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Home Improvement
Depends: up to $2,500/quarter
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Online Shopping
Depends: up to $2,500/quarter
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Cable TV
Depends: up to $2,500/quarter
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Travel
Depends: up to $2,500/quarter
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Wholesale Clubs
Depends: up to $2,500/quarter
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 2X when conditions are met; Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
The better card depends on how much you spend.
| Scenario | Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $144 Credits (our usable estimate): $24 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $73 Year one: $168 | Rewards: $120 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $120 Year one: $320 | Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card | Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $576 Credits (our usable estimate): $24 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $505 Year one: $600 | Rewards: $480 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $480 Year one: $680 | Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $95 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $95 fee gap means the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express needs roughly $95 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on streaming and grocery stores and everyday spend.
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
The Bottom Line
The better card depends on how much you spend.
Published annual fees: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express $95/yr, Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card $0/yr — a $95 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express worth the higher annual fee?
- The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $95 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use.
- Which card earns more rewards, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- Should I get the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $95/yr.
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Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.