Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card vs Citi Strata Credit Card
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card leads on dining; the Citi Strata Credit Card on hotels.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardBank of America · No annual fee
Citi Strata Credit CardCiti · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card$0Citi Strata Credit Card$0
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card$200 cash backCiti Strata Credit Card20,000 points
- Rewards
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardCash backCiti Strata Credit CardCiti ThankYou Rewards
- Foreign transaction fee
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Citi Strata Credit Card3%
- Network
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardVisa SignatureCiti Strata Credit CardMastercard
Earn ratesPer $1 spent · points and cash back aren’t ranked against each other
- Beauty
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card1%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Cable TV
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Citi Strata Credit Card1x
- Dining
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Citi Strata Credit Card2x
- Drugstores
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Citi Strata Credit Card1x
- Electric Vehicle Charging
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Fitness
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card1%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Gas Stations
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Grocery Stores
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card2%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Home Improvement
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Citi Strata Credit Card1x
- Live Entertainment
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card1%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Online Shopping
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Citi Strata Credit Card1x
- Pet
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card1%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Streaming
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Telecom
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Citi Strata Credit Card1x
- Top Spend Category
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card1%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Transit
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card1%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Travel
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Citi Strata Credit Card1x
- Wholesale Clubs
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card2%Citi Strata Credit Card1x
- Everything else
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card1%Citi Strata Credit Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Other credits
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 0% APR 15 months
Citi Strata Credit Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Other perks
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
- No annual fee
Citi Strata Credit Card- Citi Entertainment
- Points transfer
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Purchase & returns
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Visa Signature purchase protection
Citi Strata Credit Card- Mastercard® ID Theft Protection
- Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions
- Purchase Protection up to $1,000 per claim
- Other protections
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card—Citi Strata Credit Card
- Citi Travel®
- FICO score monitoring
- 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
Pros & cons
- Pros
- 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
Citi Strata Credit Card- No annual fee
- 20,000 point welcome bonus
- 5X points on travel booked via Citi Travel
- 3X points on groceries, transit, gas, and Self-Select category
- Self-Select category flexibility (change quarterly)
- Cons
- 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
Citi Strata Credit Card- 3% foreign transaction fee
- 5X rate requires booking through Citi Travel portal
- Self-Select category can only change quarterly
- Lower transfer value compared to premium ThankYou cards
Expert Analysis
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card and Citi Strata Credit Card are two of the most popular cards in their category, and choosing between them comes down to which rewards structure better matches your spending. Both deliver strong value, but in meaningfully different ways.
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card's strongest category is Dining at 3X, while the Citi Strata Credit Card leads with 3X on Grocery Stores. Neither card dominates across the board — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
Both cards carry a $0/yr annual fee, so the decision comes down purely to rewards structure and benefits — there's no fee math to worry about.
Key Differences
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X on Dining vs 2X for the other
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X on Drugstores vs 1X for the other
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X on Home Improvement vs 1X for the other
- Different networks: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is VISA, Citi Strata Credit Card is MASTERCARD
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$400/month on dining
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardBank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X vs 2X. Over a year, that's 14,400 vs 9,600 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
$80/month on drugstores
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit CardBank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 2,880 vs 960 points — a 1,920-point advantage.
$600/month on grocery stores
Citi Strata Credit CardCiti Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 2X. Over a year, that's 21,600 vs 14,400 points — a 7,200-point advantage.
$100/month on transit
Citi Strata Credit CardCiti Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 3,600 vs 1,200 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card if:
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on dining and drugstores. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Get the Citi Strata Credit Card if:
The Citi Strata Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on grocery stores and transit. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
These cards are from different issuers, so switching between them requires a new application. Many rewards enthusiasts hold both to maximize earn rates across different spending categories — the annual fee total may be worth it if you're actively using both cards' bonus categories.
Consider which card's rewards ecosystem better fits your redemption goals. Transferable points programs offer more flexibility for travel redemptions.
Category-by-Category Winner
The Citi Strata Credit Card wins in 2 of 2 categories. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card leads in 0. 16 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Dining
Depends: up to $2,500/quarter
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Citi Strata Credit Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)
Drugstores
Depends: up to $2,500/quarter
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Citi Strata Credit Card 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; Citi Strata Credit Card 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; Citi Strata Credit Card 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; Citi Strata Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Telecom
Depends: up to $2,500/quarter
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Citi Strata Credit Card 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; Citi Strata Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Grocery Stores
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 2X
Wholesale Clubs
Depends: up to $2,500/quarter
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 2X when conditions are met; Citi Strata Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Hotels
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Car Rentals
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Attractions
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Transit
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X
Top Spend Category
Depends: Must select category at citi.com/selfselect
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Beauty
Depends: 3X applies only if cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons is chosen as the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; the default is Select Streaming Services.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Fitness
Depends: 3X applies only if fitness clubs is chosen as the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; the default is Select Streaming Services.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Live Entertainment
Depends: 3X applies only if live entertainment is chosen as the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; the default is Select Streaming Services.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Pet
Depends: 3X applies only if pet supply stores is chosen as the one Self-Select Category (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores), changeable once each calendar quarter; the default is Select Streaming Services.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card 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.
Both scenarios favor the Citi Strata Credit Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card | Citi Strata Credit Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $120 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $120 Year one: $320 | Rewards: $337 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $337 Year one: $677 | Citi Strata Credit Card | Citi Strata Credit Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $480 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $480 Year one: $680 | Rewards: $1,346 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $1,346 Year one: $1,686 | Citi Strata Credit Card | Citi Strata Credit Card |
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Citi Strata Credit Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which card earns more rewards, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card or Citi Strata 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 Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card or the Citi Strata Credit Card?
- Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.