Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card vs Citi Strata Credit Card
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card leads on everyday spending; the Citi Strata Credit Card on hotels.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit CardBank of America · No annual fee
Citi Strata Credit CardCiti · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card$0Citi Strata Credit Card$0
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card$250 cash backCiti Strata Credit Card20,000 points
- Rewards
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit CardCash backCiti Strata Credit CardCiti ThankYou Rewards
- Foreign transaction fee
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Citi Strata Credit Card3%
- Network
- Bank of America Unlimited 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 Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Electric Vehicle Charging
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Fitness
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Gas Stations
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Grocery Stores
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Live Entertainment
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Pet
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Streaming
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Top Spend Category
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Transit
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Citi Strata Credit Card3x
- Dining
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Citi Strata Credit Card2x
- Everything else
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Citi Strata Credit Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Other credits
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% balance transfer fee
- 0% APR 15 months
Citi Strata Credit Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Other perks
- Bank of America Unlimited 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 Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card—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 Unlimited 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 Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- No annual fee
- $250 welcome bonus after $1,000 spend
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- No category tracking required
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 Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- Flat 1.5% rate, no bonus categories
- Lower earning rate than category-specific cards in bonus areas
- No premium perks or travel benefits
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 Unlimited 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 Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card's strongest category is All Purchases Ongoing at 1.5X, while the Citi Strata Credit Card leads with 3X on Grocery Stores. Overall, the Citi Strata Credit Card wins in more bonus categories (10 vs 1) — 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 Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X on All Purchases Ongoing vs 1X for the other
- Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X on Grocery Stores vs 1.5X for the other
- Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X on Gas Stations vs 1.5X for the other
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card has a higher base earn rate (1.5X vs 1X on non-bonus spending)
- Different networks: Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card is VISA, Citi Strata Credit Card is MASTERCARD
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$200/month on all purchases ongoing
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit CardBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 3,600 vs 2,400 points — a 1,200-point advantage.
$600/month on grocery stores
Citi Strata Credit CardCiti Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X. Over a year, that's 21,600 vs 10,800 points — a 10,800-point advantage.
$150/month on gas stations
Citi Strata Credit CardCiti Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X. Over a year, that's 5,400 vs 2,700 points — a 2,700-point advantage.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card if:
The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on all purchases ongoing and earning more on everyday purchases. 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 gas stations. 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 5 of 6 categories. The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card leads in 1. 9 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Hotels
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Car Rentals
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Attractions
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Grocery Stores
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Gas Stations
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Electric Vehicle Charging
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Transit
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Top Spend Category
Depends: Must select category at citi.com/selfselect
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Dining
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 2X vs 1.5X
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 Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X 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 Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X 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 Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X 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 Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Streaming
Depends: 3X applies while Select Streaming Services is 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; it is the default at account opening.
Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X when conditions are met; Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Everyday purchases
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X on all other spending vs 1X
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 Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card | Citi Strata Credit Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $180 Year one: $430 | 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: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $720 Year one: $970 | 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 |
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card if you:
- +Prefer a high flat rate across all spending
Get the Citi Strata Credit Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
- +Do most of your spending at grocery stores
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Citi Strata Credit Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Everyday (non-bonus) spend earns 1.5X on the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card vs 1X on the other card.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which card earns more rewards, the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card or Citi Strata Credit Card?
- The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card has a higher base earn rate (1.5X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
- Should I get the Bank of America Unlimited 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.