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Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card

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Help establish, strenghten, or even rebuild your credit

and earn unlimited points with no expiration as long as your account remains open

Card Details

Help build your credit while earning unlimited points.

Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time and no expiration on points as long as your account remains open.

We'll periodically review your account and, based on your overall credit history (including your account and overall relationship with us, and other credit cards and loans), you may qualify to have your security deposit returned. Not all customers will qualify.

FICO ® Score

You can access your FICO ® Score updated monthly for free, within your Mobile Banking app or in Online Banking. Opt-in to receive your score, the key factors affecting your score, and other information that can help you keep your credit healthy.

Learn more about credit

Access to credit education on topics like using credit cards responsibly, budgeting and more.

2023 Certified Financial Health Support

Bank of America – Outstanding Customer Satisfaction with Financial Health Support – Banking & Payments, 2 years in a row

Secured card products are not eligible for a new account bonus offer, like a bonus points offer and introductory APRs are not available.

J.D. Power 2023 Financial Health Support Certification SM is based on exceeding customer experience benchmarks using client surveys and a best practices verification. For more information, visit jdpower.com/awards.

Interest Rates & Fees Summary †

Introductory apr, standard apr, balance transfer fee.

of each transaction †

† Please see Terms and Conditions for rate, fee and other cost information, as well as an explanation of payment allocation. All terms may be subject to change.

Note: minimum payments are applied to lower-interest balances first. Additional payments are applied to higher-interest balances first.

Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time.

No blackout dates or restrictions and points do not expire as long as your account remains open.

Use our rewards calculator to see where your points can take you...

Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.

Flexibility to redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel and dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants – including takeout.

Additional Benefits

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Security & Features

Stay protected, contactless chip technology, balance connect ® for overdraft protection, paperless statement option, digital wallet technology, online & mobile banking, account alerts.

Now, when you opt-in you can access your FICO ® Score updated monthly for free, within your Mobile Banking app or in Online Banking. FICO ® Score Program . The FICO ® Score Program is for educational purposes and for your non-commercial, personal use. This benefit is available only for primary cardholders with an open and active consumer credit card account who have a FICO ® Score available. The feature is accessible through Online Banking, the Mobile website, and the Mobile Banking app for iPhone and Android devices. FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and other countries. Data connection required. Wireless carrier fees may apply." data-footnote="ADDITIONAL_BENEFITS_FOOTNOTE_07" aria-label="Footnote 5"> Footnote [5] Learn More   about Free FICO Credit Score opens in a new window

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Credit Cards > Reviews

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card review: A travel credit card for the fee-averse

Glen Luke Flanagan

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 2:20 p.m. UTC Feb. 7, 2024

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Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers a simple approach to rewards, with a base rate of 1.5 points per $1 on purchases — and the chance to earn up to an impressive flat rate of 2.62 points per dollar on purchases for being a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member. 

Why trust our credit card experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

• 50+ cards analyzed.
• 8 data points considered.
• 5-step fact-checking process.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card basics

• Annual fee: $0.
• Welcome bonus: 25,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Rewards: Earn 1.5 points per $1 on purchases, with the chance to earn 25% to 75% bonus points as a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer. Also, earn an additional 1.5 points per dollar on Bank of America Travel Center purchases.
• APR: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, followed by a 18.24% to 28.24% variable APR. A 3% intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days; then a 4% fee applies to future balance transfers.
• Preapproval tool: Yes.
• Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Welcome Bonus

• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s Take

• 15 billing cycles of intro APR financing on both new purchases and on qualifying balance transfers.
• Earn an unlimited 1.5 points per $1 on purchases.
• No foreign transaction fees so it’s a good choice to use abroad.
• Points must be redeemed towards eligible travel and dining purchases for maximum redemption value.
• You can’t transfer rewards to airline or hotel partners.

Card Details

• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
• Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Bank of America Travel Rewards review

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is a mainstay among no-annual-fee travel credit cards . This card offers a flat 1.5 points per $1 on purchases, but if you’re a loyal Bank of America or Merrill customer, you may be able to earn as much as 2.62 points per dollar on purchases. You’ll also earn more rewards when you use your card to book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center.

With no annual fee , the card doesn’t offer much in the way of travel benefits. But its welcome bonus is solid, giving you 25,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. And if you need an introductory APR promotion, this card offers a lengthy one, 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, followed by a 18.24% to 28.24% variable APR. A 3% intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days; then a 4% fee applies to future balance transfers.

The card can be a great introduction to travel rewards for someone who prefers to avoid an annual fee, and it can also be a great way for certain Bank of America or Merrill customers to maximize their rewards on every purchase. But if you’re serious about travel rewards and perks, a different card may be a better fit, even if it charges an annual fee. 

• Intro APR offer: The card’s intro offer is helpful for anyone wanting extra time to pay off a big purchase or looking to tackle some debt.
• Relationship bonus: Those who are already banking with Bank of America or Merrill can earn higher rewards based on their relationship tier via the bank’s Preferred Rewards program.
• Simple travel rewards: Navigating travel rewards can be complicated with some credit card programs. The flat-rate rewards on this card are relatively simple to earn and use.
• No notable travel benefits: If you want added benefits when you travel, such as robust travel protections, airport lounge access or reimbursement for the Global Entry application fee, you may be disappointed with this card.
• No everyday bonus categories: You can earn extra points when you book travel through Bank of America, but the card doesn’t offer any other bonus categories. 
• Steep price to maximize rewards: To earn the highest rewards rate possible, you’ll need a three-month combined average daily balance of at least $100,000 in eligible Bank of America deposit accounts or Merrill investment accounts. 

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

• Over $1,500 in travel and entertainment credits can offset the annual fee.
• Comprehensive lounge access benefit.
• Generous travel and purchase protections.
• High annual fee and spending requirements.
• Amex’s once-per-lifetime rule limits welcome bonus eligibility.
• Annual statement credits have limited use.
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card rewards

The card offers a flat base rate of 1.5 points per $1 on purchases. However, if you use your card to book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center, you’ll earn 3 points per $1 on those purchases — an extra 1.5 points per $1 on top of the base rewards rate.

Additionally, the card earns 25%, 50% or 75% more points per purchase if you’re eligible for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program. To join, you must have a three-month combined average daily balance of at least $20,000 in eligible Bank of America deposit accounts or Merrill investment accounts. 

Depending on which Preferred Rewards tier you qualify for, you can earn between 1.87 to 2.62 points per dollar on most of your purchases with this card. Note, however, that this bonus doesn’t apply to the card’s welcome offer.

The welcome offer provides 25,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. 

To redeem your rewards, simply use your card to pay for eligible travel or dining purchases, then request a statement credit with your points within 12 months of the transaction date. You can also redeem points for cash or gift cards, but you’ll only get 0.6 cents per point with cash redemptions — and gift card redemption values can vary. As a result, it’s best to stick to travel and dining statement credits.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card rewards potential

Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has an annual income of $84,352 and $25,087 in expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card.

If you’re earning the base rate of 1.5 points per $1 on purchases, you could earn $376.31 worth of points every year. If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer, though, you could earn up to $657.28 in value.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card APR details

As a new cardholder, you’ll get a 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, followed by a 18.24% to 28.24% variable APR. A 3% intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days; then a 4% fee applies to future balance transfers. That’s a rare benefit among travel credit cards, so it’s even more impressive that it’s also a relatively lengthy intro APR period.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card vs. Discover it® Miles

If you’re a big spender, you could benefit from a big bonus offer from the Discover it Miles . The card offers 1.5 miles per $1 on purchases, and Discover will automatically match all miles earned at the end of the first cardmember year, with no limit to how many miles you can earn. 

You can redeem miles as a statement credit for travel purchases made up to 180 days after they post, for cash back to a bank account or you can use them to shop online at Amazon.com and through PayPal. 

The card also has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, but keep in mind that if you plan to travel abroad, Discover is not widely accepted internationally.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

For a modest $95 annual fee, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers substantial rewards value. As a new cardholder, you’ll earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. You’ll also earn 5 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and purchases through Capital One Entertainment and 2 miles per $1 on other purchases. 

You can redeem miles as statement credits for past travel purchases, use them to pay for Capital One Travel bookings or transfer them to airline or hotel loyalty programs.

In terms of perks, you’ll get an application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to $100), two complimentary annual visits to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges, Hertz Five Star status¹, bonus miles on Turo car rentals and more. 

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. You’ll also earn 5 points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3 points per $1 on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. 

Points are typically worth 1 cent each (though the value may vary for certain redemptions). Redemption options include cash back, statement credits, gift cards, Apple purchases and online shopping. You can also use them to book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards and receive 25% more value per point, or transfer your points at a 1:1 rate to airline and hotel loyalty programs. 

The card also offers a $50 annual statement credit for hotel stays booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, as well as partner benefits with Lyft, Instacart, DoorDash and Peloton. There’s a $95 annual fee.

Finally, the Sapphire Preferred provides a robust lineup of travel benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay reimbursement and primary rental car insurance .

Should you get the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card?

If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, the Travel Rewards credit card can be a great way to rack up a lot of points on your everyday purchases, especially if you can qualify for the maximum 75% points bonus — which brings the earning rate up to 2.62 points per dollar spent on purchases. 

That said, it may also be worth considering another travel card with added perks for when you travel, since this one’s benefits are slim compared to popular travel cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

If you’re not a Preferred Rewards customer, the Bank of America travel card may still be a good fit if you want to earn travel rewards but don’t want to deal with an annual fee. However, it should be mentioned there are many travel credit cards that charge an annual fee but offer enough value in perks alone to make up for the cost every year. Shop around and compare several options to determine which one offers the best value for you based on your travel and spending habits.

Methodology

Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of travel credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. We factored the following into our analysis:

• Annual fees.
• Travel reward rates.
• Value of rewards.
• Redemption options.
• Additional benefits that a card may offer for travelers, such as travel insurance.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The card is designed for consumers with good or excellent credit. According to FICO , that typically means a credit score of 670 or higher. That said, Bank of America will review your full credit history, income and other factors to determine your eligibility. 

If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible, you can use the card issuer’s preapproval tool, which can help you gauge your approval odds for any Bank of America credit card.

After you use your card to pay for an eligible travel or dining purchase, you can log in to your account and request a statement credit up to 12 months after the transaction posts. Alternatively, you can redeem your points for a paper check or a deposit into an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account or to buy gift cards.

As long as your account remains open and you can actively make purchases, your points will never expire. However, you will forfeit your points if you or Bank of America closes your account.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

¹Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

*The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Ben Luthi is a freelance writer who covers all things personal finance and travel. His work has appeared in dozens of online publications. Ben lives in Salt Lake City with his two children and two cats.

Glen Luke Flanagan is a deputy editor on the USA TODAY Blueprint credit cards team. Prior to joining Blueprint, he served as a deputy editor on the credit cards team at Forbes Advisor, and covered credit cards, credit scoring and related topics as a senior writer at LendingTree. He’s passionate about helping people understand personal finance so they can make the best decisions possible for their wallet. Glen holds a master's degree in technical and professional communication from East Carolina University and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Radford University.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card review: A simple travel rewards card with basic features

Our take: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card stands out for its simplicity: It’s a $0-annual fee card that earns simple, flat-rate rewards that you can redeem as statement credits for travel or dining.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus, reward rates.

• 1.5x 1.5 points on all purchases
• Easy to redeem rewards for dining and travel
• Offers welcome bonus
• Extra rewards for Preferred Rewards members
• No notable travel benefits
• No travel transfer partners
• Free FICO score, Balance Connect® for overdraft protection
• Foreign transaction fee: None

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: Overview

Card type: Travel

With no annual fees or foreign transaction fees, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card is an appealing choice for budget travelers or anyone who wants simplicity in their travel credit card. Although the rewards earned on this card lack the versatility you might find in cards that offer the ability to transfer rewards to loyalty programs or book travel through the card issuer’s portal, this card does allow you to redeem their points for statement credits for travel and dining, as cash back, or to purchase gift cards.

Who is the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card good for?

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card is well-suited for budget-conscious travelers who prioritize simplicity over extravagant perks. Plus, with the card’s 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening, the card can be a valuable tool for those looking to finance big-ticket purchases or consolidate their debt.

Who shouldn’t get the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card?

Those who prioritize reward flexibility, lavish travel benefits, and a substantial welcome bonus may find the Travel Rewards Credit Card less appealing. The card’s modest welcome offer, and absence of transfer partners for airline or hotel loyalty programs could be drawbacks for those seeking more extensive rewards and perks. 

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: How to earn rewards

The rewards structure is easy to understand—there are no rotating categories to keep track of or activate or different rewards rates. Cardholders earn a flat 1.5 points on all purchases. 

You’re also eligible to earn a modest welcome offer that’s worth 25,000 points, or $250, if you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. 

How to redeem Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card points

There are only a few ways to redeem your points with the Travel Rewards Card You can use your rewards to book travel, cover travel and dining purchases, get cash-back as a statement credit, and buy gift cards.

However, when you redeem for cash or gift cards, you may not get the best value. One point is valued at 0.6 cents, so 2,500 points will only give you $15. There’s a 2,500 point minimum redemption requirement, too. The redemption value for gift cards will vary.. Travel and dining credits are typically the best value for your rewards, where a point is worth one cent.

Get a statement credit for travel or dining

To redeem points with the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card, you can get a statement credit to offset eligible travel—like airlines, hotels, car rentals—and dining purchases made within the past 12 months. There’s a 2,500 point minimum redemption requirement. 

When you redeem your points this way, one point is worth one cent. 

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card rates and fees

• Annual fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases made in the first 60 days of account opening, then the standard variable APR will apply.
• Purchase APR: 18.24%–28.24% variable
• 0% APR balance transfer:  0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days of account opening. After that, the APR is 18.24%–28.24% variable
• Balance transfer fee: 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4% will apply
• Penalty fee: up to $40 for late payments

Additional benefits

• Free FICO Score. Through online and the mobile banking app, you can access your FICO Score from TransUnion, which is updated monthly, for free.

Credit cards similar to Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee travel card with greater flexibility than  the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card, there are other options to consider. Here’s a look at how some of the competition stacks up. 

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card vs. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card boasts a versatile rewards program, although the rewards rate is slightly lower.. The Bank of America Travel Rewards card earns  1.5 points per dollar, the VentureOne offers a slightly lower 1.25 miles per dollar, but it does earn with 5 miles per dollar on prepaid hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel.

The VentureOne also has a decent welcome offer for a no-annual-fee card of 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. 

But the biggest benefit the VentureOne Card has over the Bank of America Travel Rewards card is the redemption flexibility. With this card, you can transfer your miles to over 15 of Capital One’s travel loyalty programs, so you can potentially wring even more value from your rewards. You can also book a trip through Capital One Travel, get reimbursed for travel purchases made within the previous 9- days, or opt for a statement credit, although like the Bank of America card, this last option is also worth less than a penny per point. 

Discover it® Miles vs. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

Just like the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card, the Discover it® Miles card dishes out 1.5 miles on general purchases, without any annual or foreign transaction fees. But a key distinction between these two cards lies in the redemption options. You cannot use your miles to make a purchase, but you can redeem them for a statement credit against a travel purchase made within the last 180 days. Or, you can simply apply your earnings as a cash-back statement credit without any travel involved. Either way, a mile is worth a penny a point. Allowing you to take cash back at the same value as a travel reimbursement is a much better option than the less than a penny per point cash-back option on the Bank of America Travel Rewards card.  

The Discover it Miles card also goes the extra mile when it comes to a welcome offer. Instead of an upfront offer after meeting a minimum spending requirement, the issuer doubles the rewards you earn in the first year. For example, if you earned a total of 50,000 miles in the first year, you would earn an additional 50,000 miles at the end of the year.

Is the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card right for you?

The Bank of America Travel Rewards Card is best for those looking for a no-frills travel card who can take advantage of the card’s 0% APR offer. It’s also best for someone who wants to use the earnings on a travel rewards card solely for travel, and doesn’t mind not taking cash-back. 

However, potential users should be aware of its limitations, including the limitations on redemption. Most people will fare better with a card that offers 2% cash back, which is both more rewarding and allows you to use your money on anything you’d like, travel or otherwise.

Frequently asked questions

Is it hard to get a bank of america® travel rewards credit card.

Since the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card is a rewards card, you’ll likely need a good or better FICO Score, which starts at 670 or higher.However, keep in mind there is no one set score which will guarantee you’ll be approved for a card as issuers take several factors into consideration when determining approval.

Is the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card worth it?

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card may be worth it for some—it’s a solid option for budget-conscious travelers seeking simple rewards who may only want to redeem their rewards for travel one way.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

Travel credit card reviews

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How to use your rewards to book a trip through the Bank of America Travel Center

Some cardholders can earn bonus points on trips booked through the bank's travel center

Published: February 15, 2022

Author: Emily Sherman

Editor: Kaitlyn Tang

Reviewer: Liz Bingler

Why trust us?

If you are a Bank of America travel cardholder, booking a trip through the bank’s travel center is a great option for redeeming points. However, you might be able to find a better deal on another booking platform.

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Please review our list of best credit cards , or use our CardMatch™ tool to find cards matched to your needs.

The Bank of America content was last updated on Feb. 14, 2022.

If you have the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card , Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card  or Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card* , you might have considered booking your next trip through the Bank of America Travel Center. However, does the Bank of America Travel Center offer good value, or are you better off redeeming points for an outside travel purchase?

Bank of America points are very flexible, and cardholders can book travel on a third-party travel site and redeem rewards for that purchase up to a year after it was made. That means you can hunt for a great deal without worrying about losing any point value. On the flip side, Bank of America Travel Rewards and Business Advantage Travel Rewards cardholders get a higher rewards rate on purchases made through the Travel Center – making it tempting to book through Bank of America.

What is the Bank of America Travel Center?

The Bank of America Travel Center is the bank’s travel booking platform, designed for travel rewards cardholders to easily redeem their points for flights, hotels and car rentals. Eligible cardholders can access the Travel Center directly from their online account to make booking their next vacation simple.

How to book a trip through the Bank of America Travel Center

When you sign into your Bank of America credit card account, you can view all the ways you can redeem your points. To get to the Travel Center right from this page, just select “Book now.”

Through your account, you’ll be able to search for a flight, hotel or car rental just like you would with any third-party booking site.

Booking flights

When you search for your preferred flight in the Bank of America Travel Center, you’ll be able to easily filter between your preferred airlines. Each search result has a score out of 10 to help you determine if it’s a good deal and flight path.

Booking hotels

Like booking a flight, booking a hotel on the Bank of America Travel Center is very straightforward. You just enter in information about your destination and travel dates. In the search results, some properties with good deals or temporary discounts are flagged as “Special Price” to help you ensure you find the best deal.

Booking car rentals

The final travel purchase you can book on the Bank of America Travel Center is a rental car. Once again, the search is very straightforward, and you’ll be presented with a wide variety of rental car providers.

Unfortunately, the Bank of America Travel Center doesn’t offer vacation packages, cruises, experiences or other kinds of travel purchases – like many other bank travel portals.

Drawbacks to booking travel through the Bank of America Travel Center

Though the Bank of America Travel Center is certainly easy to use, there are a few drawbacks to booking this way.

No hotel elite benefits

If you are part of a hotel loyalty program , you might not be able to take advantage of your elite status perks when you book through a third-party booking site. Since Bank of America points are flexible and can be redeemed for most travel purchases, frequent travelers who want to enjoy these benefits might be better off booking directly with the property itself and redeeming points for a statement credit after the fact.

Only Bank of America travel cardholders can book through the Travel Center

While some travel portals – like American Express Travel – allow anyone to book a trip on the site, the Bank of America Travel Center is limited to cardholders who earn travel rewards with the bank. If you have a checking or savings account with Bank of America or a card that just earns cash back, you can’t take advantage of the platform.

Is booking through the Bank of America Travel Center worth it?

While booking through the Bank of America Travel Center is certainly convenient, it doesn’t have much that separates it from booking on another site. You’ll get the same point value either way, and prices are competitive across booking platforms.

Bank of America Travel Center rates compared to other booking sites

In general, the prices you can find on the Bank of America Travel Center are competitive with rates on other sides. For example, take this flight from Charlotte to Chicago.

Whether you book the trip through Bank of America, United or Priceline, it’ll cost you the same amount.

Though prices are not typically better than other sites, there is one case where booking through Bank of America makes more sense. If you have a Bank of America Travel Rewards or Business Advantage Travel Rewards card, you get a higher rewards rate on purchases made through the portal. To quickly rack up points to use toward your next trip, book on the Bank of America Travel Center.

Tips for maximizing the Bank of America Travel Center

• Always compare prices to other booking sites to ensure you are getting the best deal. You can redeem points for a statement credit to cover an outside travel purchase.
• Pay any cost you can cover with points with a Bank of America Travel Rewards card or Business Advantage Travel Rewards card to earn bonus points on those purchases.
• Keep an eye out for special prices on hotels to save on your next trip.

Bottom line

The Bank of America Travel Center is a straightforward booking platform and an easy way to redeem your rewards. If you have a Bank of America Travel Rewards card, you can also earn extra points on purchases made there. However, since you can redeem points for an outside travel purchase retroactively, there aren’t many other perks to booking through Bank of America.

*All information about the Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard credit card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.

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The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.

Emily Sherman is a senior editor at CreditCards.com, focusing on product news and recommendations. She is also one of the founders of To Her Credit, a biweekly series of financial advice by women, for women. When she's not writing about credit cards, she's putting her own points and miles to use planning her next big vacation.

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BankAmericard benefits guide

The BankAmericard offers many compelling rewards and benefits, including 18 billing cycles of 0% APR promotional financing on both new purchases and balance transfers (followed by 12.99% to 22.99% variable APR). You can also receive a $100 statement credit if you meet the spending requirement, plus access to other valuable benefits. 

BankAmeriDeals program guide

Bank of America credit and debit card holders can earn extra cash back on everyday purchases with BankAmeriDeals.

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How to use the Bank of America Premium Rewards card airline fee credit

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card continues to fly under the radar , despite having the potential to offer the highest base cash-back rate of any rewards credit card.

If you hold $100,000 or more in assets with Bank of America and/or Merrill, you qualify for Platinum Honors in Bank of America's Preferred Rewards® program . This gives you a 75% bonus on all rewards, equating to a minimum of 2.625 points per dollar on all purchases and 3.5 points per dollar on all dining and travel purchases.

The card is also currently offering 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on the card in the first 90 days of account opening, and it carries a $95 annual fee.

How the Bank of America airline fee credit works

Bank of America's airline fee credit (up to $100 statement credit each calendar year) works a little differently from the airline incidental fee statement credit you get with Amex cards such as The Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates and fees ). Rather than have to designate an airline at the beginning of the year, Bank of America allows you to earn the credit across any eligible airline throughout the year. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

For example, you could use your Bank of America airline fee credit for checked bags on Delta one month and then inflight drinks on American the next. This gives you more flexibility to use your credit where you need it, rather than forcing you to guess which single airline you'll be able to use it on.

It can potentially take anywhere from two to three weeks for your credit to post to your card account. While there are plenty of instances where we've seen that take less, don't be alarmed if it does take the whole timeframe.

Another feature that Bank of America offers is the ability to check how much of your $100 airline credit you have used.

Which airlines qualify for the credit?

Bank of America does not have an official list published that outlines which airlines qualify for the incidental fee credit, though the terms and conditions do specify that only select U.S. carriers qualify. According to some readers, Spirit Airlines and Sun Country Airlines are excluded. The following airlines are known to work:

• Alaska Airlines.
• American Airlines.
• Delta Air Lines.
• Frontier Airlines.
• Hawaiian Airlines.
• Southwest Airlines.
• United Airlines.

That list is very similar to Amex's list of qualifying airlines (with the exception of Spirit Airlines, which the Amex fee does cover).

What purchases trigger the credit?

According to the Premium Rewards Card terms and conditions , the following purchases will trigger your Bank of America airline fee credit:

• Preferred seating upgrades.
• Ticket change/cancellation fees .
• Checked baggage fees.
• Inflight entertainment.
• Onboard food and drink charges.
• Airport lounge fees affiliated with eligible airline carriers.

The purchases have to be paid in full with your Bank of America Premium Rewards card, and they must be made on a flight originating from a domestic airport on a qualifying U.S. airline carrier.

The terms and conditions do explicitly state that the following purchases will not qualify for the credit:

• Airline tickets.
• Mileage point purchases.
• Mileage point transfer fees.
• Gift cards.
• Duty-free purchases.
• Award tickets and fees incurred with airline alliance partners.

Also keep in mind that inflight Wi-Fi access processed through a third party like Gogo likely will not qualify.

Of course, there are sometimes exceptions to this rule. There have been data points presented by readers and in other online forums where charges outside the official list have counted. Occasionally award booking taxes, first-class upgrades and other fees will end up coding as an eligible purchase for the credit.

However, we don't suggest counting on credit for fees that the credit isn't intended to cover — it's hit-or-miss at best and easier to just use the perk as intended. In the past, you could get away with buying gift cards on certain airlines with the credit, but issuers have cracked down to close that loophole .

Bottom Line

Airlines can change the merchant category code of a certain transaction, Bank of America could update what merchant codes and charges count, and airlines can change whether or not something is processed by a third party. This means what counts toward the credit will be a living list year-to-year based on what's currently working.

If you've charged what you believe to be a qualifying airline fee and it's not automatically reimbursed, you can call Bank of America and ask for the credit.

And if you hold the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card, we'd love you to share your experience with us so we can keep the list up to date. Email [email protected] and mention this post.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here .

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Richard Kerr.

Updated 12/06/2023.

How to use Bank of America travel rewards points

Key takeaways.

• T he Bank of America travel rewards program can be lucrative and flexible, but the specifics of how you’ll earn points in this program depend on which credit card you sign up for.
• Bank of America travel rewards points can generally be redeemed for eligible travel purchases, cash back and gift cards.
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can earn an additional 25 percent to 75 percent more in rewards for each dollar spent.

Many credit card issuers boast a lineup of rewards credit cards that let you earn cash back, points or miles on travel, and Bank of America is no exception. Although not as popular as travel credit cards from Chase or American Express, Bank of America travel cards can be rather lucrative and flexible — but the specifics will depend on which credit card you sign up for.

If you’re ready to give the Bank of America travel rewards program a chance, you should find out which Bank of America credit cards let you earn rewards for travel, which travel rewards benefits are offered and how to use Bank of America travel rewards points to your advantage.

Which Bank of America cards earn travel rewards?

The main two Bank of America travel rewards cards are the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card . However, Bank of America also offers the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card * and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students .

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card: Best for no annual fee

• Welcome bonus: 25,000 online bonus points ($250 statement credit value toward travel purchases) if you make $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of opening the account
• Rewards rate: Unlimited 1.5X points per dollar on all purchases; 3X points on Bank of America Travel Center purchases
• Annual fee:  $0
• Notable perks: No foreign transaction fees, flexible travel rewards

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card: Best for occasional travelers

• Welcome bonus: 60,000 online bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
• Rewards rate: Unlimited 2X points per dollar on travel and dining; 1.5X points per dollar on all other purchases
• Annual fee:  $95
• Notable perks: Up to $100 in statement credits per year for incidental airline expenses to cover eligible costs; up to a $100 statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years; no foreign transaction fees

Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card: Best for frequent travelers

• Welcome bonus: 75,000 online bonus points (a $750 value) after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
• Rewards rate:  Unlimited 2X points on dining and travel purchases; unlimited 1.5X points on all other purchases
• Annual fee: $550
• Notable perks: Up to $300 annually in airline incidental statement credits for qualifying purchases (like seat upgrades and baggage fees); up to $150 annually for eligible lifestyle conveniences (including video streaming services, food delivery, fitness subscriptions and rideshare services); up to a $100 statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years; complimentary Priority Pass membership; 20 percent off on domestic or international airfare for any class when paid with points

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students: Best for students

• Welcome bonus: 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
• Rewards rate: 1.5X points on all purchases
• Annual fee: $0
• Notable perks: No foreign transactions fees, flexible travel rewards

Which Bank of America travel cards do not earn travel rewards points?

Bank of America also offers a surprising number of co-branded travel credit cards that are geared to loyalists with specific brands. However, these cards do not earn Bank of America travel rewards points. These include:

• Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card
• Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®*
• Allegiant World Mastercard®*
• Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® card*
• Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard®*
• Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature® card*
• Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® *
• Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®*

When it comes to redeeming your Bank of America travel rewards, your options may vary depending on the card you have.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card and Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

With the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card and the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students, you can use your points for:

• Cash back in the form of a check or direct deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account
• A statement credit to cover eligible travel-related purchases

Unlike with other travel rewards programs, you can use your eligible card to book travel with any eligible providers, and Bank of America’s list of qualifying travel purchases is extensive. In addition to airlines, hotels, car rentals and eligible transit, travel-related purchases also include purchases made with eligible cruise lines, parking garages, travel agencies, tourist attractions, art galleries, amusement parks and more.

From there, you can redeem your points for a travel credit statement through your Bank of America account. However, note that you’ll need at least $25 worth of points to redeem for a travel credit.

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card lets you cash in your rewards for:

• Travel bookings through the Bank of America Travel Center
• Cash back in the form of a statement credit or a direct deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account

Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card

With the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card, you can redeem your points for:

• Travel, experiences, event tickets and more through our Bank of America’s Concierge service

How to maximize Bank of America travel rewards points

To get the most of your travel rewards points with Bank of America, you should try to be as strategic as you can. When you go to redeem points, consider the ways you may be able to earn more points on your spending and any ways you can maximize your rewards .

Join the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program

One major way to earn more Bank of America travel rewards involves signing up for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program . Doing so can net you an additional 25 percent to 75 percent more in rewards for each dollar you spend. However, note that you do need to meet certain qualifications to enroll in this program, including:

• An active, eligible Bank of America checking account
• A three-month average combined balance of $20,000 or more in eligible Bank of America accounts and/or Merrill investment accounts

Also, keep in mind that the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program offers additional perks like savings boosters and loan discounts for members with cash on deposit. The following chart shows how much more you could earn in rewards as a member, as well as how much you need to keep in eligible accounts to qualify for each tier.

While the minimum balance requirements are high, the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program can help you earn considerably more points on your spending if you qualify. For example, Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card members in the Platinum Honors tier have the potential to earn up to 3.5X points for every dollar spent on travel and dining purchases and up to 2.62X points on other purchases.

Also, it’s worth noting that there is one more Bank of America Preferred Rewards program tier, Diamond Honors.

Compare pricing in the travel portal

Keep in mind that the Bank of America Travel Center lets you make travel bookings with over 200,000 hotels and resorts and more than 200 airlines, among other options. Since some Bank of America travel rewards credit cards let you redeem your points for either travel-related statement credits or travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center, you should compare the prices offered in the travel portal with other travel sites. By comparing prices, you can make sure you get the best deal.

Pick a card with an annual fee

Finally, make sure to think about your goals before you sign up for a travel credit card from this issuer. After all, a card with an annual fee comes with more benefits and perks. For example, when you pay the $95 annual fee for the Bank of America Premium Rewards card, you’ll get higher rewards rates on travel and dining spending, up to a $100 annual credit for incidental airline expenses to cover eligible costs and up to a $100 application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership every four years. All of this could easily leave you “ahead” in a financial sense.

The bottom line

Bank of America travel rewards can work differently depending on the card you sign up for, so make sure to compare all the rewards card options available before you decide on a card. In the meantime, spend some time comparing cards from this issuer to travel rewards credit cards from other major issuers. You may find that Bank of America has what you’re looking for in a travel rewards card, but you’ll never know for sure unless you check.

The Bank of America content in this post was last updated on June 23, 2023.

The information about the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card was updated on June 23, 2023.

*The information about the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card, Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®, Allegiant World Mastercard®, Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® card, Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard®, Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature® card, Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® and Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Bank of America travel rewards guide

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Bank of America’s travel rewards program isn’t as lucrative or extensive as what rivals like American Express or Chase offer, but some cardholders may find value in its simplicity.

If you’ve got one or more Bank of America credit cards that allow you to earn and redeem rewards for travel, or are interested in applying for one, this guide can help explain the basics of the bank’s travel program, including how to earn and redeem travel rewards points and more.

Bank of America travel rewards basics

Compared to other issuers, Bank of America has a smaller portfolio of travel credit cards , but there are some similarities in how you earn and redeem travel rewards with each card.

Essentially, you can redeem the rewards you earn for statement credits to cover travel-related purchases. Some Bank of America travel cards may also allow you to cover purchases like dining with your award statement credits.

With each card, you’ll also gain access to the Bank of America Travel Center , where you can search for travel deals and pay with cash or rewards. The site operates much like a travel search engine, similar to Expedia or Orbitz.

Although the issuer announced the launch of a Partner Rewards program accessible to Bank of America credit card and debit card holders late last year, the travel rewards program still lacks travel transfer partners.

However, as we’ll explain below, being a member of Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program could increase the value of the rewards you earn by 25 to 75 percent, should you have enough in a qualifying Bank of America account.

Bank of America travel credit cards

As mentioned, Bank of America has only a handful of cards that offer ongoing rewards and travel-focused perks. Here are the cards you can choose from:

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card

• Rewards rate : Unlimited 1.5X points on all purchases
• Welcome bonus : 25,000 bonus points when you make $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of opening the account (worth $250 toward travel purchases)
• Annual fee : $0
• Additional perks : No foreign transaction fees ; long zero-interest offer on purchases and balance transfers; Visa Signature benefits

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is an entry-level travel credit card that allows you to earn basic travel rewards without paying an annual fee. Its rewards rate is simple; just swipe and earn 1.5X points on all of your spending without any limit. There’s no need to track spending categories or activate any special offer on your account to receive your rewards. Further, you can also earn 3X points on travel bookings and other purchases through the Bank of America Travel Center (except for insurance).

If you’re in the market to pay off existing credit card debt or fund an upcoming purchase, this card can be a good option thanks to its 0 percent intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made within the first 60 days (followed by variable APR between 17.49 percent and 27.49 percent).

For more information on card perks, read our Bank of America Travel Rewards card benefits guide .

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

• Rewards rate : Unlimited 2X points on travel and dining purchases; 1.5X points on all other purchases
• Welcome bonus : 50,000 bonus points when you make $3,000 in purchases within 90 days of account opening
• Annual fee : $95
• Additional perks : $100 incidental airline credit; up to $100 in credits toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck; Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection perks; no foreign transaction fees

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card offers another level of travel rewards: 2X back on all travel and dining purchases and a flat 1.5X rate on everything else. Plus, its welcome bonus is relatively easy to earn for an annual-fee-carrying travel card — spend just $1,000 a month for your first three months and receive 50,000 bonus points.

The card also offers statement credits toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership every four years and an annual airline incidental credit. And with Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection perks, you can enjoy automatic room upgrades, late checkout, complimentary breakfast and more.

Read our Bank of America Premium Rewards card benefits guide for more information on all the card has to offer.

Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite credit card*

• Annual fee : $550
• Additional perks : $300 in annual airline incidental statement credits; $150 in annual lifestyle statement credits; up to $100 in credits toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck; complimentary Priority Pass Select membership; 20 percent off airfare redemptions through the Bank of America Travel Center; Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection perks; no foreign transaction fees

While the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite credit card, launched late last year, has the same rewards structure and welcome bonus as the Premium Rewards card, it’s packed with a few more benefits to ease its $550 annual fee.

Enjoy $200 more in airline incidental statement credits compared to the Premium Rewards card, the same Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit opportunity and Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection perk access. Plus, you’ll get $150 in lifestyle statement credits each year toward things like food delivery and streaming service costs, discounts on airfare redemptions through the Travel Center as well as Priority Pass Select membership, giving you access to 1,300-plus airport lounges worldwide.

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students*

• Rewards rate : 1.5X points on all purchases
• Welcome bonus : 25,000 points after spending $1,000 in purchases within your first 90 days
• Additional perks : No foreign transaction fees; zero-interest offer on purchases

Although its features and benefits are minimal, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students  can be a good entry-level card for students with little-to-no credit history. You’ll get 1.5X points on all purchases, plus the ability to redeem rewards for a statement credit on qualifying travel purchases.

There’s also a 0 percent intro APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles (followed by a variable APR between 17.49 percent and 27.49 percent), which can help students who have a large purchases on the horizon that they’d like to pay off over time (think textbooks or dorm supplies).

Who are Bank of America travel cards best for?

As noted, this travel rewards program is best if you want simplicity and flexibility in earning and redeeming travel rewards. The Bank of America rewards cards listed above allow you to use your rewards to cover eligible travel purchases. Other redemption options include cash and gift cards.

If you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards program member, you’ll get much more value than other cardholders. This invitation-only program gives you access to special offers and discounts based on the combined balance of qualifying Bank of America or Merrill Investment accounts. Here’s a look at the five tiers offered:

How to earn Bank of America travel rewards points

The only thing you need to do to earn rewards is use your Bank of America card for eligible purchases; you don’t need to keep track of rotating bonus categories or activate offers in your Bank of America account to earn rewards. For some of the travel cards we mentioned above, you’ll earn more rewards in travel and dining categories, but there’s no need to track or apply for your rewards.

Additionally, Bank of America’s travel and dining categories are more extensive than those of most travel rewards cards:

How to redeem Bank of America travel rewards points

You can redeem rewards for a statement credit to cover eligible travel purchases. Other redemption options include cash as a check or direct deposit into an eligible Merrill Cash Management Account or a gift card. Travel credits and cash rewards redemptions require a minimum of 2,500 points, and gift cards require 3,125 points to redeem.

How much are Bank of America travel rewards points worth?

Bank of America travel rewards are worth 1 cent per point, according to Bankrate’s points valuations . Redemptions for cash or gift cards may be of lesser value.

How do Bank of America travel rewards compare to other points’ values?

In most cases, your Bank of America travel rewards points are worth 1 cent per point. In other cases, such as the Premium Rewards Elite credit card, your rewards points can get a 20 percent boost for travel bookings through the Travel Center — not to mention rewards boosts from Preferred Rewards membership.

Issuers such as Chase, American Express and Capital One offer similar boosts for redeeming points through their travel portals. However, those issuers also have transfer partners that can allow you to get more value for travel purchases like airfare, hotel and car rentals.

Bank of America doesn’t yet have this in place. If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, that may make up for the lack of travel partners, but it’s something you’d have to analyze on a case-by-case basis.

Bank of America travel rewards frequently asked questions

Do bank of america travel rewards expire, can i share points with friends and family members, can you buy bank of america travel rewards points, the bottom line.

Bank of America’s travel rewards program isn’t as attractive as those of other major issuers. But if you’re willing to accept some of the other competitive program advantages — namely, the extensive travel and dining categories and Preferred Rewards bonuses — it may be worth it.

Truthfully, if you’re at least a semi-frequent traveler, you’ll find much better value from rewards programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards .

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card information was updated on March 1, 2023.

*All information about the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite credit card and Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has been collected independently by Bankrate and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.

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Russia-Ukraine war – live: Putin to give shock G20 speech as Moscow troops desert Donetsk frontline

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Vladimir Putin will set out Russia ’s view of the “deeply unstable world situation” in a shock G20 speech this week, the Kremlin has said, as Ukraine claimed growing numbers of Moscow’s troops were deserting the frontline in Donetsk .

Ukraine’s military has been bracing for a “third wave” of Russian assaults on the key city of Avdiivka – but a spokesperson claimed Moscow was being forced to rely increasingly on penal recruits and reservists due to its soldiers refusing to take part in casualty-heavy assaults.

Further south, Kyiv ’s forces claimed to have pushed Mr Putin’s forces three to eight kilometres back on the banks of the Dnipro River , in what would mark the first significant advance by Kyiv’s forces months into a grindingly slow counteroffensive.

Ukrainian and Russian forces have been entrenched on opposite sides of the vast waterway in Kherson for more than a year, until Kyiv claimed last week to have finally established multiple footholds on the river’s eastern bank.

Ukrainian army pushing Russian forces back at Dnipro river

Russia launches waves of drone strikes on Kyiv for second night

Cluster bombs in battle for Avdiivka fuelling stalemate on frontline, says UK

Ukraine establishes 'several bridgeheads' on eastern bank of Dnipro

Russian defence minister claims Ukraine failing to cross the Dnipro River

11:08 , Tom Watling

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu has claimed that Ukraine have failed to carry out a landing operation in the Kherson region, the Interfax news agency reported.

The Russian politician, a senior figure involved in the “special military operation” and an integral member of Vladimir Putin’s siloviki (inner circle), was echoing dismissive claims made by the official channel of his own ministry earlier today.

Andriy Shevchenko urges the world not to forget Ukraine: ‘The cold is coming. Russia will try to hit our energy’

10:45 , Tom Watling

Almost two years into Russia’s devastating invasion, one of Ukraine’s most famous exports is desperate to keep shining a light on his country’s plight, writes Lawrence Ostlere , as global attention shifts to the Middle East.n

Andriy Shevchenko on Ukraine: ‘The cold is coming. Russia will try to hit our energy’

Russia says co-existence not possible with Ukraine's current 'regime'

10:20 , Tom Watling

Russia cannot co-exist with the current Ukrainian “regime” and will resist the might of the NATO military alliance for as long as Moscow needs to achieve its aims, a senior Russian foreign ministry diplomat said on Tuesday.

“The current regime is absolutely toxic, we do not see any options for co-existence with it at the moment,” Russian Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik told reporters in Moscow.

Miroshnik said Ukraine had carried out crimes against civilians and that NATO had supplied forbidden weapons to Ukraine but that the West would eventually lose interest in Ukraine.

“We can resist NATO just as much as we need to fulfill the tasks that the president has formulated,” Miroshnik said.

European Council president arrives in Kyiv to discuss ‘next steps’ of EU accession

09:54 , Tom Watling

Charles Michel, the European Council president, has also arrived in Kyiv ahead of talks about Ukrainian accession to the European Union.

Moldovan leader Maia Sandu arrived in the Ukrainian capital earlier this morning, as did German defence minister Boris Pistorius.

In a statement on X, Ms Sandu said that “discussing the next steps in EU accession of Moldova and Ukraine” was on the agenda for discussions.

She added that “enhancing regional security” as well as discussion on the “EU’s continued support of reforms and development in our countries” would also be a part of meetings today.

Mr Michel was greeted by the EU’s ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, at Kyiv’s railway station. She can be seen shaking Mr Michel’s hand below in a picture posted by the European Council chief to X. He captioned the photo: “Good to be back in Kyiv - among friends.”

Good to be back in Kyiv – among friends. pic.twitter.com/w9cAQzqYyo — Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) November 21, 2023

‘It’s like Covid’: Zelensky says Putin has made ‘five or six’ attempts on his life

09:48 , Tom Watling

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that at least “five or six” Russian attempts to assassinate him have been foiled by his security services.

The wartime leader, speaking from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, said the volume of attempts had turned him almost numb to the danger. He compared the later attempts to catching the Covid-19 infection.

“The first one is very interesting , when it is the first time, and after that it is just like Covid,” he said in a new interview.

You can read the full story here.

Ukraine air defence downs 9 out of 10 Russian drones

09:35 , Tom Watling

Ukraine air defence shot down one missile and 9 out of 10 drones in a Russian overnight strike, the nation’s air force has said.

The air force said in a statement the Russian forces launched Iranian-made drones from Russian territory on several directions.

US announce $100m aid package for Ukraine

09:17 , Tom Watling

The US have announced that they will send an additional $100 million in security aid to Ukraine.

The pledge follows US defence secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to Kyiv yesterday, during which he promised American support “for the long haul”.

Included in the latest package is one High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and an unspecified number of shells.

Ukraine’s ministry of defence welcomed the package in a statement on X. The amount, however, is minimal to the point of nominal; Ukraine has been using billions of dollars worth of munitions and heavy weaponry every month.

While the US Congress remains frozen without a fiscal plan for next year, they are unable to send more significant packages to Ukraine.

🇺🇸 @DeptofDefense announced additional security assistance for Ukraine valued at up to $100 million. Thank you for supporting Ukraine in our struggle against russian aggression. The capabilities in this package include: ◾️1 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and… — Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) November 21, 2023

Moldova's president Maia Sandu arrives in Ukraine

09:09 , Tom Watling

Moldova’s President Maia Sandu have arrived in Kyiv, the Ukrainian presidential office said on Tuesday.

Sandu and Ukraine‘s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy honoured the memory of people who died during the Revolution of Dignity 10 year ago, the office said on social media platform X.

German defence minister Boris Pistorius also arrived on Tuesday morning in Kyiv.

Today marks 10 years since the start of Euromaidan, a defining moment for Ukraine’s European path. Together with @ZelenskyyUa and @ZelenskaUA , I honoured all those who stood for freedom and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their legacy lives on. pic.twitter.com/2cti4oFGR2 — Maia Sandu (@sandumaiamd) November 21, 2023

Here are some of the latest pictures from Ukraine

08:30 , Tom Watling

Good morning. Below are some of the latest pictures from Ukraine as German defence minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Kyiv this morning for a secret visit.

His visit comes as snow has begun to fall in eastern Ukraine amid fears of a stalemate on the frontline.

General Valery Zaluzhny, the chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, wrote an article earlier this month in which he said the battle had descended into “positional” warfare and that there would be no major breakthrough such as the one many had hoped the summer counteroffensive would achieve. He met with US defece secretary Lloyd Austin yesterday.

Russia says it scuppers more Ukrainian attempts to cross the Dnipro

07:53 , Tara Cobham

Russia said on Tuesday that marines, aviation and artillery had scuppered more Ukrainian attempts to gain a foothold on the eastern bank of the River Dnipro and on islands at the mouth of the river in southern Ukraine.

Ukraine said this month that its forces had crossed the Dnipro and established several bridgeheads on the eastern banks of the river, though Russia said it was pummelling the Ukrainian positions.

"Black Sea Fleet marines are stopping all attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to carry out amphibious landings on the Dnipro islands and the left bank of the Dnipro River," Russia's defence ministry said.

The Russian defence ministry published a video which it said showed marines from the 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade defeating Ukrainian forces. Soldiers were shown firing a variety of weapons, though the result of the fighting was unclear.

It said Ukrainian forces were suffering heavy casualties and losing equipment in unsuccessful attempts to land on islands in the Dnipro. Reuters was unable to immediately verify battlefield accounts from either side.

It is still unclear how significant the Ukrainian attempt to gain a foothold on the eastern bank of the Dnipro is. Crossing the Dnipro leaves Ukrainian units exposed between river and marshland on one side and heavily fortified Russian lines on the other.

Russian strikes kill two and wound six in eastern Ukraine, say officials

07:42 , Tara Cobham

Two people were killed and six were wounded in overnight Russian missile attacks and shelling in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday.

Missiles hit a hospital in the Donetsk town of Selydove and a coal mine, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on the Telegram messaging service.

"Two buildings of the hospital were damaged, six civilians were injured. There may be victims under the rubble, search operations continue," Klymenko said.

One worker was killed in the attack on the coal mine, he said.

"Four buildings, 19 vehicles and a power line were damaged. 39 miners were trapped underground. As of now, all miners have been brought to the surface," he said.

Invading Russian forces have occupied much of Donetsk and Russia has said it intends to take over the whole region.

In Kharkiv, one person was killed in Russian shelling, the region's governor, Oleh Synehubov, said.

Bodies of Ukrainian and Russian troops exchanged

07:00 , Alexander Butler

The bodies of Ukrainian and Russian troops have been exchanged.

The Coordination Headquarters on the Treatment of Prisoners of War said around 94 Ukrainian troops were returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine said forensic examinations will now take place to identify the bodies.

The bodies of Russian troops were also handed over, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Russia may begin full mobilisation after 2024 presidential election, says senior security official

06:00 , Alexander Butler

Russia may begin full mobilisation after the 2024 Russian presidential election on 17 March, the secretary of the national security and defence council of Ukraine, Oleksii Danilov, has suggested.

Danilov said in a speech to the International Security Forum in Halifax, Canada: “Russia has managed to adapt, and constantly injects funds into its defence sector. Russia proved to be more resilient to the west’s sanctions, as expected.

“Russia is increasingly putting its economy on a war footing. Total mobilisation may follow the 2024 presidential elections.”

Russia lodges protest against Finnish ambassador as country threatens more borders will close

04:00 , Alexander Butler

Russia’s foreign ministry has said it has lodged a formal protest with the Finnish ambassador in Moscow over the closure of four busy border crossings between Russia and Finland.

On Saturday, Finland closed crossings on the shared border in a bid to halt the flow of asylum seekers that it says was instigated by Moscow.

Only four crossing points remain open, which the Russian foreign ministry said has impacted tens of thousands of people in both countries.

Russian drones target Kyiv as UK Defense Ministry says little chance of front-line change

03:00 , Alexander Butler

Russian drones targeted Kyiv on Sunday as the British Defense Ministry said there were “few immediate prospects” for major change along the Ukrainian front line as the war enters its second winter.

Russia launched 20 Iranian-made Shahed drones overnight, targeting the Ukrainian capital and the Cherkasy and Poltava regions, according to a military statement. Ukrainian anti-aircraft systems shot down 15 of the drones.

The overnight strike on Kyiv is the second attack on the Ukrainian capital in 48 hours, said the city’s Military Administration spokesperson, Serhii Popko.

NATO committed to Bosnia's territorial integrity condemns 'malign' Russian influence

01:00 , Alexander Butler

NATO supports Bosnia‘s territorial integrity and is concerned by “malign foreign interference,” including by Russia, in the volatile Balkans region that went through a devastating war in the 1990s, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday.

Sarajevo is the first stop on Stoltenberg’s tour of Western Balkan countries that will also include Kosovo, Serbia and North Macedonia.

“The Allies strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina,” Stoltenberg told reporters. “We are concerned by the secessionist and divisive rhetoric as well as malign foreign interference, including Russia.”

At least 11,000 children in ‘re-education’ camps in Russia, UK ministry of defence says

00:01 , Alexander Butler

Russia is holding at least 11,000 Ukrainian children across 43 “re-education” camps, the UK ministry of defence said.

“At least 11,000 Ukrainian children are reportedly being detained at 43 re-education camps across Russia, thousands of miles from home. Their simple right to life and liberty is being impacted,” the ministry said on X.

At least 11,000 Ukrainian children are reportedly being detained at 43 re-education camps across Russia, thousands of miles from home. Their simple right to life and liberty is being impacted. #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/Dk7Lh9E935 — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) November 20, 2023

Russia bars Moldovan nationals, summoning ambassador

Monday 20 November 2023 22:00 , Alexander Butler

Russia barred entry to a number of officials from Moldova on Monday and complained about moves by its pro-European government to block Russian media outlets ahead of local elections earlier this month.

The moves were the latest in a series of acerbic exchanges between the two sides and allegations by Moldova that Russia has been exerting pressure on the ex-Soviet state’s affairs and President Maia Sandu’s drive to join the European Union.

A Russian foreign ministry statement said Moldovan Ambassador Lilian Darie was summoned to be told of the decision.

“The Moldovan side was presented with a decisive protest in connection with the continuing politically motivated persecution of Russian media in Moldova, including the blocking of access to their Internet sites,” a ministry statement said.

The US is with Ukraine ‘for the long haul’, defence secretary tells Zelensky

Monday 20 November 2023 20:13 , Alexander Butler

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said the country remains behind Ukraine as it continues its war with Russia. It comes after announcing a further package of defensive aid worth $100m.

“The message that I bring you today is that the United States of America is with you. We will remain with you for the long haul,” Mr Austin said.

He added: “I think they are prepared for combat in the winter. They did a great job last year. This year we expect them to be, just based on what President Zelensky has said, them to be even more aggressive.”

Ukrainian sniper ‘breaks world record after killing Russian solider nearly 2.5 miles away’

Monday 20 November 2023 18:12 , Alexander Butler

A Ukrainian sniper claims to have broken the world record by killing a Russian soldier almost 2.5 miles away, with a custom rifle called ‘Lord of the Horizon’, Holly Evans reports.

The previous record was held by a Canadian special operations sniper at a distance of 2.2 miles in Iraq in 2017.

In a press statement, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said: “The SBU sniper set a world record for a successful shot.

“He hit a Russian soldier from an incredible distance.

“SBU snipers are changing the rules of world sniping, demonstrating the ability to work effectively at fantastic distances.”

Ukrainian sniper ‘breaks world record after killing solider nearly 2.5 miles away’

Full report: Russia puts Ukrainian winner of Eurovision Song Contest on wanted list

Monday 20 November 2023 17:14 , Andy Gregory

Russia has placed a Ukrainian singer who won the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest on its wanted list, state news agencies reported Monday.

The independent news site Mediazona said singer Susana Jamaladinova was charged under a Russian law adopted last year which outlaws spreading so-called fake information about the war in Ukraine.

Russia puts Ukrainian winner of Eurovision Song Contest on wanted list

Volodymyr Zelensky meets with Lachlan Murdoch in Kyiv

Monday 20 November 2023 16:46 , Andy Gregory

Volodymyr Zelensky has met Fox Corp chief executive Lachlan Murdoch in the Ukrainian capital, in what Kyiv described as a “very important signal” of support at a time when global media attention has shifted from the war in Ukraine.

“The Head of State thanked Lachlan Murdoch for his visit and emphasised that it is a very important signal of support at the time when the world’s attention is blurred by other events,” the Ukrainian president’s office said.

Mr Zelensky was quoted by his office as saying it was vital to keep the world’s attention focused on the war in Ukraine, adding: “For us, for our warriors, this is not a movie. These are our lives. This is daily hard work. And it will not be over as quickly as we would like, but we have no right to give up and we will not.”

Fox News journalist Benjamin Hall, who was badly wounded covering the war in Ukraine last year, and Sun journalist Jerome Starkey were also invited to the meeting with Rupert Murdoch’s eldest son, who was named the sole chair of News Corp in September.

ICYMI: Zelensky invites Trump to Ukraine after claims he could stop war in 24 hours

Monday 20 November 2023 16:24 , Andy Gregory

Opinion | Ukrainian victory is all but certain – so long as its allies do not seek a ‘way out'

Monday 20 November 2023 16:03 , Andy Gregory

In this Independent Voices piece, James Nixey of Chatham House writes:

Calling the war a stalemate is an obvious example of self-defeat: if it is believed that Ukraine cannot win the war, then Ukraine will not be given weapons to win the war which, in turn, means … they will not win the war. It takes rare political courage to imagine Ukraine’s victory, although EU officials Ursula von der Leyen and Josep Borrell have managed this.

Ukraine’s EU accession, likely and in progress, and Nato accession, less likely in times of war and very dependent on US backing, will be a hollow victory if its resources dry up. Russia has had a poor war – its Black Sea fleet has retreated from Crimea, meaning it will have problems defending the peninsula, and Ukraine’s counter-offensive at Avdiivka has been costly for Russia.

But Russia can absorb costs like no other. Its industry is war-mobilised and its soldiers are dispensable, replaceable commodities. Depopulation and brain drain are problems for another day and arguably affect Ukraine more. Nor should a bad plan be mistaken for a bad army that does not learn from its mistakes. Russia does. And it may have been forced to turn to North Korea to fill a “munitions gap”, but that too has worked.

Vladimir Putin’s ideology is delusional of course, but he remains deeply committed to seeing his war through to a successful conclusion: “all in” and long since recovered from the Prigozhin affair, he surely believes he can win.

But it also remains the case that a Ukrainian victory is possible – more than possible. In fact, it is all but certain; but only if Western countries do not “get tired”, do not look for a “way out”, and if Ukraine is given the tools to finish the job.

Russia’s plan B in Ukraine is working – the West must not turn away now

‘Double standards’ in Israel-Hamas conflict have ‘undermined fight' for Ukraine, says Varadkar

Monday 20 November 2023 15:38 , Andy Gregory

Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said there is “double standards” from the EU and some Western powers in relation to Israel and Palestine.

The Taoiseach said the stance of some Western countries in response to the Israel-Hamas war had “undermined the fight” to garner support for Ukraine as it battles against the ongoing Russian invasion.

Here is the full report:

Varadkar raises concerns about EU ‘double standards’ on Israel and Palestine

Kyiv hoping for Poland talks over lorry driver protests

Monday 20 November 2023 15:09 , Andy Gregory

Kyiv hopes to hold a new round of talks with Poland and the European Union this week to resolve an issue with Polish lorry drivers holding protests to block border crossings, a Ukrainian trade representative has said.

“This week we hope to have negotiations in a trilateral format,” Taras Kachka told broadcasters.

Yesterday, some 3,000 mostly Ukrainian lorries – including those carrying fuel and humanitarian aid – were caught on the Polish side of the border due to a more than 10-day blockade by Polish hauliers, Ukrainian officials said.

The hauliers are protesting against what they see as government inaction over a loss of business to foreign competitors since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

US defence secretary meets with Zelensky in Kyiv

Monday 20 November 2023 14:32 , Andy Gregory

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has said he was “honoured” to meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during a surprise visit to Kyiv today – his second since April 2022.

Washington will “continue to support Ukraine’s urgent battlefield needs and long-term defence requirements”, Mr Austin said.

I was honored to meet with President @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv today to reaffirm the United States’ steadfast support for Ukraine. We, along with our allies and partners, will continue to support Ukraine’s urgent battlefield needs and long-term defense requirements. pic.twitter.com/Odv6ClgcrP — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) November 20, 2023

Russia places Eurovision winner on its wanted list

Monday 20 November 2023 14:03 , Andy Gregory

Russia has placed the 2016 winner of the Eurovision Song Contest on its wanted list.

An Interior Ministry database lists Ukrainian singer Susana Jamaladinova – who uses the stage name Jamala, and is of Crimean Tatar descent – as being sought for violating a criminal law, Russian state news agencies reported.

She won the Eurovision contest with the song “1944,” whose title refers to the year the Soviet Union deported Crimean Tatars en masse. Russia protested the song being allowed in the competition, saying it violated rules against political speech. But the song made no specific criticism of Russia or the Soviet Union.

The independent news site Mediazona said Ms Jamaladinova was charged under a Russian law adopted last year to outlaw the spread of so-called fake information about the Ukraine war.

Watch: Lazarus Project star says series predicted Russia-Ukraine war

Monday 20 November 2023 13:35 , Andy Gregory

Top Ukrainian cyber defence officials sacked amid corruption probe

Monday 20 November 2023 13:22 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine has sacked two high-ranking cyber defence officials amid a probe into alleged embezzlement, a senior government official said.

Yurii Shchyhol, head of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSSCIP), and his deputy, Viktor Zhora, were dismissed by the government, cabinet chief Taras Melnychuk said on Monday.

The firings coincided with an announcement by anti-corruption prosecutors that they were investigating officials in cyber defence positions over their alleged roles in a six-person plot to embezzle 62 million Ukrainian hryvnia (£1.38m) in 2021.

Prosecutors did not identify either official by name, and the SSSCIP did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.

Jailed Russian nationalist Girkin hopes to challenge Putin in presidential elections

Monday 20 November 2023 12:56 , Andy Gregory

Pro-war Russian nationalist Igor Girkin has announced that he wants to run for president – despite understanding the upcoming March election will be “sham” with the winner already clear.

Mr Girkin – who is in custody awaiting trial for inciting extremism – has repeatedly said Russia faces revolution and even civil war unless Vladimir Putin’s military top brass fight the war in Ukraine more effectively.

A former FSB officer who helped annex Crimea in 2014 and organise pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine, Mr Girkin said before his arrest that he and his supporters were entering politics.

“I understand perfectly well that in the current situation in Russia, participating in the presidential campaign is like sitting down at a table to play with card sharps,” he said in a letter published on Telegram entitled: “I am going to run.”

Mr Girkin said that he did not think that he would be allowed to take part in the election, but hoped that his attempt to unite patriotic forces would disrupt the Kremlin’s plan for a “sham election” in which “the only winner is known in advance”.

Analysis | Russia’s plan B in Ukraine is working – now is not the moment for the West to turn away

Monday 20 November 2023 12:27 , Andy Gregory

In this Independent Voices piece, James Nixey – director of Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia Programme – writes:

When Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, was fooled recently by two well-known Russian “comics” – surely paid-up Kremlin agents – into saying she was “tired” of the war in Ukraine and that everyone would soon be looking for a “way out”, too many of her counterparts in the West would have tacitly agreed (and perhaps sympathised: she is hardly the first to be pranked by these two).

But Ms Meloni deserves no sympathy. She thought she was talking to the head of the African Union Commission so this should have been a chance to exercise statecraft and reason with the supposed representative from the Global South and argue that Russia’s war in Ukraine is nothing if not colonialist itself – a desperate attempt to maintain its empire.

But Ms Meloni’s admission was worse than just not showing moral leadership. She was also playing into Russia’s hands by parroting its narrative: being tired and looking for a way out of the war is precisely what Vladimir Putin now wants from the Western world.

Nato concerned by secessionist rhetoric and Russian influence in Bosnia

Monday 20 November 2023 11:58 , Andy Gregory

Jens Stoltenberg has said Nato is concerned by secessionist rhetoric and Russian influence in Bosnia, after months of Serb leaders increasingly saying they want to split and join Serbia.

Bosnia emerged from civil war in 1995 with a federal structure uniting a Serb-dominated republic and a federation of Croats and Bosniak Muslims. But the leader of Serbian entity, Milorad Dodik, has increasingly said in recent months that he aims to secede and join neighbouring Serbia.

“We are concerned by secessionist and divisive rhetoric as well as ... foreign interference including Russia,” the Nato chief told reporters in Sarajevo, during a tour of the western Balkans region.

“This undermines the stability and hampers reform,” Mr Stoltenberg said, adding that all political leaders must work to preserve unity, build national institutions and achieve reconciliation.

Nato had deployed about 60,000 troops in Bosnia after the war, which were replaced by an EU peacekeeping force in 2004. Last year, the EU almost doubled its size to 1,100 troops, amid fears that instability from the Ukraine war could spill over to the western Balkans.

Putin to address G20 summit this week, Kremlin says

Monday 20 November 2023 11:15 , Andy Gregory

Vladimir Putin will set out Russia’s view of what it sees as the “deeply unstable world situation” when he addresses an upcoming virtual G20 summit, the Kremlin has said.

Russian state TV presenter Pavel Zarubin said on his Telegram channel on Sunday that it would be the “first event in a long time” including both the Russian president and Western leaders.

According to the state RIA news agency, the G20 virtual summit will be held on Wednesday.

Russia relying on penal recruits to stem increase in deserters on Donetsk frontline, Ukraine claims

Monday 20 November 2023 11:06 , Andy Gregory

Growing numbers of Russian soldiers are deserting the frontline in Donetsk, Ukraine’s military has claimed as it braces for a long-awaited “third wave” of attacks by Moscow’s forces in Avdiivka.

The Institute for Study of War think-tank cited Ukrainian Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun as saying that Russia may soon intensify artillery preparations for the new wave of assaults on the strategically key city.

Moscow’s forces have not actively used heavy military equipment Avdiivka in recent days, have decreased aviation use in the area, and are increasingly using infantry, he said, claiming that Russia’s significant losses mean only 10 to 15 percent of some detachments’ original personnel remain.

In remarks on Sunday, Mr Shtupun claimed there were growing numbers of Russian deserters and personnel who refuse to conduct offensive operations, leading Russian commanders to use physical force and barrier troops to push Russian forces to fight, with an increased reliance on mobilised reservists and penal recruits.

EU sanctions tend to have ‘boomerang effect’, Russia claims

Monday 20 November 2023 10:54 , Andy Gregory

The Kremlin has claimed that European Union sanctions tend to have a “boomerang effect”, as Moscow faces the prospect of an EU ban on imports of Russian diamonds.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that such a move had been anticipated for a long time, but was likely to backfire.

“As a rule, it turns out that a boomerang effect is partially triggered: the interests of the Europeans themselves suffer. So far, we have been able to find ways to minimise the negative consequences of sanctions,” he claimed.

EU diplomatic sources told Reuters last week that the proposal under discussion was to ban direct diamond imports from Russia from 1 January, and to implement a traceability mechanism by March which would prevent imports of Russian gems processed in third countries.

Exclusive: Andriy Shevchenko urges the world not to forget Ukraine

Monday 20 November 2023 10:29 , Andy Gregory

On the morning of 24 February 2022 – a date etched in every Ukrainian’s mind – Andriy Shevchenko was woken by a phone call from his mother. She told him through tears that Russia was invading. Shevchenko was in London, where he lives with his wife and four sons; his mother and wider family were in Ukraine, under attack.

Shevchenko has barely slept since. “It’s almost impossible,” he says. “It’s going to be almost two years since the full war started, and every day I wake up, check the phone – what’s the news? Are we going to be attacked in Kyiv? Are we going to be attacked in a different city? How many drones? How many rockets? Where have the rockets hit? And then, talking to my friends – who’s dead? It’s a normal day for us.”

Shevchenko is using his platform as one of Europe’s greatest footballers, a Ballon d’Or winner and a Chelsea cult hero to keep the spotlight on Ukraine at a time when the world’s attention has turned to the Middle East. In the West, the initial shock caused by Russia’s invasion has subsided, and a sense of normalisation has crept in. He is understandably worried that Ukraine’s cause might be forgotten.

“I hope not,” he says. “Because for us, it’s everything. For us, it’s exist or not exist.”

Our senior sports writer Lawrence Ostlere has the full exclusive interview here:

Andriy Shevchenko on Ukraine: ‘Every day I wake up, check the phone. Who’s dead?’

Kremlin ‘deeply regrets’ Finland’s border closures

Monday 20 November 2023 10:08 , Andy Gregory

The Kremlin has said it deeply regrets Finland’s decision to close crossings along the two countries’ vast border on Saturday.

Finland closed four crossings on Saturday in a bid to halt the flow of asylum-seekers, having accused Moscow of funnelling migrants to the frontier in retaliation for Helsinki’s ascension to Nato and increased Western military cooperation since the invasion of Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied Finland’s accusation on Monday and insisted that Russian border guards were carrying out their duties in line with the rules.

Asked about the closure of the four crossings, Mr Peskov told reporters: “This causes nothing but deep regret, because we had long-standing, very good relations with Finland, pragmatic, based on mutual respect.

“And of course, we regret that these relations were replaced by such an exclusively Russophobic position, which the leaders of this country began to espouse,” he said.

Moscow protest shows lengthy Russian deployments to frontline ‘unsustainable’, says UK

Monday 20 November 2023 09:44 , Andy Gregory

Protests in Moscow by the wives of Russian soldiers show that their lengthy deployments to the front line are increasingly viewed as unsustainable, Britain’s Ministry of Defence suggested.

Russian wives and mothers have been making daily online appeals protesting against the conditions of their loved ones’ service since the invasion of Ukraine last February.

“However, Russia’s draconian legislation has so far prevented troops’ relatives from coalescing into an influential lobbying force, as soldiers’ mothers did during the Afghan-Soviet War of the 1980s,” said the ministry”.

But on 7 November, they held a rare street protest in Moscow’s central Teatralnya Square, unfurling banners demanding the rotation of their partners away from the frontline.

Police broke up the protest within minutes, according to the ministry, which added: “However, the protestors’ immediate demand is notable.

“The apparently indefinitely extended combat deployments of personnel without rotation is increasingly seen as unsustainable by both the troops themselves and by their relatives.”

US defence secretary’s visit to Kyiv is his first since early months of war

Monday 20 November 2023 09:21 , Andy Gregory

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has made an unannounced visit to Kyiv today, as he pushes to keep money and weapons flowing to Ukraine.

Mr Austin travelled by train from Poland, and is scheduled to meet with senior Ukrainian officials.

It marks his second trip to Kyiv – with his first having taken place in April 2022, just two months after Russia’s invasion.

Two killed in Kherson after Russia shells parking lot, officials say

Monday 20 November 2023 08:55 , Andy Gregory

Two people have been killed this morning after Russian forces shelled a parking lot in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, according to officials.

Regional prosecutors said they had opened a war-crimes investigation into the artillery strike, which occurred at around 9am and injured one other person.

Kherson governor Oleksandr Prokudin said the two dead were drivers for “a private transport business”.

Images posted on Telegram showed firefighters dousing cars that had been blasted apart, one day after a separate strike on the city wounded five people, including a 3-year-old girl.

Russian forces have regularly shelled Kherson from across the Dnipro River since the city was liberated last November by Ukrainian troops – who are now seeking to push Moscow’s troops away from the river after establishing a foothold on the opposite bank.

Second drone in as many days shot down near Moscow as Russia and Ukraine exchange attacks on capitals

Monday 20 November 2023 08:29 , Andy Gregory

Russia and Ukraine sent drones targeting each other’s capital cities over the weekend in signs of renewed intensity for their aerial warfare, my colleague Arpan Rai reports.

Drones were shot down on both Saturday and Sunday in areas around Kyiv and Moscow. Air defence systems for both sides intercepted attacks and no casualties were reported.

Multiple drones that were heading for Moscow and Russia’s border areas on Sunday were downed by Russian air defence systems over the weekend, officials said.

Kyiv has promised to wage a major drone campaign against Russia this winter, as bad weather conditions make it difficult to conduct operations on the ground.

Russia under Ukraine’s drone attack for two nights in row as Moscow remains on target

Zelensky dismisses Ukraine’s military medical chief

Monday 20 November 2023 08:11 , Andy Gregory

Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Major General Tetiana Ostashchenko as the commander of Ukraine’s medical forces, as he demanded rapid changes in the operations of the country’s military medical system.

“In today’s meeting with defence minister [Rustem] Umerov, priorities were set,” the Ukrainian president said in his nightly address on Sunday. “There is little time left to wait for results. Quick action is needed for forthcoming changes.”

He added: “The task is clear, as has been repeatedly stressed in society, particularly among combat medics, we need a fundamentally new level of medical support for our soldiers.”

A wide range of improvements are needed, Mr Zelensky said – from better tourniquets, to improvements in digitalisation and communication.

Ms Ostashchenko was replaced by Major General Anatoliy Kazmirchuk, head of a military clinic in Kyiv.

US defence secretary arrives in Kyiv

Monday 20 November 2023 07:45 , Andy Gregory

US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin has arrived for a visit in Kyiv.

I just arrived in Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian leaders. I’m here today to deliver an important message – the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine in their fight for freedom against Russia’s aggression, both now and into the future. pic.twitter.com/1D96aeeACl — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) November 20, 2023

Two killed as grenade explodes in Kyiv apartment

Monday 20 November 2023 07:26 , Andy Gregory

A Ukrainian soldier and a woman died when a grenade exploded in an apartment in Kyiv, injuring a second man, police said.

Explosives technicians and investigators were working at the scene of Sunday’s explosion in the Dniprovskiy district, Kyiv police said in a statement.

“A citizen contacted the police with a report that an explosion rang out in a neighbouring apartment,” they added.

Earlier this month, an aide to Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, General Valery Zaluzhnyi, died when a grenade given to him as a birthday gift blew up.

An orphaned teenager who was taken to Russia early in the Ukraine war is back home with relatives

Monday 20 November 2023 07:00 , Holly Evans

An orphaned Ukrainian teenager who was taken to Russia last year during the war in his country returned home after being reunited with relatives in Belarus on his 18th birthday Sunday.

Bohdan Yermokhin was pictured embracing family members in Minsk in photographs shared on social media by Russia’s children’s rights ombudswoman, Maria Lvova-Belova.

Andrii Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, confirmed that Yermokhin had arrived back in Ukraine and shared a photo of him with a Ukrainian flag. Yermak thanked UNICEF and Qatari negotiators for facilitating Yermokhin’s return.

Read the full article here

Putin could face new war crime case as evidence suggests starvation of Ukraine was pre-planned

Monday 20 November 2023 05:30 , Holly Evans

Russia was actively preparing to steal grain supplies and starve the Ukrainian population of food for months before Vladimir Putin ordered last year’s invasion, according to new evidence compiled by human rights experts.

When Russian tanks did roll across the border on 24 February 2022 they deliberately targeted grain-rich areas and food production infrastructure first, the new report by international human rights law firm Global Rights Compliance found.

GRC found that Russia’s defence contractor began purchasing trucks to transport grain, as well as three new 170-metre bulk carrier cargo ships, as early as December 2021, evidence of advance planning for the pillage of Ukrainian food resources “on an unprecedented scale”.

Putin could face new war crime case over ‘planned’ starvation of Ukraine

Wife of twice-poisoned Briton held in Kremlin prison fears ‘time is running out’

Monday 20 November 2023 04:30 , Holly Evans

The wife of a British-Russian national held in a Krelimn prison says she fears time is running out, and has called for the UK to take more urgent action to free him.

Vladimir Kara-Murza survived two near-fatal poisonings, in 2015 and 2017, which resulted in organ failure and polyneuropathy, a condition that causes nerve damage.

The Vladimir Putin critic was jailed for 25 years in April this year on charges of treason and spreading “false information” about Russia’s war in Ukraine .

Zelensky calls for rapid operation changes and sacks commander

Monday 20 November 2023 03:30 , Holly Evans

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday demanded rapid changes in the operations of Ukraine’s military and announced the dismissal of the commander of the military’s medical forces.

Zelensky’s move was announced as he met Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, and coincided with debate over the conduct of the 20-month-old war against Russia, with questions over how quickly a counteroffensive in the east and south is proceeding.

“In today’s meeting with Defence Minister Umerov, priorities were set,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address. “There is little time left to wait for results. Quick action is needed for forthcoming changes.”

Zelensky said he had replaced Major-General Tetiana Ostashchenko as commander of the Armed Forces Medical Forces.

“The task is clear, as has been repeatedly stressed in society, particularly among combat medics, we need a fundamentally new level of medical support for our soldiers,” he said.

This, he said, included a range of issues -- better tourniquets, digitalisation and better communication.

Umerov acknowledged the change on the Telegram messaging app and set as top priorities digitalisation, “tactical medicine” and rotation of servicemen.

Plight of one Ukraine village illustrates toll of Russia’s invasion

Monday 20 November 2023 02:30 , Holly Evans

Kamianka lies in a charming valley of bright flowers and lush trees. It used to be portrayed as a model village for a contented life in rural idyll. It was also a place of archaeological and geological lure, with its rare bronze age and Scythian sites and Jurassic limestone cliffs attracting visitors from afar.

The settlement , set in a sleepy hollow, was established in the 18th century by a count from the Tsar of Russia ’s court who had returned from Britain with new methods of farming and an English bride. Keen to put his new knowledge into practice, he allocated land, built a mill, constructed roads and funded a church and a school.

But Kamianka, in eastern Ukraine , also has a dark history of violence.

Read the full article from Kim Sengupta here

Russia’s plan B in Ukraine is working – now is not the moment for the West to turn away

Monday 20 November 2023 01:30 , Holly Evans

hen Italy ’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni , was fooled recently by two well-known Russian “comics” – surely paid-up Kremlin agents – into saying she was “tired” of the war in Ukraine and that everyone would soon be looking for a “way out”, too many of her counterparts in the West would have tacitly agreed (and perhaps sympathised: she is hardly the first to be pranked by these two).

But Ms Meloni deserves no sympathy. She thought she was talking to the head of the African Union Commission so this should have been a chance to exercise statecraft and reason with the supposed representative from the Global South and argue that Russia ’s war in Ukraine is nothing if not colonialist itself – a desperate attempt to maintain its empire.

Russia, with an abundance of chutzpah and an absence of shame, claims that it is the West that is being colonialist in forcing its designs on Kyiv (even supposedly “Nazi-ruled Kyiv”). You have to apply to join Nato and the EU, of course, but facts like these are irrelevant.

Read the full article from James Nixey here

Moscow mayor says air defence units intercept drone targeting city

Monday 20 November 2023 00:30 , Holly Evans

Air defence units in Moscow intercepted a drone targeting the city on Sunday, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.

Sobyanin, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said units in the Elektrostal district in the capital’s east had intercepted the drone.

According to preliminary information, falling debris resulting from the operation had caused no casualties or damage, Sobyanin said.

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Next time you're planning a vacation, a travel credit card could defray some or all of the costs if it packs the right incentives. Typically, cards with higher annual fees provide the most value with perks like ongoing rewards, free checked bags, airport lounge access or other benefits. But even cards with low or no annual fees make it possible to earn some value toward travel, if you can qualify.

These cards generally require good credit (scores of 690 or higher), and even if you're eligible, it's not worth pursuing one if you can't pay off the credit card bill in full every month to avoid steep interest charges. And if you're working toward paying down existing debt, it might not be worth chasing points and miles until you've made progress on that front.

But as long as travel credit cards align with your financial goals, their potential savings merit consideration — even if you travel just once or twice per year. Explore the flexibility of a general-purpose travel credit card to book travel anywhere, or a branded credit card to book travel with a favorite hotel or airline. Either option may offer money-saving benefits toward your next trip.

Valuable features can lower costs

Offers will vary among general-purpose travel credit cards and airline- or hotel-branded credit cards, but some savings opportunities may include:

If a credit card offers a lengthy list of perks, the value can quickly add up. Here are some features to look out for:

A sign-up offer: Travel credit cards generally come with lucrative sign-up offers that let new cardholders earn a pile of points or miles by meeting a minimum spending requirement. It’s easier to snag if you can strategically time a credit card application around planned purchases during a heavy-spend month or season.

Free checked bags: Some airline credit cards offer free checked bags , which can add up to real savings when applied per person on a round trip. This is one way that Doug Figueroa, a content creator at the YouTube channel Zorito y Doug, makes up the cost of the $150 annual fee on an airline credit card. “The savings are $70 round trip per passenger listed in the same reservation,” he says. 

TSA or Global Entry credit : Some travel cards issue a credit (up to $100) when you use them to pay for a TSA or Global Entry application fee. These expedited airport security screening programs can save time while traveling.

Travel credits: Depending on the card’s terms, travel credits may be used to save money on a variety of travel expenses like rideshare services, airfare or accommodations. 

Airport lounge access: You can skip the pricey airport food with some travel credit cards that offer complimentary airport lounge access . Austin Maxwell, a South Carolina-based content creator at the blog The Maxwells Travel, uses a travel credit card to avoid those costs. “I’m saving $20 to $30 every time I go to the airport because I don’t have to buy food or drinks during a layover or preflight,” he says.

A companion ticket: Some airline credit cards cover the cost of a ticket for a friend or family member. Depending on the card's terms, you may have to pay taxes and fees on the fare, the companion ticket may have an expiration date and/or a spending requirement may apply.

Automatic elite status: You may earn elite status without much effort on some hotel-branded credit cards. Elite status can add up to valuable savings if the program offers free food, bonus points or suite upgrades.  

Free nights: If your favorite hotel has a branded credit card that offers annual free night awards, it can stretch your vacation budget. 

Protections and other benefits

A travel credit card that offers trip delay or cancellation insurance, lost baggage insurance, rental car coverage or other protections may also be of value to you. To qualify for these benefits you typically need to pay for the trip or covered purchase with the eligible credit card. Read the terms carefully to understand the extent of your coverage.

Figueroa says he saved $90 over three days with his card’s primary rental car coverage on a trip to Miami.

“Once you make the online reservation, you must decline all insurance offered by the rental company and pay for everything with your [card],” he says.

High-value reward redemptions

Points or miles on some travel credit cards might lose value if they are used for non-travel redemptions like cash back, gift cards or other options. Travel redemptions typically offer the best value, and you might squeeze out even more value with a general-purpose travel card that allows points to transfer to airline or hotel partners. It’s a strategy that Maxwell uses often to his advantage.

“It’s even better if there’s a transfer bonus associated with that," he says. "Credit card companies offer transfer bonuses — 15%, 20%, 30% bonus — if you are to transfer points to a specific airline.”

He says he has also transferred points to hotel partners to book hotel rooms with them. “It would be the equivalent of getting a hotel room at $120 that’s actually valued at $500,” he adds.

To determine whether to redeem rewards for travel or transfer them to a partner, compare costs by checking the credit card’s booking platform and the partner’s website. Also factor in whether rewards transfer on at least a 1:1 ratio, meaning that you'll get the equivalent value in points or miles transferred.

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