Citi Custom Cash® Card
vs. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

Shield Insurance

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Both the Citi Custom Cash Card and the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card offer enticing cash back rewards without an annual fee, a common ground for those seeking value from their credit card choices. The Citi Custom Cash edges ahead with its higher cash back rate in your top spending category.

However, the BofA Customized Cash has high-yield cash back categories. While neither card is co-branded, both offer introductory 0% APR periods, making them attractive for new purchases or balance transfers.

Credit Card logo for Citi Custom Cash® Card
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Credit Card logo for Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
4.0/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Citi Custom Cash if you're looking for simplicity and higher rewards rates in your top spending category each billing cycle, without the need to track or sign up for rotating categories. With a 5% cash back on your top eligible spend up to $500 each cycle, and an easy-to-earn $200 cash back bonus, this card adapts to your spending habits and maximizes your rewards automatically.

You might prefer the BofA Customized Cash if you value choice and the ability to earn bonus rewards through a banking relationship. With the option to select your own 3% cash back category and the potential to earn even more through the Preferred Rewards program, this card offers flexibility and benefits for loyal Bank of America customers, along with a similar $200 welcome offer and no annual fee.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards, introductory offers and other features will illuminate the strengths of the Citi Custom Cash and BofA Customized Cash cards. This section provides a detailed breakdown to guide your choice, whether you prioritize low fees, high rewards or specific spending categories.

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    Regular APR: BofA Customized Cash

    The BofA Customized Cash offers a lower starting APR of 18.24%, compared to the Citi Custom Cash's starting APR of 19.24%.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Citi Custom Cash and the BofA Customized Cash have no annual fee, making them equally appealing for those looking to avoid extra costs.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Both cards have a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, making them equally attractive for those looking to make a large purchase or transfer a balance. However, the Citi Custom Cash Card has a higher balance transfer fee of 5% compared to BofA Customized Cash's 3%.

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    Rewards: Citi Custom Cash

    The Citi Custom Cash card offers better rewards, featuring a higher effective reward rate of 4.3 and 5% cash back on the top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent. Additionally, it includes a special travel offer for extra cash back on bookings through the Citi Travel℠ portal.

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    Welcome Offers: BofA Customized Cash

    The BofA Customized Cash offers a better welcome bonus, providing $200 online cash rewards for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days, compared to the Citi Custom Cash Card's $200 cash back after spending $1,500 in the first six months.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both the Citi Custom Cash and the BofA Customized Cash require a credit score range of 670 to 850, indicating they are accessible to individuals with good to excellent credit.

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    Penalties and Fees: BofA Customized Cash

    For penalties and fees, the BofA Customized Cash edges out slightly. It has a slightly lower late fee of up to $40 compared to the Citi Custom Cash Card's up to $41. Additionally, its cash advance fee is 3% of each transaction, lower than Citi's 5% (with a $10 minimum). Both cards have a 3% foreign transaction fee and a penalty APR of up to 29.99%.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: BofA Customized Cash

    Bank of America leads in issuer satisfaction with a rating of 4.5, compared to Citibank's 4.1. This suggests higher overall cardholder satisfaction with Bank of America's service.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Citi Custom Cash provides a special travel offer, allowing cardholders to earn an additional 4% cash back on certain travel bookings through Citi Travel until 6/30/2025. It also offers rewards in the form of ThankYou Points. The BofA Customized Cash ensures that rewards do not expire.

Rewards Comparison

The Citi Custom Cash Card has 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent. This can be particularly lucrative for consistent spending in one category.

However, the BofA Customized Cash Card's most compelling bonus category is its 3% cash back on a chosen category, which includes a broader range of options such as gas, dining and online shopping. While the Citi Custom Cash is generally better for rewards, the BofA Customized Cash may offer more flexibility for some users with its customizable 3% category.

For the Citi Custom Cash Card, users should research the eligible categories to maximize their 5% cash back. The BofA Customized Cash offers 3% cash back on a category of choice, including gas — now including electric vehicle charging (EVC) stations, online shopping — now including cable, streaming, internet and phone services, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvements and furnishings. There's a combined spend limit on 2% and 3% categories each quarter, which is important to keep in mind.

Below is a table of bonus categories to help you compare the rewards programs of both cards.

Category
Citi Custom Cash
BofA Customized Cash

Choice Category

5% on top eligible spend category up to $500 spent, then 1%

3% on category of choice (up to $2,500 combined limit each quarter)/1%

Grocery Stores

1%

2% (up to $2,500 combined limit each quarter)/1%

Wholesale Clubs

1%

2% (up to $2,500 combined limit each quarter)/1%

Travel

5% if booked through Citi portal/1%

3% on category of choice (up to $2,500 combined limit each quarter)/1%

All Other

1%

1%

Redeeming Rewards

After accumulating rewards, the next step is redeeming them. The Bofa Customized Cash allows redemption through various methods, including deposits and statement credits, with the assurance that cash back doesn't expire as long as the account remains open.

The Citi Custom Cash offers redemption for statement credits, gift cards, travel or direct deposits, with no expiration on points and no cap on earnings. There's no minimum redemption threshold for most options, except for a $5 minimum for checks.

Methodology

MoneyGeek's ranking process evaluates credit cards across various use cases, such as balance transfers and cash back. For the Citi Custom Cash and BofA Customized Cash, the highest scoring category is cash back.

The factors influencing their scores include the effective reward rate, which accounts for the majority of the score, and the return on investment for card offers. Other considerations include annual fees, issuer satisfaction and penalty rates. For a detailed understanding of our scoring system, you can review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Citi Custom Cash vs. BofA Customized Cash Card

What are the cash back rewards for each card?
Do either of the cards have an annual fee?
What are the introductory APR offers for these cards?
How do the balance transfer fees compare between the two cards?
Can I earn a bonus with either of these cards?

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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