Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
vs. Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card

Updated: June 24, 2024

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Both the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card and the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card offer enticing cash back rewards with no annual fee, making them strong contenders for your wallet. However, the Wells Fargo Active Cash edges ahead with its higher unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, compared to the 1.5% offered by the Bank of America card.

While the BofA Unlimited Cash does offer a welcome bonus and additional cash back for Preferred Rewards members, the Wells Fargo card's superior cash rewards rate and additional benefits like cell phone protection make it the standout choice for most users.

Credit Card logo for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Credit Card logo for Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ of 5

  • Regular APR
    20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable
    19.24%–29.24% variable
    0% APR Offer
    0% for 15 months on purchases
    0% for 15 billing cycles on purchases
    Intro Offer
    Earn $200 Cash Back
    Earn $200 cash back
    Rewards Summary
    Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
    Earn 1.5% cash back
    Balance Transfer Offer
    0% for 15 months on balance transfers
    0% for 15 billing cycles on balance transfers
    Balance Transfer Fee
    3% of the amount of each balance transfer
    3% for the first 60 days, then 4%
    Annual Fee
    $0
    $0
    Recommended Credit
    670-850 (Good to Excellent)
    670–850 (Good to Excellent)
    Penalty APR
    None
    Up to 29.99% variable APR
    Not sure?

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Wells Fargo Active Cash if you value a higher rewards rate on your everyday spending. With unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, a generous welcome bonus with a lower spending threshold and additional perks like cell phone protection, this card suits those who want to maximize their cash back and enjoy extra benefits.

You might prefer the BofA Unlimited Cash if you are looking for a straightforward cash back card with a slightly lower APR range after the introductory period. The unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and the welcome bonus can provide value, especially if you're a Bank of America customer and can take advantage of their Preferred Rewards program.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards, introductory offers and additional features will show the differences between the Wells Fargo Active Cash and BofA Unlimited Cash. Use this section to see which card matches your spending patterns, such as maximizing cash back or minimizing fees.

    discount icon

    Regular APR: BofA Unlimited Cash

    The BofA Unlimited Cash is better for those who may carry a balance due to its lower starting APR of 18.24% compared to the Wells Fargo Active Cash's starting APR of 20.24%.

    annualFee icon

    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Wells Fargo Active Cash and the BofA Unlimited Cash have no annual fee.

    lowInterestAPR icon

    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Both the Wells Fargo Active Cash and the BofA Unlimited Cash offer a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers. However, the Wells Fargo card has a consistent 3% balance transfer fee, while BofA Unlimited Cash increases from 3% to 4% after the first 60 days.

    coins icon

    Rewards: Wells Fargo Active Cash

    The Wells Fargo Active Cash card outperforms BofA Unlimited Cash in rewards, offering an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases compared to the Unlimited Cash's 1.5%. Both cards' rewards do not expire as long as the account remains open, but the Wells Fargo Active Cash provides more flexible redemption options.

    rewards icon

    Welcome Offers: Wells Fargo Active Cash

    The Wells Fargo Active Cash offers a more advantageous welcome offer, featuring a $200 cash rewards bonus for a lower spending requirement of $500 in the first three months, compared to the BofA Unlimited Cash's $200 bonus for $1,000 in purchases.

    creditApproved icon

    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both the Wells Fargo Active Cash and BofA Unlimited Cash require a credit score range of 670 to 850 (good to excellent), making them equally accessible for individuals with good to excellent credit.

    autopay icon

    Penalties and Fees: Wells Fargo Active Cash

    The Wells Fargo Active Cash is better for penalties and fees, lacking a penalty APR which the BofA Unlimited Cash includes at up to 29.99% variable APR. Both cards have a late fee up to $40 and a 3% foreign transaction fee, but the Wells Fargo card's absence of a penalty APR and its higher penalties rating make it more favorable in this category.

    points icon

    Issuer Satisfaction: BofA Unlimited Cash

    Bank of America leads in issuer satisfaction with a rating of 4.5, compared to Wells Fargo's rating of 4.

    airplane icon

    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Wells Fargo Active Cash provides Visa Signature Concierge and up to $600 in cell phone protection. BofA Unlimited Cash offers the convenience of contactless payments.

Rewards Comparison

The Wells Fargo Active Cash card has a higher cash back rate of 2% on all purchases, making it a more rewarding choice for those who prefer a simple, high-earning cash back structure. The BofA Unlimited Cash offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase. While it doesn't match the Active Cash Card's rate, its straightforward rewards program is still appealing for its simplicity and lack of an annual fee.

Both cards offer a flat rewards rate on all purchases, which means there's no need to track spending categories or sign up for quarterly bonuses. This simplicity can be a significant advantage for users who value ease over maximizing rewards in specific categories.

Following this section, you'll find a table that compares the rewards of both cards.

Category
Wells Fargo Active Cash
BofA Unlimited Cash

All Purchases

2% cash back

1.5% cash back

Redeeming Rewards

The BofA Unlimited Cash allows for redemptions via direct deposit, credit to eligible Merrill accounts or statement credits, with no expiration as long as the account is active. The Wells Fargo Active Cash offers a broader range of redemption options, including checks, statement credits, direct deposits, merchandise, gift cards, travel or withdrawals from Wells Fargo ATMs in $20 increments. However, it lacks travel partners for point transfers. Rewards on both cards do not expire while the accounts remain open, ensuring that the rewards you earn are yours to use whenever you choose.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like the Wells Fargo Active Cash and BofA Unlimited Cash using a tailored scoring system for various use cases, with cash back being the highest-scoring category for both cards.

The factors influencing their scores include the effective reward rate, which carries the most weight, and the return on investment for card offers. Other considerations include annual fees, issuer satisfaction and recommended credit. For a detailed understanding of our ranking process, you can review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Wells Fargo Active Cash vs. BofA Unlimited Cash Card

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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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