First-year winner
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
$78 Year 1 edge
$570 vs $492
Compare Cards
Stack up the better credit card
Compare two cards side by side with your real spend, credits, fees, and rewards.
Card A
Card B
Monthly spend
Start with spending categories
Monthly Total
$2,430/mo
Reward assumptions
Credits & benefits
Count the credits and perks you actually expect to use. Credit rows start with conservative default values; edit them for your own merchant, timing, or travel friction.
Card A
Citi Custom Cash Card
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
Flexible Citi Rewards Redemptions
Other · No listed cash value
The card stays inside Citi’s cash-back or ThankYou-style redemption ecosystem with simple digital redemption options.
Perk
No Annual Fee
Other · No listed cash value
You can keep the card long term without paying a recurring annual fee.
Perk
Everyday Cashback Simplicity
Other · No listed cash value
The card is built around easy day-to-day redemption without needing to manage a complex points program.
Card B
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
Preferred Rewards Upside
Other · No listed cash value
Eligible Bank of America relationship customers can unlock higher effective earnings through the issuer’s relationship-based rewards boost programs.
Perk
No Annual Fee
Other · No listed cash value
You can keep the card long term without paying a recurring annual fee.
Perk
Everyday Cashback Simplicity
Other · No listed cash value
The card is built around easy day-to-day redemption without needing to manage a complex points program.
Verdict
Bank of America Customized Cash wins year 1 and long term.
Winner after year 1
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
$78 ongoing edge
$370 vs $292
Long-term breakeven: the higher-reward option needs roughly $0 per year in this spend mix to overcome the fee and benefit gap.
Citi
Citi Custom Cash Card
Year One
$492
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$292
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$292
1.00% effective return
Welcome Offer
$200
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$1,500
6 mo window · $250/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • No standout edge under the current assumptions.
Watch for
- • Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
Bank of America
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Year One
$570
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$370
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$370
1.27% effective return
Welcome Offer
$200
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$1,000
3 mo window · $333/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • No standout edge under the current assumptions.
Watch for
- • Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
Spend Mix Math
Where the value actually comes from
Category returns are based on the spend mix you entered, your point-value assumption, and the benefits you chose to count.
Dining
1%
$5,400
Citi Custom Cash
$54
1.00%
Bank of America Customized Cash
$54
1.00%
Groceries
1%
$7,800
Citi Custom Cash
$78
1.00%
Bank of America Customized Cash
$156
2.00%
Travel
1%
$3,000
Citi Custom Cash
$30
1.00%
Bank of America Customized Cash
$30
1.00%
Gas
1%
$1,920
Citi Custom Cash
$19
1.00%
Bank of America Customized Cash
$19
1.00%
General
1%
$11,040
Citi Custom Cash
$110
1.00%
Bank of America Customized Cash
$110
1.00%
Total annual spend
$29,160 across this mix
Citi Custom Cash$292
Bank of America Customized Cash$370
Raw Breakdown
Full side-by-side details
Use the spec table below when you want the literal field-by-field differences in rewards, benefits, transfer partners, fees, and approval profile.
| Metric | Citi Custom Cash Card | Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | ||
| Annual fee | Free | Free |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | 3% |
| Rewards | ||
| Groceries rewards | — | 2% |
| Online Shopping rewards | — | 3% 3% cash back in the cardholder's chosen category; online shopping is a common default fit. |
| Other rewards | 5% Top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to $500. | — |
| All rewards | 1% | 1% |
| Offer | ||
| Welcome offer | $200 credit Spend $1,500 in 6 mo | $200 online cash rewards bonus Spend $1,000 in 3 mo |
| Benefits | ||
| Estimated benefits | 3 listed | 3 listed |
| Benefit highlights | Flexible Citi Rewards Redemptions · No Annual Fee · Everyday Cashback Simplicity | Preferred Rewards Upside · No Annual Fee · Everyday Cashback Simplicity |
| Profile | ||
| Credit needed | Good | Good |
| Network | mastercard | visa |
| Reward type | Cashback | Cashback |
Costs
Annual fee
Citi Custom Cash Card
Free
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Free
Foreign transaction fee
Citi Custom Cash Card
3%
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
3%
Rewards
Groceries rewards
Citi Custom Cash Card
—
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
2%
Online Shopping rewards
Citi Custom Cash Card
—
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
3%
3% cash back in the cardholder's chosen category; online shopping is a common default fit.
Other rewards
Citi Custom Cash Card
5%
Top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to $500.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
—
All rewards
Citi Custom Cash Card
1%
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
1%
Offer
Welcome offer
Citi Custom Cash Card
$200 credit
Spend $1,500 in 6 mo
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
$200 online cash rewards bonus
Spend $1,000 in 3 mo
Benefits
Estimated benefits
Citi Custom Cash Card
3 listed
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
3 listed
Benefit highlights
Citi Custom Cash Card
Flexible Citi Rewards Redemptions · No Annual Fee · Everyday Cashback Simplicity
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Preferred Rewards Upside · No Annual Fee · Everyday Cashback Simplicity
Profile
Credit needed
Citi Custom Cash Card
Good
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Good
Network
Citi Custom Cash Card
mastercard
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
visa
Reward type
Citi Custom Cash Card
Cashback
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Cashback