Editorial take: Bank of America Premium Rewards
Only a standout if you're a BoA Preferred Rewards member, that boost can push earnings to 2.625x on everything, 3.5x on travel and dining. Without it, Venture and Sapphire both beat it.
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Side-by-side
Bank of America Premium Rewards vs Mastercard Black Card
Both are travel travel cards. The Bank of America Premium Rewards comes from Bank of America at $95/yr; the Mastercard Black Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $699/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.
| Feature | Bank of America Premium Rewards | Mastercard Black Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $699 |
| Sign-up bonus | Not advertised | No public welcome offer |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $0 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | - | $0 in 0 mo |
| Issuer | Bank of America | Barclays (Luxury Card) |
| Card category | travel | travel |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Bank of America Premium Rewards
$95/yr ·
Read the full review
Mastercard Black Card
$699/yr · No public welcome offer
Editorial take: Mastercard Black Card
The mid tier of the Barclays Luxury Card lineup. The $200 airline + $100 dining credits offset $300 of the $699 AF before lounge value, and the 1.5cpp cash-back rate is the best of the Luxury Card tiers. Still hard to beat Sapphire Reserve or Venture X on transferable-points flexibility, but the all-stainless body and concierge appeal to some.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Bank of America Premium Rewards or Mastercard Black Card?
- The Mastercard Black Card has a public bonus (No public welcome offer, worth roughly $0), while the Bank of America Premium Rewards doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Bank of America Premium Rewards's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Mastercard Black Card?
- At $95/yr, the Bank of America Premium Rewards is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Mastercard Black Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Bank of America Premium Rewards and Mastercard Black Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bank of America and Barclays (Luxury Card)) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Bank of America Premium Rewards or the Mastercard Black Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bank of America Premium Rewards: no published min spend. Mastercard Black Card: $0 in 0 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.