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 Gold Card
Both are travel travel cards. The Bank of America Premium Rewards comes from Bank of America at $95/yr; the Mastercard Gold Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $1199/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 Gold Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $1199 |
| 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 Gold Card
$1199/yr · No public welcome offer
Editorial take: Mastercard Gold Card
The top tier of Barclays' Luxury Card lineup at $1,199. The $300 airline + $200 dining + $120 Global Entry credits chip away at the AF (about $620 of stated value before lounge access), and the 2cpp redemption on cash back is unusual. Still a status play more than a smart-points play; Amex Platinum or Sapphire Reserve win on credits-to-fee math for most travelers. Authorized-user fee is steep at $349 each.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Bank of America Premium Rewards or Mastercard Gold Card?
- The Mastercard Gold 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 Gold 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 Gold Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Bank of America Premium Rewards and Mastercard Gold 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 Gold 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 Gold 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.