Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students
The Customized Cash Rewards Student Card offers excellent introductory benefits and flexible category rewards—great for a credit-conscious student who can track spending and has decent credit.
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Key Highlights
- Sign-up Bonus: $200 cash back after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers (within first 60 days)
- 6% cash back in a chosen category for first year (up to $2,500 quarterly with 2% grocery/wholesale)
- 3% in chosen category after year one
- No annual fee
- ✅ $200 bonus after spending $1,000 within 90 days of account opening
- ✅ 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles
- ✅ 6% cash back on one chosen category for first year (gas, dining, online shopping, etc.)
- ✅ 2% back at grocery stores & wholesale clubs (shared cap)
- ✅ 1% back on all other purchases
- ✅ $2,500 combined quarterly cap on 6% + 2% categories; then 1% back
- ✅ After year one: 3% in chosen category, 2% groceries/wholesale, 1% others
- ✅ No annual fee
- ✅ Change chosen category monthly; defaults to gas if not selected
- ✅ Redeem rewards as statement credit, deposit, check, or Merrill 529 contribution
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| $200 bonus is strong for students | Requires good to excellent credit (FICO 690+) |
| 6% cash back in meaningful categories (first year) | Complicated structure and quarterly cap |
| Long 0% APR window | 3% foreign transaction fee |
| No annual fee | Must manually choose category or default to gas |
| Helps build credit responsibly | 6% drops to 3% after first year |
Although this card is marketed for students, you’ll likely need a good credit score to qualify (around FICO 690+).
Reddit and NerdWallet note it's nearly identical to the non-student version, including rewards and the $200 bonus.
That said, the student version may have slightly easier approval odds or appeal to younger college applicants.
If your credit is already strong, you might qualify for the regular version too.
- Students with strong credit (FICO ≥690) who can spend $1,000 in 3 months
- Those who can track spending and optimize their chosen reward category
- Students looking for a 0% APR period on purchases or transfers
| Card | Rewards | Bonus Offer | Annual Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover it® Student Cash Back | 5% rotating categories | Cashback match 1st year | $0 | Hands-on spenders |
| Capital One SavorOne Student | 3% on dining, entertainment, grocery, streaming | None | $0 | Flat-rate food & fun |
This card is excellent for students who want big rewards on key categories and can handle a bit of spending strategy.
However, if you're not sure you'll hit the spending threshold or dislike managing rotating categories, consider simpler flat-rate cards instead.
✅ If you have good credit and plan to spend strategically, this card offers compelling value.
❗ If your credit is just beginning, or you prefer simpler flat-rate rewards, explore other student card options first.