--- title: "Citi vs Bank of America: Best 2% Cash Back?" description: "Direct 2% cash back comparison: Citi Double Cash vs BofA Customized Cash. See which card wins on rewards, fees, and signup bonuses." author: "Troy Johnston" published: "2026-03-31" category: "Cash Back Comparison" canonical: "https://www.stackeasy.ai/blog/citi-double-cash-vs-bank-of-america-customized-cash" source: "StackEasy.ai" --- # Citi vs Bank of America: Best 2% Cash Back? **Advertiser Disclosure:** Some products featured on this page are from partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we cover and where they appear, but it does not affect our editorial opinions or ratings. [Learn more](https://www.stackeasy.ai/advertiser-disclosure) [Blog](/blog) › Credit Stacking # Citi Double Cash vs Bank of America Customized Cash: Which Is Better in 2026? TJ Troy Johnston Founder, StackEasy.ai · 10 min read In This Article - [Annual Fee and Credits](#annual-fee-and-credits) - [Rewards and Earning Rates](#rewards-and-earning-rates) - [Sign-Up Bonus](#sign-up-bonus) - [Best Use Case](#best-use-case) - [Bottom Line Verdict](#bottom-line-verdict) Quick Answer Citi Double Cash and Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards are both no-annual-fee cash back cards, and both pay a $200 sign-up bonus. Double Cash earns a flat 2% on every purchase, no categories to track. Customized Cash Rewards earns 3% in one category you pick plus 2% at grocery and wholesale clubs, capped at $2,500 combined per quarter, and doubles to 6% your first year. Pick Double Cash for simplicity, Customized Cash Rewards if you will work the categories. Search "citi custom cash vs bank of america customized cash" and you will land on this page. That is not quite the comparison you want. Citi discontinued the Custom Cash card for new applicants on May 28, 2026, though existing cardholders keep it. The card still open today, and the one this guide actually compares, is the Citi Double Cash. Both the Double Cash and the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards charge $0 annual fee. Both now pay a $200 sign-up bonus too, a detail the last version of this article got wrong. The real choice comes down to how you spend: flat and simple, or worked across categories. **The Bank of America 2/3/4 rule** is an unofficial but widely reported approval limit: no more than 2 new Bank of America accounts in 30 days, 3 in any 12-month period, or 4 in 24 months. Bank of America has never published this policy, but data collected from applicants across the credit card community confirms it holds in practice. Factor it in before you apply for the Customized Cash Rewards card if you already hold other Bank of America cards. > 🤖 Ask AI > > Want a personalized breakdown? > > [Ask ChatGPT about this →](https://chat.openai.com/?q=Help%20me%20understand%20this%20StackEasy%20article%20and%20how%20it%20applies%20to%20my%20credit%20situation.%0A%0AArticle%3A%20%22Citi%20Double%20Cash%20vs%20Bank%20of%20America%20Customized%20Cash%22%0ASource%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstackeasy.ai%2Fblog%2Fciti-double-cash-vs-bank-of-america-customized-cash%0AKey%20context%3A%20Compare%20Citi%20Double%20Cash%20and%20Bank%20of%20America%20Customized%20Cash%20side%20by%20side.%20See%20rewards%2C%20annual%20fees%2C%20sign-up%20bonuses%2C%20and%20which%20card%20wins%20for%20your%0A%0APlease%20summarize%20the%20main%20insight%20and%20tell%20me%20what%20action%20I%20should%20take%20based%20on%20my%20own%20credit%20profile.&utm_source=article&utm_medium=ask-ai-button&utm_campaign=citi-double-cash-vs-bank-of-america-customized-cash) Note - Both cards now pay a $200 sign-up bonus: Double Cash needs $1,500 spent in 6 months, Customized Cash Rewards needs $1,000 in 90 days. - Bank of America overhauled its relationship-bonus program on May 27, 2026. The old 75% "Platinum Honors" boost now requires the new $1 million Premier tier, and most former Platinum Honors members land in Preferred Honors at 50% instead. - Both cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee, so neither is the right pick for international purchases. ### Citi Double Cash vs Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Feature Citi Double Cash BofA Customized Cash Rewards Annual Fee $0 $0 Foreign Transaction Fee 3% 3% Sign-Up Bonus $200 after $1,500 spent in 6 months $200 after $1,000 spent in 90 days Base Cash Back Rate 2% on all purchases 1% on all purchases Bonus Category Rate N/A, flat rate on everything 3% chosen category, 2% grocery and wholesale (6% category in year one) Spending Cap on Bonus Rate No cap $2,500 combined per quarter, then 1% Relationship Bonus None BofA Rewards, up to +75% (Premier tier, $1 million+) Best Suited For Simple flat-rate seekers Category optimizers with BofA banking ## Annual Fee and Credits Both the Citi Double Cash Card and the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card charge $0 annual fees. Neither card carries an annual fee, which means you keep everything you earn without paying to play. There are no annual credits on either card. Both cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad, so leave them home when you travel. Compare cards and track your approvals in one place. [Start Free →](https://app.stackeasy.ai/user/auth/signup?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=citi-double-cash-vs-bank-of-america-customized-cash&utm_content=top-cta) The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card has a spending cap of $2,500 per quarter in combined category spending. Once you hit that limit in your chosen 3% category plus grocery stores and wholesale clubs combined, you earn 1% on additional purchases in those categories. The Citi Double Cash Card has no spending caps at all on its 2% earning rate. If you are weighing more than just these two, our [credit stacking guide](/blog/credit-stacking-101) covers how to sequence no-fee cash-back cards like these with everything else in your wallet. ## Rewards and Earning Rates The Citi Double Cash Card earns 2% cash back on every purchase with no categories to manage. You earn 1% when you buy and an additional 1% when you pay your bill. There is no activation required. You do not need to remember which category is active this quarter. Your cash back never expires as long as your account stays open. If you carry several cards with rotating categories like this one, our [roundup of apps for managing multiple cards](/blog/best-apps-managing-multiple-cards) can help you remember which category is active each quarter. PRO TIP Bank of America renamed its relationship bonus program BofA Rewards on May 27, 2026. The new tiers pay Member 10%, Preferred Plus 25%, Preferred Honors 50%, and Premier 75% more cash back. If you used to hit Platinum Honors for the old 75% boost, check your new tier. Most Platinum Honors accounts moved to Preferred Honors, which only pays 50% now. Your effective category rate on Customized Cash Rewards drops from 5.25% to 4.5%, unless your combined balances clear the new $1 million Premier threshold. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card earns 3% cash back on one category you choose from gas, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement and furniture. You also earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Everything else earns 1%. The 3% and 2% categories are capped at $2,500 in combined spending per quarter, then drop to 1%. Your first cardmember year, the chosen category doubles to 6% on that same $2,500 cap, confirmed directly on bankofamerica.com. After year one, BofA Rewards members add a relationship boost on top of the standard rates. At the top Premier tier, that boost is 75%, which pushes your chosen category to 5.25% and grocery and wholesale to 3.5%. ## Sign-Up Bonus Both cards pay a sign-up bonus, and the older version of this page was wrong to say otherwise. The Citi Double Cash pays $200, delivered as 20,000 ThankYou Points, after you spend $1,500 in the first 6 months. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards pays $200 in online cash rewards after you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days. The Customized Cash Rewards bonus is faster to hit if your spending is steady, since 90 days is a tighter window than 6 months. Stop Memorizing Reward Charts Whichever card you pick, the free StackEasy Chrome extension shows which of your cards earns the most on every site you shop, right at checkout. No spreadsheets, no guessing. [Add StackEasy to Chrome (Free)](https://www.stackeasy.ai/extension/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=extension-distribution&utm_content=citi-double-cash-vs-bank-of-america-customized-cash) ## Best Use Case Choose the Citi Double Cash if your spending does not fit neat categories, think utilities, insurance, subscriptions, or rent, or if you regularly spend more than $2,500 combined per quarter in category and grocery purchases. Inside the $2,500 cap, Customized Cash Rewards always earns as much or more: $75 if all of it lands in your 3% category, $50 if all of it lands in the 2% grocery bucket, a tie with Double Cash at worst. Once you cross the cap, the extra spending earns just 1% at Customized Cash Rewards versus 2% flat at Double Cash, so heavy spenders in these categories can come out ahead with the simpler card. Take a household that spends $700 a month on gas, its chosen category. Add $130 a month at the grocery store and $100 a month everywhere else, and it stays just under the quarterly cap. That household earns about $24.60 a month with Customized Cash Rewards, versus $18.60 a month with Double Cash. That is a $6 a month edge, or $72 a year. If you qualify for the new Premier tier in BofA Rewards, meaning $1 million or more in combined bank and investment balances, the Customized Cash Rewards card pulls further ahead. At Premier, your effective rate becomes 5.25% on your chosen category, 3.5% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 1.75% on everything else. Most people will land in the Preferred Honors tier instead, a 50% boost that pushes those same rates to 4.5%, 3%, and 1.5%. Either way, the boost only applies to Bank of America credit cards, so it never touches the Citi Double Cash. ## Bottom Line Verdict Choose the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card if you spend close to $2,500 combined per quarter in one bonus category plus groceries, and if you are comfortable picking a new category if your spending shifts. Choose the Citi Double Cash Card if your spending is spread across many categories without a clear pattern, if you routinely spend past that $2,500 cap, or if you just want 2% on everything without tracking categories or activation dates. For most households, the two cards land close together, often within $70 to $100 a year of each other. The bigger swing comes from the BofA Rewards relationship boost: Premier members with $1 million or more in balances, or the smaller group still grandfathered into a higher legacy tier, pull meaningfully ahead of Double Cash. Everyone else is choosing between a card that rewards planning and a card that rewards not having to think about it. StackEasy Bottom Line StackEasy recommends the Citi Double Cash for most people: a flat 2% back on every purchase (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay), no categories, no cap, and a $200 bonus after $1,500 in 6 months. Reach for the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards instead only if you can keep your category plus grocery spending near $2,500 a quarter, or if you already bank with BofA at the Premier tier and can pull 5.25% on your top category. ### Related Guides - [the complete Citi Double Cash comparison guide](/blog/citi-double-cash-card-comparison) ## Keep Reading [Guide ### Credit Stacking 101: What It Is, How It Works, and How Long It Takes Read more](/blog/credit-stacking-101)[Guide ### Credit Stacking Strategy: How the Two-Round Method Works in 2026 Read more](/blog/credit-stacking-programs-compared)[Guide ### Best Credit Card for Bad Credit: Rebuild Your Credit Read more](/blog/best-credit-card-for-bad-credit)[Guide ### Best Credit Cards by Credit Score Range: A Stacking Guide Read more](/blog/best-credit-cards-by-credit-score) Written by Troy Johnston Credit stacking gave Troy an edge, but managing it was chaos. With 28 cards and no real system beyond spreadsheets, small mistakes became expensive. StackEasy didn’t exist, so he built it. Now thousands use it to keep leverage organized and working in their favor. [Connect on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyjohnston) · [stackeasy.ai](https://www.stackeasy.ai) > Free Fundability Score > > See exactly where your credit stands before you apply. Get your free Fundability Score and a personalized Capital Blueprint in minutes. > > [Get Your Fundability Score Free](https://www.stackeasy.ai/tools/fundability-score/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=citi-double-cash-vs-bank-of-america-customized-cash&utm_content=service-cta) FREE RESOURCE Credit Stacking Starter Kit A step-by-step system for managing 5+ credit cards without dropping the ball. Includes payment tracking templates, utilization targets, and the weekly check-in routine. Free PDF. [Download the Starter Kit](https://t.stackeasy.ai/download/credit-stacking-starter-kit.pdf?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=citi-double-cash-vs-bank-of-america-customized-cash&utm_content=lead-magnet) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the annual fee for the Citi Double Cash and Bank of America Customized Cash? Both the Citi Double Cash Card and the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card charge $0 annual fees. There are no annual fees on either card, which means you keep everything you earn without paying to play. ### Do either of these cards charge foreign transaction fees? Both the Citi Double Cash and the Bank of America Customized Cash charge a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad. If you travel internationally, pair either card with a no-foreign-transaction-fee travel card and keep these two for domestic spending. ### Do the Citi Double Cash and Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards have sign-up bonuses? Yes, both cards currently pay a $200 sign-up bonus. Citi Double Cash pays it as 20,000 ThankYou Points after $1,500 in purchases in your first 6 months. Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards pays $200 in online cash rewards after $1,000 in purchases in your first 90 days. ### What is the spending cap on the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card? The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card has a spending cap of $2,500 per quarter in combined category spending. Once you hit this limit, your accelerated cash back rate drops to the standard base rate. ### How does the cash back structure differ between these two cards? The Citi Double Cash offers a straightforward 2% cash back on all purchases with no category restrictions or activation required. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card pays 3% in a category you choose plus 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, doubled to 6% and 2% in your first cardmember year, but both rates stay inside the $2,500 quarterly cap. ### Which card is better for someone who wants maximum simplicity? The Citi Double Cash is the better choice for simplicity. It delivers a guaranteed 2% cash back on everything with no category limits or activation required. In contrast, the Bank of America Customized Cash requires you to actively manage quarterly categories and track your spending against the $2,500 cap. ### Is the Citi Custom Cash the same card as the Citi Double Cash? No, they are two different cards. Citi discontinued Custom Cash for new applicants on May 28, 2026, though existing cardholders keep their accounts. Double Cash is the card that is still open today, and it earns a flat 2% on every purchase instead of Custom Cash's rotating 5% category rate. ### Sources & Further Reading - [Bank of America](https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/), official Bank of America credit card terms and rewards details - [Citi](https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/), official Citi credit card terms, rewards, and current offers - [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-cards/), federal consumer guidance on credit card APR, fees, billing, and cardholder rights - [CFPB: Credit Reports and Scores](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores/), federal resource on how credit scores and reports work and how to improve them - [myFICO](https://www.myfico.com/credit-education), official credit-score education from FICO, the company that builds the FICO score ## Ready to Take Control of Your Credit? StackEasy tracks all your cards, monitors utilization, and tells you exactly when to apply next. [Start Free →](https://app.stackeasy.ai/user/auth/signup?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=citi-double-cash-vs-bank-of-america-customized-cash&utm_content=bottom-cta) Free to use. No credit card required. Track your credit stack in real time [Get Started Free](https://app.stackeasy.ai/user/auth/signup?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=citi-double-cash-vs-bank-of-america-customized-cash&utm_content=floating-cta) No credit card required ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: What is the annual fee for the Citi Double Cash and Bank of America Customized Cash?** A: Both the Citi Double Cash Card and the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card charge $0 annual fees. There are no annual fees on either card, which means you keep everything you earn without paying to play. **Q: Do either of these cards charge foreign transaction fees?** A: Both the Citi Double Cash and the Bank of America Customized Cash charge a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad. If you travel internationally, pair either card with a no-foreign-transaction-fee travel card and keep these two for domestic spending. **Q: Do the Citi Double Cash and Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards have sign-up bonuses?** A: Yes, both cards currently pay a $200 sign-up bonus. Citi Double Cash pays it as 20,000 ThankYou Points after $1,500 in purchases in your first 6 months. Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards pays $200 in online cash rewards after $1,000 in purchases in your first 90 days. **Q: What is the spending cap on the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card?** A: The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card has a spending cap of $2,500 per quarter in combined category spending. Once you hit this limit, your accelerated cash back rate drops to the standard base rate. **Q: How does the cash back structure differ between these two cards?** A: The Citi Double Cash offers a straightforward 2% cash back on all purchases with no category restrictions or activation required. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card pays 3% in a category you choose plus 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, doubled to 6% and 2% in your first cardmember year, but both rates stay inside the $2,500 quarterly cap. **Q: Which card is better for someone who wants maximum simplicity?** A: The Citi Double Cash is the better choice for simplicity. It delivers a guaranteed 2% cash back on everything with no category limits or activation required. In contrast, the Bank of America Customized Cash requires you to actively manage quarterly categories and track your spending against the $2,500 cap. **Q: Is the Citi Custom Cash the same card as the Citi Double Cash?** A: No, they are two different cards. Citi discontinued Custom Cash for new applicants on May 28, 2026, though existing cardholders keep their accounts. Double Cash is the card that is still open today, and it earns a flat 2% on every purchase instead of Custom Cash's rotating 5% category rate. **Q: Ready to Take Control of Your Credit?** A: StackEasy tracks all your cards, monitors utilization, and tells you exactly when to apply next. --- ## About StackEasy StackEasy helps Americans build financial leverage through credit stacking strategies. Track utilization, APR deadlines, and rewards across your entire card portfolio. Free credit card tracker at [stackeasy.ai](https://www.stackeasy.ai/start). *Published by Troy Johnston on StackEasy.ai. For the latest version of this article, visit [Citi vs Bank of America: Best 2% Cash Back?](https://www.stackeasy.ai/blog/citi-double-cash-vs-bank-of-america-customized-cash).*