If you’re searching for a rewards credit card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card* are among the best. However, the Active Cash card has a leg up on the Customized Cash Rewards card thanks to its lack of a spending limit, unmatched flexibility and additional card features.
The Customized Cash Rewards card has its merits, but it’s better for people who spend less than $2,500 quarterly or for those who need a longer time frame to pay off a large purchase or existing credit card debt.
Comparing rewards programs
Winner: Active Cash
Here are both credit card’s rewards programs:
Wells Fargo Active Cash:
- 2% cash rewards on your purchases
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards:
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (up to $2,500 per quarter combined across choice category, grocery store and wholesale club purchases, then 1%).
- 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 per quarter combined across choice category, grocery store and wholesale club purchases, then 1%).
- 1% on all other purchases.
While the Customized Cash Rewards may seem more flexible, it ultimately can’t compete with the Active Cash’s unlimited flat-rate rewards on purchases, particularly because of the Customized Cash’s spending limits. At a certain point, the Active Cash will overtake the Customized Cash in rewards earnings.
For example, let’s say you spend $5,000 each quarter. If you maximize your higher 3% rewards category with the Customized Cash card, you could earn $75 in rewards when spending $2,500. You’d then earn an additional $25 when spending the remaining $2,500 at the lower 1% rate. This brings you to $100 earned that quarter.
With the Active Cash, you’ll also earn $100 when you spend $5,000 at a flat rate of 2%. If you were to spend more than $5,000 during a quarter, this is the point where the Active Cash would start to pull ahead. Of course, it could pull ahead sooner if you’re unable to maximize the Customized Cash’s higher rewards tier fully.
But you don’t have to choose one over the other. You could use both cards together to maximize your return. Use the Customized Cash card for the purchases it earns 3% on and the Active Cash for other purchases.
Welcome bonus
Winner: Active Cash
Both cards offer similar welcome bonuses:
- Wells Fargo Active Cash: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months
- Bank of America Customized Cash: $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Both cards’ welcome bonuses are equally rewarding, but the Active Cash requires half the spending and therefore offers the greater return.
Introductory APR offer
Winner: Tie
Both the Wells Fargo Active Cash and Bank of America Customized Cash provide cardholders with an introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers.
- Wells Fargo Active Cash: 0% intro APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (then 20.24, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable)
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 18.24% to 28.24% variable)
Introductory APR offers can help if you need to make a large purchase, need more time to pay it off and want to avoid interest charges. Or, if you have any existing credit card debt, you could utilize a balance transfer to help pay your balance down while it accrues no interest -- but you will need to pay a balance transfer fee.
The Active Cash has an introductory balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. After that, it increases to up to 5% ($5 minimum). The Customized Cash Card has an introductory balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction for the first 60 days your account is open, then 4%.
Since both credit cards have a similar introductory APR offer, neither gains any ground here.
Additional card perks
Winner: Active Cash
The Active Cash card offers a few more perks than most cards without an annual fee, primarily due to its Visa Signature status. Cardholders can access cell phone protection against damage or theft when they pay their cell phone bill with the card, and utilize Visa Signature® Concierge as well as the Luxury Hotel Collection to save money with select hotels.
The Bank of America Customized Cash card is also a Visa Signature card, and includes roadside dispatch, extended warranty and access to Visa Signature® Concierge. Because the Active Cash could provide greater value with its cell phone protection and Luxury Hotel Collection perks, it pulls ahead.
Annual fees
Winner: Tie
Neither credit card has an annual fee. They’re both inexpensive yet rewarding choices that could work well with other cards you might already have and pair well together.
How Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card compare to other cards
- Intro Offer
-
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
2% Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
- Intro Offer
-
$200 $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 3% 3% cash back in the category of your choice; 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases); 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Intro Offer
-
$200 cash back Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Fair – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 5% Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.; Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
The bottom line
If you spend more than $2,500 quarterly on purchases like gas and grocery stores, the Active Cash may be the better choice. Overall, the Active Cash is the better card thanks to its high cash-rewards rate for your purchases and additional card features.
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card is better for lower spenders or anyone who wants more time to pay down a transferred balance or a planned purchase.
FAQs
Certain rewards credit cards provide a higher reward rate for a limited amount of spending. It could be an annual limit or a quarterly limit, but once you hit the specified amount of spending, your rewards will fall to 1% or 1x point depending on the card.
While there’s no set-in-stone answer to how many credit cards you should have, a good rule of thumb is to limit it to two or three. However, if you’re well versed in managing debt and keeping up on required monthly payments, you could have more.
Generally speaking, 1% of cash back will always equal 1 cent, while points could be worth more or less depending on how they’re redeemed. Cash back typically has fewer redemption options compared to points as well.
*All information about the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
