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Quick Answer

The Bank of America Premium Rewards edges out the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard for most cardholders — it wins on 3 of 4 comparison categories and offers 60,000 pts signup bonus. The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem.

Card Comparison

Bank of America Premium Rewards vs Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

Bank of America Premium Rewards card art
Bank of America Travel Rewards
Bank of America Premium Rewards
Bank of America
More Info
Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard card art
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard
Synchrony Bank
More Info

Comparison Method

CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.

Annual Fee
$95/yr
$99/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
60,000 points
Spend $4,000 in 3 months
60,000 points
Spend $4,000 in 3 months
was 75k pts
Top Earn Rates
  • Travel 2x
  • Dining 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1.5x
  • Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages 3x
  • grocery stores, on dining out, on selected streaming services, and even charging your EV 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Pts Value
~1.00¢/pt points · industry est.
~1.50¢/pt points · industry est.
Key Credits
  • Airline Incidental Credit $100
  • TSA PreCheck / Global Entry $100
None
Card Perks
None listed
  • Free night at Virgin Hotels
Spend Milestones
No milestones
  • Virgin Atlantic One Flying Club reward voucher, providing either: Companion seat Cabin upgrade Virgin Hotels One free Hotel night stay One priority room upgrade Virgin Voyages Up to $300 Bar Tab credit Blue Extras perks package
    After $15,000 spend
  • Virgin Atlantic One Flying Club reward voucher, providing either: Companion seat Cabin upgrade Virgin Hotels One free Hotel night stay One priority room upgrade Virgin Voyages Up to $300 Bar Tab credit Blue Extras perks package
    After $30,000 spend
Transfer Partners
No transfer partners
No transfer partners

Common Questions: Bank of America Premium Rewards vs Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard

Is the Bank of America Premium Rewards or Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard better for dining?

Bank of America Premium Rewards earns 2x on dining; Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard earns 2x on dining. Bank of America Premium Rewards wins for dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Bank of America Premium Rewards currently offers 60,000 pts signup bonus (spend $4,000 in 3 months). Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard offers 60,000 pts signup bonus (spend $4,000 in 3 months). Bank of America Premium Rewards has the larger bonus.

Which card is better for international travel?

Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.

Can I hold both the Bank of America Premium Rewards and the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Bank of America Premium Rewards is from Bank of America and Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard is from Synchrony Bank, so they're governed by separate bank policies.