Bank of America Credit Card Rules
Bank of America uses a strict velocity rule known as 2/3/4: no more than 2 cards in 2 months, 3 in 12 months, or 4 in 24 months. Preferred Rewards membership significantly improves approval odds.
Application Rules
Bank of America will not approve you if you have opened: 2+ BofA cards in the past 2 months, 3+ BofA cards in the past 12 months, or 4+ BofA cards in the past 24 months.
- Affected cards
- All Bank of America personal credit cards
- Workaround
- Track your BofA card openings carefully. If you hit any threshold, wait until enough cards age out of the applicable window before applying.
Not a restriction — but Bank of America Preferred Rewards members (Platinum: $50k, Platinum Honors: $100k in combined BofA/Merrill accounts) receive a 75% rewards bonus and significantly better approval odds.
- Affected cards
- All BofA cards
- Workaround
- If you have significant assets at BofA or Merrill Lynch, consolidating them to reach Platinum Honors gives you a major rewards advantage.
Bank of America Cards We Track
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card
Atmos Rewards Summit
Bank of America Premium Rewards
Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card
Atmos Rewards Ascent
Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard
Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard
Allways Rewards Visa Card
Free Spirit Travel World Mastercard
BankAmericard
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
Bank of America Travel Rewards
Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard
Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard
Bank of America Platinum Plus Mastercard Business
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Bank of America 2/3/4 rule?
- Bank of America will not approve you if you have opened: 2+ BofA cards in the past 2 months, 3+ BofA cards in the past 12 months, or 4+ BofA cards in the past 24 months.
- How many Bank of America credit cards can I have at once?
- Bank of America does not publish a hard limit on the number of cards you can hold, but Bank of America uses a strict velocity rule known as 2/3/4: no more than 2 cards in 2 months, 3 in 12 months, or 4 in 24 months. Preferred Rewards membership significantly improves approval odds.
- Do Bank of America rules apply to business cards?
- Bank of America's rules vary by card type. See the rules above for which cards each restriction covers.
- Will Bank of America do a hard pull when I apply?
- Bank of America typically performs a single hard inquiry when you apply for a credit card. The bureau pulled varies by region and applicant.