BankAmericard credit card for Students review 2024: Hard to get, with few perks

The BankAmericard® credit card for Students * The information for the BankAmericard® credit card for Students has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is only a good choice for students who have good to excellent credit and want a card with a long introductory APR period. 

It does not earn rewards, has no welcome bonus, carries foreign transaction fees and is paradoxically aimed at those with good or better credit, something students are less likely to have. Read more in our full review of the BankAmericard credit card for Students.

BankAmericard credit card for Students basics

• Annual fee: $0.
• Welcome bonus: None.
• Rewards: None.
• APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles, followed by an APR of 16.24% to 26.24% variable. Balance transfers must be completed in the first 60 days. An intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transaction made within 60 days of account opening applies. After that, the fee will be 4% of each transaction.
• Recommended credit score: Good to excellent. 

BankAmericard credit card for Students review

Student cards will typically approve students with no credit history, allowing them to build credit. In fact, many student credit cards include things like basic educational features to help you learn good spending habits before you get yourself into trouble. 

Unfortunately, the BankAmericard credit card for Students is very difficult to get if you’re the average undergrad. You’ll need a good to excellent credit score for the best approval odds. This usually means a FICO score above 670. 

If you manage to be approved for this card, there aren’t many perks to it. You’ll get common things like online and mobile banking, no annual fee and monthly FICO score monitoring for free. If you’re looking to leverage your spending to get rewards, you’re out of luck, as this card earns no rewards points or cash back. You’ll also be on the hook for foreign transaction fees of 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction made in a foreign currency. 

The main benefit of this card is the introductory offer. You’ll get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles, followed by an APR of 16.24% to 26.24% variable. Balance transfers must be completed in the first 60 days. An intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transaction made within 60 days of account opening applies. After that, the fee will be 4% of each transaction. This is a relatively long intro APR period that can allow you to put off paying interest on new purchases or reduce the amount you’re paying in interest on an existing card if you do a balance transfer. 

If you have just a semester or two left before graduating and getting a stable job, putting your expenses on this card could be a better option than getting a personal loan. Just make sure that you’re able to pay off your balance before the intro period is up. 

What are the steps involved in a balance transfer? Here’s how to do a balance transfer with Bank of America.

Pros

• Introductory APR offer: Pay no interest for over a year on purchases and balance transfers. 
• Free monthly FICO Score: Keep track of your credit score with free monthly access to your FICO score in the mobile banking app and learn what key factors are impacting you. 
• No annual fee: Enjoy no annual fee with this card. 

Cons

• No rewards: This card has no rewards program that allows you to earn cash back, points or miles from your spending.
• It has foreign transaction fees: Some student cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees making them a good choice for use abroad.
• Difficult approval: You’ll need to already have a good to excellent credit score for best chances of being approved for this card, something that can be hard to attain when you’re young. 

BankAmericard credit card for Students APR

The best feature of this card is its lengthy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles, followed by an APR of 16.24% to 26.24% variable. Balance transfers must be completed in the first 60 days. An intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transaction made within 60 days of account opening applies. After that, the fee will be 4% of each transaction — which is rare for a student credit card. While the card does carry a balance transfer fee, the long intro APR cycle could make the fee worth it to you. If you’re a student with a substantial amount of credit card debt and near the end of your degree program, transferring that debt to this card may be a good option. Especially if you’ll be graduating and landing a job that will pay you enough to make headway on your balance.

BankAmericard credit card for Students is not for your average student 

You’ll need good to excellent credit for the best approval odds for the BankAmericard credit card for Students. Most students have no credit score, or at best have an average credit score since they’re just starting to build up a credit profile. With no perks like points, miles or cash-back, this card is unlikely to be a top choice for the few undergrads who do have good enough credit to qualify. 

This card may be a good option for graduate students, those in certificate programs or who are close to graduating and have excellent credit. If you’re already maxed out on student loans and struggling to pay for lab fees, books or even basic living expenses, this card could offer a lifeline. 

But be careful with taking advantage of it. If you’re unable to pay it off before the intro APR period is up, you’ll be on the hook for significant interest charges on whatever balance remains. 

How the BankAmericard credit card for Students compares to other student cards 

The BankAmericard credit card for Students is unlikely to be a top pick for most students. Compared to other student cards, it’s hard to be approved for and doesn’t earn any rewards.

Here’s how it stacks up against some of our favorite student credit cards. 

BankAmericard credit card for Students vs. Discover it® Student Cash Back

The Discover it Student Cash Back credit card is a better choice than the BankAmericard credit card for Students in almost every scenario. While both cards are for students and have no annual fee, the similarities end there. 

The Discover it Student Cash Back card doesn’t require a credit score to apply and it also earns 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum once activated and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Plus, Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year. 

The BankAmericard credit card for Students does beat out the Discover it Student Cash Back when it comes to a low intro APR offer, as the Discover it Student Cash Back offers a shorter 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then a variable APR of 18.24% to 27.24% applies. There's a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms).

BankAmericard credit card for Students vs. Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Neither the Capital One Quicksilver Student card nor the BankAmericard credit card for Students have an annual fee, but the Quicksilver Student card earns 10% cash back on Uber & Uber Eats through 11/14/2024, 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.5% cash back on every other purchase. The Quicksilver Student card also has a welcome bonus of a $50 cash bonus after spending $100 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. However, it does not have an introductory APR offer. 

If you need perks like cash-back rewards or no foreign transaction fees, the Quicksilver Student card is the right card for you. If you just want to avoid interest for as long as possible, go with the BankAmericard credit card for Students.

BankAmericard credit card for Students vs. Chase Freedom Rise℠ * The information for the Chase Freedom Rise℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Chase Freedom Rise is a solid credit card for students looking to build credit and start earning cash-back rewards. It’s easier to get approved for the Chase Freedom Rise than the BankAmericard credit card for Students, especially if you’re a student with no credit history. The issuer states that having a total available balance of at least $250 in any Chase checking or savings account will increase your chances of getting approved.

The Freedom Rise earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, but there’s no introductory APR period. If you’ve got several purchases coming up you can’t pay off right away, the BankAmericard credit card for Students is a better option for you. Otherwise, the Freedom Rise is a smarter long-term choice.

BankAmericard credit card for Students is right for you if:

• You need a long intro APR period for new purchases or a balance transfer. 
• You’ve already taken advantage of other, better intro APR cards.
• You have good credit and don’t care about earning rewards.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)