As of April 2026, Bank of America is still running a doubled welcome offer on the Unlimited Cash Rewards card that turns its standard 1.5% flat rate into 3% cash back on every purchase for the first 12 months. There's no spending cap on the bonus rate, no rotating categories, and no enrollment step. If the promotion ends before you read this, the underlying card still earns 1.5% with a $0 annual fee, so the action item is the same: confirm the offer banner on the application page before you submit.

What the offer looks like in 2026

The full package, current as of April 2026:

  • 3% cash back on every purchase for the first 12 billing cycles
  • $200 online cash rewards bonus after $1,000 in spend in the first 90 days
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles (3% balance transfer fee, then a variable APR)
  • $0 annual fee, no foreign transaction fees as of the 2025 product refresh
  • Reverts to 1.5% flat after month 12

If you spend $2,500 a month on the card during year one, that 3% rate puts $900 in your account versus $450 on a 1.5% flat card. After the welcome bonus lands, you're at $1,100 in year-one rewards before any Preferred Rewards multiplier.

Who this is actually for

This is Kay's pick if you fall into one of two camps. First: you don't want to think about categories. The Citi Custom Cash earns 5% on a top category, but it caps at $500 of spend per month and rotates by your behavior. The Unlimited Cash Rewards earns 3% on everything for a year with no thinking required. Second: you already bank with BofA. Preferred Rewards adds a 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% boost on every dollar of cash back, depending on your combined balance tier. A Platinum Honors member ($100K+ in qualifying balances) earns an effective 6% cash back on everything during the promotional year. That number is not a typo.

Where the card loses: international travel (the no-FX-fee status changed in 2025 — verify on the application disclosure), and any single category where a specialized 5% or 6% card outperforms the flat 3%. If you spend $800 a month at U.S. supermarkets, the Blue Cash Preferred still wins on groceries even during this promotion.

What to do

Apply through Bank of America's site, watch for the 3% banner before submitting, hit the $1,000 spend in 90 days for the $200 bonus, and enroll in Preferred Rewards if you have any BofA deposits. After month 12, decide whether to keep the card as a 1.5% backup or pair it with the Premium Rewards card for travel categories.

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