American Express® Gold vs Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Gold | Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $300 statement credit | |
| Advertising | 1% | 1.5% |
| Shipping | 1% | 1.5% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1.5% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1.5% |
| Travel | 3% | 1.5% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1.5% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $618 | $675 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Cash back only |
| Network | Amex | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of business spending, the American Express® Gold earns about $618 a year in rewards and the Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards about $675, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Gold charges $325, but carries about $424 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards delivers more total value, about $170 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and advertising. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express® Gold earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards pays plain cash back. Favor the American Express® Gold if you will use travel transfers, the Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Gold currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Gold if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies.