Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards vs Citi Strata Elite℠
Side-by-side comparison
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards | Citi Strata Elite℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $595 |
| Welcome offer | $200 online cash rewards bonus | 100,000 ThankYou® Points |
| Dining | 3x | 3x |
| Groceries | 2x | 1x |
| Gas | 3x | 1x |
| Travel | 3x | 12x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1.5x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $491 | $628 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Visa | 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 household spending, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards earns about $491 a year in rewards and the Citi Strata Elite℠ about $628, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Citi Strata Elite℠ charges $595, but carries about $735 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards delivers more total value, about $91 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Citi Strata Elite℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards pays plain cash back. Favor the Citi Strata Elite℠ if you will use travel transfers, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Citi Strata Elite℠ currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards if your spending leans toward groceries, gas. Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ if your spending leans toward travel, everything else.